Crystal Meth, Tina
- Crystal meth can come in powder or crystals. It is usually white and might smell of urine.
- Crystal can be swallowed or rubbed into the gums, snorted, put into the anus, injected, or smoked (ice), with effects lasting several days.
- Intense rush, euphoria, exhilaration, increased energy, decreased appetite, heightened sex drive (libido), increased confidence, more sociable.
- Short-term physical effects of increased blood pressure, sweating, raised temperature, dilated pupils, dry mouth. Sometimes jaw clenching and teeth grinding
- Short-term psychological effects can include agitation, paranoia, chest pain, nausea\vomiting, anxiety.
- Withdrawal effects include restless anxiety, irritability, fatigue, dysphoria, aggression, paranoia, insomnia and strong cravings.
- Can be hard to hold down jobs, appointments, money or relationships as life becomes more chaotic.
- Long term use changes physical appearance: age quicker, meth mouth(teeth become grey, twisted and fall out), skin lesions and ulcers from picking, meth bugs (hallucinations of insects crawling under the skin), needle marks, chemical burns.
- Lack of food or water when on a high leading to dehydration or malnutrition.
- Out of character violent behaviour.
- Depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts when withdrawing.
- Developing psychosis, paranoia, persecutory delusions, hallucinations, agitation, irrational hostile behaviour, repetitive stereotyped behaviour, social withdrawal.
- Deaths are caused typically by seizures, heat attacks, brain hemorrhages or strokes.Increased sex drive and decreased inhibition can lead to increased risk of contracting or passing on HIV, Hep C and other STDs or sexual assault.
- Poor verbal memory, poor problem solving, poor concentration.