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Dec 15, 2023 · Crystal meth is the common name for crystal methamphetamine, a strong and highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system. There is no legal use for it. Also called “ice” or...
- Overview
- Recreational use
- How crystal meth affects the brain
- How crystal meth affects the body
- Substance use disorder and withdrawal
- Treatment and rehabilitation
- Summary
Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, is a stimulant drug that carries a high risk for physical dependence. In the United States, a different formulation of methamphetamine called Desoxyn is available by prescription to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Crystal meth has a number of street names, including ice and glass. It resembles shiny “rocks” or fragments of glass of varying sizes. It is the most potent form of meth.
The drug is odorless and colorless. As a stimulant, it speeds up activity in the central nervous system, which can cause a person to feel euphoric, powerful, and alert.
Illegal labs make the drug by combining ingredients derived from over-the-counter drugs, especially cough and cold medications, with toxic substances.
Crystal meth is a powerful stimulant drug that can cause feelings of euphoria and high energy. People may choose meth because of these euphoric effects.
Meth can also cause rapid weight loss, a higher libido, and intense feelings of alertness and concentration.
Some people self-medicate for these effects, hoping to lose weight, improve their sexual performance, reduce depression, or concentrate more at work or school.
For most people, the effects of crystal meth last for 6–12 hours, making the “high” much longer than that of other stimulants, such as cocaine. Some people choose meth because of its longer lasting effects.
However, as with most addictive substances, the body begins to tolerate meth with prolonged use. This reduces the intensity of the high a person gets. It also reduces other desired effects of the drug, including improvements in libido and concentration. This tolerance may cause a person to use more crystal meth to get the same high they once got with a lower dose.
Over time, this can lead to addiction. People with a substance use disorder may use these types of drugs, and others, to feel normal. If they stop using them, they may experience painful withdrawal effects.
Crystal meth boosts the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine and stops its reuptake. As a result, it increases the levels of dopamine in the body.
Dopamine plays an important role in motor function, motivation, reward, and how the brain experiences and interprets pleasure.
The dopamine rush in the reward centers of the brain gives a person a sense of euphoria soon after taking the drug.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), brain imaging studies on people who have inappropriately used methamphetamine for a long time suggest that dopamine system activity changes in such a way that it can seriously compromise a person’s verbal learning and motor skills.
Crystal meth can also severely affect the brain’s structure and function. It affects areas of the brain linked to emotion and memory, as well as structures associated with judgment. Due to this, it may radically change behaviors and emotions.
This may explain why people who chronically use crystal meth often develop emotional and cognitive difficulties.
The drug can also lead to some physical effects.
These include:
•anorexia, meaning a loss of appetite
•blurred vision
•face sores
•gum disease and cracked teeth
Crystal meth produces feelings of euphoria for up to 12 hours, and people crave its powerful effects again and again.
However, after several uses, the same dose no longer has the same effect. A person develops drug tolerance and needs more of the drug to achieve the same effect.
A person can develop a substance use disorder after using meth only a few times.
In time, the need for the high becomes more important than other factors in the person’s life, while the use of the drug increasingly achieves only a break from withdrawal symptoms. If a person tries to break the cycle, they will experience withdrawal symptoms.
Although the person’s blood will be free of the drug after 1–3 days without using it, the psychological symptoms may continue for a while.
This is because crystal meth, like some other drugs, changes the person’s brain chemistry. Moreover, a person may use meth to cope with other problems, such as depression, boredom, or sexual dysfunction.
Substance use disorder is a medical diagnosis that warrants medical treatment. It is not a moral failing, and people cannot think or will their way out of it.
Instead, treatment focuses on:
•managing physical withdrawal symptoms
•supporting a person to manage the underlying issues that led to the harmful use of crystal meth
•cultivating healthier coping skills
Drug rehabilitation programs can help people through the withdrawal process, allowing them to achieve their goals related to crystal meth use.
Crystal meth has no medical use, and it carries a high risk for physical and psychological dependence. Prolonged use can cause serious health issues, including gum disease and tooth loss. It may also affect a person’s relationships, finances, and future.
Regardless of a person’s reason for using crystal meth or the length of time they have been using it, treatment is possible. People should contact a doctor or specialist who deals with substance use disorders for support.
Crystal meth is an illegal drug with a high potential for misuse and addiction. Those struggling with crystal meth addiction can face serious negative health outcomes, but evidence-based addiction treatment can help them achieve recovery. Call 888-744-0069. Helpline Information. What Is Crystal Meth?
Apr 3, 2024 · Crystal meth is a highly addictive drug and more addictive than cocaine. Even using the drug once can result in addiction. The drug acts on the brain’s reward system, which can be a positive reinforcement for re-taking the drug. Many people report intense drug cravings, making it challenging to stop without professional help.
Jul 7, 2023 · The illicit drug crystal meth is methamphetamine in the form of a rock-like crystal that is usually a semi-transparent white or blue color. This substance is always illegal and has no other purpose than for abuse. Crystal meth is mostly heated and then smoked in a glass pipe.
Feb 26, 2020 · Meth looks like a white, crystalline powder. It is bitter tasting, odorless and dissolvable in water. Derived from amphetamine, the drug was developed in the early 1900s. It was used in products that assist people with breathing problems, including nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
Crystal meth is an illegally altered version of Desoxyn. Methamphetamine is manufactured as a pill or powder, but crystal meth gets its name because the manufacturing process produces “crystals” that look similar to shards of glass or bluish rock crystals.4. Why is Crystal Meth So Addictive?
