SUBSTANCE INFO
11 . crystal meth
speed, meth, crank, crystal meth Physical Effects:
•Increased heart and respiratory rate •High blood pressure •Dizziness and blurred vision •Anxiety and restlessness •Decreased appetite
Mental & Emotional Effects:
•High energy when on the drug, extremely low energy when coming down from the drug •Depression and irritability when withdrawing •Powerful urges to use the drug and extreme difficulty resisting use •Exhaustion
Signs of Use:
•Excessive activity & movement •Talking a lot, arguing •Irritability, paranoia, nervousness •Noticable weight loss & sleeplessness •Euphoria
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A Crystal Meth can only be described as intense. The high itself made me full of energy and gave me a sense of confidence that lasted for hours and hours. But when I continued using it, I’d go into these rages. Everything irritated me, and I was really paranoid. Coming off that drug is brutal. I felt anxious and depressed – even suicidal. The people and places I encountered through using meth were really sketchy – in other words, not to be trusted and sometimes downright scary. I got myself into some risky situations. It took me a really long time to get my head straight after coming off meth after months of use.
Methamphetamines are stimulants that are similar to amphetamines and are becoming widely used by teenagers. Speed is one form of methamphetamine, and it can be swallowed in pill form, snorted or injected, and has a high that lasts from 2-4 hours. Crystal meth is sometimes injected, but it is usually snorted or smoked. Unlike speed, the high lasts from 4-14 hours and is highly addictive, both physically and psychologically. Crystal meth and speed are used to increase alertness, stay awake, feel stronger and more confident, and to create euphoric, “feel good,” effects. Like Austin, Hayley and Lisa have had similar experiences with crystal meth. Let’s hear what both girls have to say about the drug that, at one point, took over their lives.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the interviewees in the following script.
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