Methamphetamine use is spreading like wildfire across the United States.
The recent rise in opioid abuse has caused many Americans to overlook the methamphetamine drug problem, which is quickly gaining momentum.
In fact, the number of people using abusing methamphetamines has been the highest of any illegal drug in for decades.
There are not as many fatal overdoses when using methamphetamines compared to other drugs, but they wreak havoc on the body over time.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the three different types of methamphetamines and their effects.
Types of Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines are powerful drugs that change how your brain works and speed up bodily functions. This can cause irritability, inability to sleep, aggressiveness, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Methamphetamines come in different forms including crystal meth, glass, and speed. Let’s take a look at all three.
Crystal Meth
Crystal meth is a highly purified methamphetamine, which is how it gets its trademark crystal appearance. It is an odorless and colorless drug that causes users to feel a potent, euphoric rush.
This drug can be smoked in pipes, snorted, injected or swallowed. Some people choose to ingest it rectally.
Using crystal meth can cause serious psychological issues, as it affects your body’s nervous system by increasing dopamine in the brain.
Research shows that people who use crystal meth long-term are prone to verbal problems and impaired motor skills.
Glass
Often confused with crystal meth, glass is another type of methamphetamine in crystal form. However, the chemical make-up of glass is totally different than crystal meth.
Glass is the purest form of meth, so it gives users a longer high. Sometimes this high can last over 24 hours.
The high purity level causes harmful effects such as paranoia, psychosis, hallucinations, teeth grinding, malnutrition, and more.
People are most likely to overdose on glass than another form of methamphetamine.
Speed
Speed is one of the most accessible types of methamphetamines, as it can be found easily on the street.
This drug is powdery and poorly cut. It is cheaper than crystal meth and glass because it is less pure.
Even though speed contains less meth, it is still a dangerous drug. It can cause extreme feelings that range from excitement and happiness to nervousness and anxiety. Ingesting speed can cause stomach cramping, dry mouth, and dilated pupils.
As speed wears off, it can cause you to feel depressed, exhausted, and lethargic. Some people even become violent after using speed.
What’s Next
We still don’t fully understand the long-term effects on meth on the body. As the surge in admissions for treatment of methamphetamine addiction grows, all we can do is protect ourselves by staying educated.
Treatment for meth addiction is different than for opioids, as it is primarily based on outpatient therapy. Meth addicts don’t experience the flu-like symptoms during withdrawal that are associated with opioid addiction. Meth causes long-term effects that can immobilize users and prevent them from entering back into society in a beneficial way.
If you suspect a family member or loved one is using one of these types of methamphetamines, it may be time to stage an intervention.
If you need more information about methamphetamines, read this blog.
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