Author: Gary Jackson

Signs of Meth Use & How to Tell if Someone is High on Crystal Meth

Since meth is a prescription and illicit substance, abuse is considered any meth use that isn’t prescribed by a doctor. It also involves using meth to achieve a euphoric high, using it in high doses, and taking several doses in a row. In 2021, almost 1% of the U.S. population aged 12 or older said they’d used meth in the past year. In comparison, around 4.8 million people said they used cocaine in the same timeframe.

This may be because this drug can come in many different forms, each of which can look different from the other. Many individuals will be motivated to seek out more meth during the crash period. As a central nervous system stimulant, meth primarily works with a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine. It’s responsible for reward, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. It works with your reward system to encourage you to repeat important survival tasks like eating nutritious food.

Identifying Methamphetamine (Meth): Look, Smell & Taste

Crystal meth can dramatically impact the user’s looks and give them certain distinctive characteristics. Roughly37% of peoplewho use or used meth report a significant impact on their appearance. A less common but recognized form of this drug is its liquid appearance. Many users think of the liquid form of meth when they have dissolved the powdered drug in water or alcohol.

The two most common types of meth are a crystalline powder and a shiny, glass-like form of the drug known as crystal meth. Royal Life Centers is a comprehensive network of substance use disorder treatment centers, with locations spanning the nationwide. Our array of evidence-based practices encompass the treatment of addiction and mental health disorders.

  1. Those who are curious to know what color is meth in this form would see that it is similar to a clear, grayish-white, or bluish-white appearance.
  2. But substance use treatment with medical detox and behavioral therapies for addiction can help you recover from meth use disorder.
  3. Our recovery programs are based on decades of research to deliver treatment that really works.
  4. To prepare the meth for use, the water is boiled off, leaving just the powdered form.

Understanding the Patterns of Meth Users

Another sign someone is using crystal meth is the crash phase. During this period, the person’s body collapses after the constant stimulation from meth, usually ending in long periods of sleep. A crash can last anywhere fromone to three days, and it can be an outward sign of meth use that’s apparent to people around the user.

Headaches are themost common meth withdrawal symptom, occurring in 63% of people who use meth, followed by fatigue in 57%, sleep problems in 52%, and depression and anxiety in 41%. Liquid meth is usually a clear liquid, but it may have a tinge of color depending on its purity, and whether or not it was cut with other substances. It is typically difficult to tell if a liquid contains meth just by looking at it.

Crystal Meth

Since meth is prepared using pseudoephedrine tablets which are red, the powdered form may also come as pink meth or even brown. The reddish tint of the tablet becomes dissolved giving the brownish or pinkish tint. In some instances, meth is turned into a blue powder drug, where manufacturers add a bluish food coloring to mimic a “pure” appearance.

Meth Addiction Treatment

Crystal methamphetamine usually looks like glass chunks or shiny bluish-white rocks. If crystal meth comes as more of a powder, it’ll have a bitter taste like other kinds of meth. The second step in getting support is letting someone you trust know that you’re seeking addiction treatment, or admitting to your addiction. If you can’t get the help you need, your loved ones may have the resources to support you in this decision. Do understand that families and friends play a big role in your recovery journey. Opening up to them can help you create a community that helps you avoid addiction triggers and lead you toward long-lasting abstinence from drugs.

Bluffs Rehab center is located in Ohio, Swift River is located in Massachusetts, and Texas Recovery Centers. In pill form, meth can take on many different colors and shapes. It’s important to approach the situation with empathy and care.

The crash can be lengthy for chronic abusers, and bingeing episodes can last for several days or longer. Usually, withdrawal symptoms from meth are not considered dangerous. However, individuals may become emotionally distraught, irrational, and even aggressive.

Along with intense cravings, signs of withdrawal can include anxiety, fatigue, headaches and depression. Crystal meth earns its name because of its crystal-like physical properties, earning the street name “ice” due to its glass-shard and ice-like appearance. The crystals can be white, clear, blue or a combination of these colors.

Of course, health problems are not the only issues that can occur as a result of chronic meth abuse. In addition to the dangers listed above, crystal meth addiction can also lead to many other problems, such as legal trouble, violence, relationship issues, and homelessness. A meth comedown can cause depression, fatigue, anxiety, hypersomnia, paranoia, restlessness, and other uncomfortable symptoms.