Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. Pure methamphetamine is a colorless crystalline solid, or a paste sold on the streets as crystal meth, glass, ice, or crystal. It is also sold as less pure crystalline powder called crank or speed, or in rock formation termed tweak, dope, or raw. It has become one of the world's most significant illicit drugs.

Methods of use

Methamphetamine can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, dissolved in water and injected, or inserted anally (with or without dissolution in water). As with all addictive drugs, the potential for addiction is greater when it is delivered by methods that cause the concentration in the blood to rise quickly, principally because the effects desired by the user are felt more quickly and with a higher intensity than a moderated delivery mechanism. In fact, studies have shown that the subjective pleasure of drug use (and liklihood of addiction) is proportional to the rate that the blood level of the drug increases. Generally, injecting is the "fastest" mechanism (i.e., it causes the blood concentration to rise the most quickly in the shortest period of time), followed by smoking, then snorting, then swallowing. It is not entirely certain where anal insertion would fall on this list, but some scant anecdotal evidence puts the effects probably somewhere in between smoking and snorting.

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Methamphetamine is a powerful nasal decongestant, so methamphetamine users who snort it often have very clear nasal cavities. However, there have been rare cases of people snorting so much meth that their nose cartilage deteriorates, though snorting cocaine is far more likely to cause nasal degeneration, due to its vasoconstrictive properties. Snorting methamphetamine may also cause tooth decay, since the nasal passages are directly connected to the mouth region, and it is theorized that damaging crystalline particles can still attach to the teeth. Another theory is that the drug directly affects calcium balance in the body.

Related Topics:
Nasal decongestant - Nose - Cartilage - Vasoconstrictive - Mouth

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Methamphetamine is commonly smoked in glass pipes, or in aluminum foil heated by a flame underneath. This method is also known as "chasing the dragon". Methamphetamine must be heated (not burned) to cause the desired smoke. Smoking methamphetamine is probably the most impure form of ingestion. In addition to the possible effects on teeth, it is very damaging to the lungs. Methamphetamine users who smoke it sometimes experience mild asthma, which can be countered by inhaling salbutamol aerosol spray, or epinephrine aerosol. Another problem with smoking meth is the potential presence of oxidation byproducts created when the heated drug comes in contact with air. Even if the initial drug is pure methamphetamine, the act of smoking it produces other chemicals, some of which may be toxic.

Related Topics:
Lung - Asthma - Salbutamol - Aerosol spray - Epinephrine - Oxidation

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Injection is a popular method for use, but potentially carries with it quite serious risks. The hydrochloride salt of methamphetamine is soluble in water; injection users may use any dose from 200mg to over a gram in one I.V. dose using a small needle. In methamphetamine research, injection users often do not experience severe tooth decay, presumably because there is no residue left as with smoking it. But injection users experience greater jaw-clenching than users who snort or smoke it, since injecting methamphetamine has a much more powerful effect. This can cause loose teeth, so injection users still do lose their teeth. Also, this method of ingestion brings the risk of infection; injection users often experience skin rashes (sometimes called "speed bumps") and all kinds of infections due to the methamphetamine damage to the skin. As with any injected drug, if a group of users shares a common needle without sterilization procedures, very grave blood-borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis can be transmitted as well.

Related Topics:
Hydrochloride - Infection - Rash - Shares a common needle - HIV - Hepatitis

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Very little research has focused on anal insertion as a method, and anecdotal evidence of its effects is infrequently discussed, possibly due to social taboos in many cultures regarding the anus. This is often known within communities that use meth for sexual stimulation as a "booty bump", and is anecdotally reported to increase sexual pleasurehttp://www.citypages.com/databank/24/1171/article11254.asp while the effects of the drug last. The rectum is where the majority of the drug would likely be uptaken through the mucous membranes lining the walls. Lack of direct exposure to teeth probably insulates users from the majority of damaging dental effects, but damage to sensitive anal and rectal tissues is a risk. Weakness in these tissues may increase the risk of transmission of sexually-transmitted infections during sex. If enough methamphetamine is taken so that not all of it is completely dissolved, abrasion of any prophylactic devices (such as condoms) used during sex can occur due to friction with undissolved meth crystals. This can contribute to breakage of the prophylactic, and increased risk of disease transmission. (See Crystal and sex for further information on other risk factors.)

Related Topics:
Taboo - Anus - Rectum - Mucous membrane - Sexually-transmitted infection - Prophylactic - Condom - Friction - Crystal and sex

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The least detrimental method of taking methamphetamine may simply be oral administration. The effects are moderated out over time to a greater degree, and neither teeth, skin, nor nasal passages are directly exposed to potentially harmful chemicals (assuming the user is careful not to allow pure crystal meth to come in contact with these parts of the body during ingestion). The less intense "hit" may make this a less popular current choice for administration.

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