While methamphetamine, most commonly known as meth, is sometimes used clinically to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it is more often used recreationally. However, meth is a dangerous and potent drug that can be highly addictive. And many people do suffer from meth addiction. To be able to avoid accidental intake of the drug, it’s important to know what it looks like and how to identify it.
What Does Meth Look Like?
Meth comes in different forms. It is either clear, chunky crystals or powder that dissolves into clear, colorless, and odorless liquid. However, due to the production of the drug, it is not limited to a single appearance. It can be white, yellowish, or pinkish in color. It can also be odorless or have a chemical smell.
What Are the Different Forms of Meth?
While meth often comes as either a crystal or powder, it can actually take different forms.
Crystal Meth
Crystal meth is one of the most popular forms of meth. It is also one of the most difficult forms to detect, especially when it’s in small quantities. Crystal meth has a distinctive chunky appearance.
Crystal meth is often sold as a rock in different sizes. Some of them are even as small as a pea. While it has a large appearance, it does not have a strong smell like its other counterparts. Crystal meth is white and clear in color. Its name was derived from its chunky appearance, which is its most obvious differentiating factor.
Powdered Meth
Powdered meth is one of the most commonly found forms of meth. This form is extremely potent and often more dangerous than crystal meth. It is commonly sold as a powder, with some even as small as a grain of salt. It is white or off-white in color. Its powdery appearance is similar to the look of cocaine. However, its smell is different. Powdered meth has a chemical odor.
Powdered meth is sold in many areas. It can easily be compared to other stimulants like cocaine, nicotine, and caffeine.
Freebase Meth
Methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as meth hydrochloride and referred to as meth, is used as a salt-like crystal. It is highly soluble in water and turns instantly into a liquid when mixed with water. It is often snorted, smoked, or injected directly into one’s bloodstream.
To avoid its water solubility and convert it into a more suitable form for smoking, meth was often heated in a glass pipe. During the process, its hydrochloride was removed, forming a new structure of meth called freebase.
This new form was solid at room temperature. It also had a sticky and gooey appearance. Freebase meth is sold in small round pieces or as little rocks. It is often cloudy and can sometimes be clear. It was named freebase because it was already separated from the hydrochloride salt.
Liquid Meth
When meth is heated, it often evaporates and becomes a vapor that can be inhaled directly into the lungs. However, once it is vaporized, its chemical components are changed. This form is called liquid meth. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
The liquid meth can be easily inhaled into one’s lungs, making it highly dangerous to the user.
What Are the Different Ways Meth Is Consumed?
The most common way to consume meth is through inhalation. This can be through snorting or smoking. Another way of consuming meth is by injecting it into one’s bloodstream. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is a salt, which means that it can be dissolved in water. However, when it is dissolved in water, it becomes a liquid. Many ways of consuming meth involve dissolving it in water and then injecting or drinking it.
Freebasing or Smoking Meth
Inhaling is one of the most common ways to consume methamphetamine. This method is often used because it can be easily done almost anywhere. It can be done without anyone noticing, and it is easy to hide the smell or any other sachet. It is also easy to use, as there is no need for a syringe or any other material for it. It is simply a matter of soaking the drug in water, heating it up in a spoon, and then inhaling the fumes or vapor.
Inhaling is also done for stronger effects. It can be done by first giving oneself a shot so the drug can enter one’s bloodstream. Then the drug can be heated and inhaled. Some of the equipment used for inhaling include meth pipes, bongs, and glass tubes.
Shooting Meth
Injecting is another common way to consume meth. It is often used by its users because of the intense high they experience while using the drug. This is because injecting meth directly into the blood gives it a faster effect and a more intense high. The drug enters one’s bloodstream through the blood vessels and travels directly to the brain.
When one injects meth, it can cause serious health concerns. It can cause skin sores, infections, and even blood vessels to burst. It can also damage one’s veins, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Drinking and Snorting
These two ways of consuming meth are not as popular and are used less often by users. Meth that has been dissolved in water can be drunk. It can be done in small amounts until one is high. It can also be done in large amounts so that one experiences the powerful effects quickly.
Snorting is another way to consume meth. It involves soaking the drug in water and then inhaling the fumes or vapor that comes off the water.
Do the Different Forms of Meth Have Different Effects?
The different forms of meth all have different effects. The most common form of meth is the powdered form. This form is often the most dangerous and is often more potent than the other forms. This is because it quickly enters one’s bloodstream and goes straight to one’s brain. This is often the most preferred form because it causes an intense high while offering a relaxing, long-lasting effect that can last for hours.
On the other hand, the freebase form is not as common. However, it is more powerful and has a rapid onset of action. It is often said to last for about 15 minutes, but it also depends on the person’s metabolism. The liquid form is also extremely potent, but it is also extremely dangerous because it is more likely to kill the user. The liquid form is often snorted or injected into the body. The crystal form of methamphetamine is less potent than its other forms. However, it is more addictive.
Short-Term Effects
No matter what the form of meth, the immediate effects are the same. The high is caused by the amount of dopamine released. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, impulsive behavior, and other body activities. It can also increase the user’s sense of euphoria, which is why it is also called a “happy drug.”
The following are some of the short-term effects of meth:
- Increased energy
- Increased alertness
- Increased mental alertness
- Increased wakefulness
- Increased confidence
- Increased focus
- Increased talkativeness
- Increased heart rate
- Decreased appetite
Conclusion
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that is considered a highly addictive drug. It can be found in many different forms, with each form having a different effect. Overdosing on the drug can cause serious effects, which is why it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms and the different forms of the drug.
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