Methamphetamine (Methedrine)

Street name:

Meth, Ice, Crank

Street use:

Smoked or injected

Description:

White/yellow/pink crystalline powder, clear liquid; ampoules (Meth).

Small whitish chips, (Ice). Most methylamphetamine is illicitly manufactured and as such is of questionable quality.

Drug effect:

Has a very strong and long lived stimulant effect

Tolerance:

Tolerance to methylamphetamine develops quickly. The effects last from three to four hours. Like amphetamine sulphate, withdrawal is in two phases. Firstly, the "crash" or "come down" which produces tiredness and depression. In the second phase, users can become irritable and severely depressed, this will last for three to four weeks and in some cases can last for months. Long-term use of methylamphetamine can lead to severe weight loss, insomnia, exhaustion, paranoid psychosis (this is generally drug-induced and as such will be resolved within a few weeks after drug taking has stopped) and severe depression. Smoking "Ice" over long periods causes severe psychotic episodes with both visual and auditory hallucinations, presenting not unlike schizophrenia.

Overdose risk:

Overdose is not so common with methylamphetamine, but when it does occur it can result in heart and/or respiratory failure. Users who exhibit a predisposition for a heart condition are at risk due to excess stress placed on the cardiovascular system.

Law:

All amphetamine based drugs are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, within Schedule 2 Class B. However, once an amphetamine (Methamphetamine) has been prepared for injection it comes under Class A, resulting in higher sentences.

 

 

"ASCERT empowers people to make a positive difference where alcohol and drug related issues damage lives".