Palo Alto Medical Foundation

  • Teen Home
  • About Us
  • PAMF Home
  • Ask the Expert
  • General Health
  • Tobacco, Drugs & Alcohol
  • Emotions & Life
  • Sexual Health & Experience

Tobacco, Drugs & Alcohol

  • Drug Use & Abuse
    • Stimulants
      • Amphetamines
      • Caffeine
      • Cocaine
      • Diet Pills
      • Methamphetamine
      • Ritalin

Methamphetamine

  • Decrease Font Size
  • Increase Font Size
  • Send to a Friend
  • Share
    • Share / Blog
    • Digg This
    • del.icio.us
    • Newsvine
    • Facebook
    • Reddit
    • Furl It
    • !Y My Web
    • Google
  • Print
  • What is methamphetamine?
  • Street Names
  • How is it taken?
  • What are the effects?
  • What are the dangers?
  • Is it addictive?

What is methamphetamine?

  • A dangerous, sometimes lethal and unpredictable drug.
  • A strong stimulant in the Amphetamine drug class that excites the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

The most common forms are:
  • White, odorless, bitter-tasting powder that easily dissolves in water.
  • Clear, large chunky crystals resembling rock candy (smoked).
  • Small, brightly colored tablets.

Back to top

Street Names

"Meth," "Speed," "Ice," "Crystal meth," "glass," "speed," "poor man's cocaine"
Back to top

How is it taken?

Methamphetamine is taken in the following manner:

  • Smoked ("ice," "crystal meth," crystallized methamphetamine hydrochloride). Known as a "cool" smoke (crack cocaine is known as a "hot" smoke). Smoked similar to cocaine. Ten to 15 "hits" can be obtained from a single gram of substance

  • Snorted.

  • Injected (by needle).

  • Taken orally.

Back to top

What are the effects?

Physical effects include:

  • Increased heart rate.
  • Increased blood pressure.
  • Increased body temperature.
  • Increased rate of breathing.
  • Dilated pupils.
  • Tremors.

Psychological effects include:
  • Feelings of euphoria.
  • Increased nervousness.
  • Irritability.
  • Paranoia.

Behavioral effects include:
  • Violent and erratic behavior.
  • Temporary hyperactivity.
  • Increased energy.

Back to top

What are the dangers?

  • Addiction.
  • Chronic abuse produces a mental psychosis similar to schizophrenia characterized by:
    • Paranoia.
    • Picking at the skin.
    • Preoccupation with one's own thoughts.
    • Auditory and visual hallucinations.
  • Violent and erratic behavior.
  • "Tweaking, the most dangerous stage of the binge cycle in which the abuser has not slept in three to 15 days and is irritable and paranoid. The tweaker has an intense craving for more meth; however no dosage will help recreate the euphoric high. This results in:
    • Frustration.
    • Unpredictable behavior.
    • Potential for violence.
    • Potential for overdose, which can result in death!

    Back to top

    Is it addictive?

    Yes, methamphetamine is addictive.

    Back to top

Drug paraphernalia
Sources:
Below are links PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.

NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Methamphetamines & Amphetamines. In DEA Briefs & Background. U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration.

More information on methamphetamine
  • For Parents
  • Contact PAMF
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

© 2009 Palo Alto Medical Foundation. All rights reserved.