Methamphetamine--also known as meth, crank, speed, ice or crystal--is a central nervous system stimulant. People ingest meth by taking it in pill form, smoking or snorting it, or injecting it. Methamphetamine is a derivative of amphetamine. The precursor materials used to make meth include pseudoephedrine, acetone, lithium batteries and anhydrous ammonia. These products are widely available in drug and grocery stores, hardware and feed stories and on the internet.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug which affects the central nervous system by releasing high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This man-made, highly volatile and addictive synthetic drug, can be produced illegally in homes, cars, hotel rooms, or even plastic bottles. A Meth lab can be as close as the last hotel you stayed in, your neighbor's back yard, their bathtub, or in the car trunk of the car you last passed on the highway.
Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names such as 'speed', 'meth', 'ice', and 'crystal' depending on the geographic location and the method of use. Methamphetamine can be injected, taken orally, snorted, and smoked. The 'high' from methamphetamine use depends on how it is used lasting anywhere between several minutes to twelve hours. Typically meth is a white, odorless powder. Another form of methamphetamine, in clear chunky crystals, is called crystal meth, or ice. Methamphetamine can also be in the form of small, brightly colored tablets, often called by their Thai name, yaba.
While methamphetamine is similar to other illegal drugs in generating violence, crime, and addiction, methamphetamine is distinct from other drugs in two aspects: meth labs pose nightmarish levels of long-lasting environmental damage, and there is not a “typical” methamphetamine user. Meth labs emit highly toxic fumes and involve volatile chemicals that cause severe injury or death if inhaled or touched and are prone to fire and explosions. Once methamphetamine has been produced, the remaining waste and by-product residue pose an entire new level of hazard. The extensive environmental damage requires a response from biologists, ecologists, and toxic waste impact and disposal specialists. Chemical residues left behind cause chemical burns, upper respiratory problems, cold and flu-like symptoms and in some cases, death. Children who are living within the general area of a lab are especially vulnerable.
Methamphetamine remains one of the most addictive drugs in the U.S. Although methamphetamine is notable for its disproportionate use and proliferation among Soccer Moms and the gay male population, methamphetamine is unique among illicit drugs because it is able to penetrate into communities with little to no prior history of use. Traditionally, drugs have a niche market with a community. Methamphetamine, on the other hand, has no target population. Methamphetamine is easily available to anyone regardless of the user or their socio-economic or cultural background. The ability to spread to new populations has made methamphetamine use unique among drug epidemics in terms of the far-reaching impact of the drug.
