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Huron Undercover Narcotics Team |
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METHAMPHETAMINE |
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Crystal Meth |
Meth Powder |
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Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant that can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally. The user feels a short, intense "rush" when the drug is initially administered. The continuing effects include increased activity/alertness, euphoria, enhanced sexual activity, and decreased appetite (among others). The effects are almost identical to those of cocaine, with the exception of the duration. Cocaine lasts for twenty to eighty minutes, while methamphetamine can last for four to twelve hours. The drug can cause a wide array of health problems when used continuously, and has a very fast acting and lethal overdose potential. Most methamphetamine distributed on the street is produced in clandestine laboratories. Methamphetamine laboratories create a very dangerous environment for those individuals operating them as well as any unknowing individuals who may come into contact. |
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| Street Names: | Crystal Meth, Crank, Glass, Speed, Chalk |
| Classification: | Central Nervous System Stimulant, Schedule II |
| Physical Dependence: | High |
| Psychological Dependence: | Very High |
| Duration: | 4 to 12 hours |
| Usual Method: | Injected, smoked, snorted, oral |
| Possible Effects: | Alertness, anxiety, aggressiveness, confusion, delirium, euphoria, enhanced sexual activity, irritability, reduced appetite |
| Effects of Overdose: | Profuse sweating, rapid breathing, increased heart rate and dilated pupils. A person who has overdosed on meth will have a high temperature, kidney failure and cardiovascular collapse -- and it will all happen very quickly. |
| Withdrawal Syndrome: | Irritability, depression, fearfulness, loss of energy, extreme craving for the drug, shaking or tremors, nausea, palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation, increased appetite |
| Paraphernalia, Packaging: | Viles, film canisters, zip-lock baggies, hypodermic needles/syringes |
| Signs and Symptoms: | Anxiety, insomnia, mood
disturbances, and violent behavior, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions
(the psychotic symptoms can last for months or years after methamphetamine
use has ceased), jaw clenching, lowered social inhibitions, reduced
appetite, sensitivity to light and sound, sweating, tooth deterioration (an
addict can go from having healthy teeth to total tooth loss in as little as
one year. An overdose results in a rapid onset of physiological deterioration, eventually leading to a heart attack or stroke. Because of the rapid onset, death occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. |
