Being informed about drugs, what they might contain, their effects and potential risks can help you make better decisions about drugs, and help you to understand what other people around you might be experiencing.

What is Meth?
Methamphetamine, or Meth, is a type of amphetamine and is the active ingredient in speed powder, freebase (base or paste), and crystal meth (rock or ice). It is basically a stronger, longer acting version of the dexamphetamine molecule (dexies) which means the side effects can also be more intense.

Meth is a potent psychostimulant, meaning that small amounts have a powerful stimulating effect on your nervous system.  The drug’s effects last about four to eight hours, and can be detected in your body fluids for 3 to 4 days with a hangover and comedown to match. 

Why do people use it?
There are many factors that influence a person’s decisions about whether to use drugs. These include the experiences an individual may have had growing up that influence their decision making as a young adult; whether an individual has a risk taking nature; the social norms within a young person’s peer group, sibling or parental drug use; type of venues where they hang out, and whether other people around them are taking drugs at that venue.  The decision of whether or not to use  drugs is very complex.

Obviously people take meth to feel good, but if you take too much in one go, or use too frequently, speed can make you feel pretty shocking. Because of the high potency of crystal meth, and its long life in the body, it’s easy to accidentally take too much, and it’s also highly ‘habit-forming’.

To counter the dodgy side effects people often take other drugs such as minor tranquilisers, cannabis, alcohol and heroin to help them get to sleep or ‘come down’ from their high. Unfortunately this means people can become reliant on more than one drug. The mixing of different types of drugs is sometimes a cocktail for disaster.

Most people find that once their body becomes accustomed to taking methamphetamine regularly, they feel extremely tired, have little enthusiasm, and get cranky easily when they go without. Regular, heavy use can lead to tolerance (need more meth to get similar effect) and dependence on the drug.

What happens if you take too much (overdose)?
The risk of overdose generally increases with a larger dose. As the strength and content of meth is unknown it can be difficult to judge the dose, increasing the risk of overdose.

Overdose occurs when the level of intoxication from the drug reaches a point where it begins to produce physical and/or psychological harm.

Overdose from meth usually results from the drug’s stimulatory properties and can cause strokes, heart failure, seizures and death.

What is “speed-psychosis”?
In large doses, or if used for prolonged periods of time, methamphetamine can cause hallucinations, delusions (false beliefs), and extreme paranoia. This is true methamphetamine-psychosis. Someone suffering from a methamphetamine-induced psychosis behaves in a very similar way to someone experiencing a psychotic episode caused by schizophrenia.

Unlike schizophrenia however, methamphetamine related psychosis usually goes away once the speed starts to wear off. Most people start to recover within 48 hours, although serious cases, especially if caused by long-term heavy use, can take a few weeks or longer to settle down.  In some cases, people may never return from their psychotic episode.

Treatment for psychosis usually consists of a strong sedative or antipsychotic injection.  Because the symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis closely resemble a psychotic mental illness, Doctors may want to keep people in hospital for observation overnight, or refer them to Mental Health services for an assessment.

Any other bad news?
As methamphetamine is more potent than amphetamine, users are likely to experience more severe side-effects. Methamphetamine also increases the risk of mental health problems, so people with an existing mental health condition should be extra cautious about using this drug.

There are also dangerous effects associated with the method of use. Snorting can damage the fragile mucous membrane in the nasal passages. It produces burns and sores on the membranes that line the interior of the nose.

Injecting amphetamines can result in blocked blood vessels that can cause major damage to the body’s organs, such as inflamed blood vessels and abscesses, blood poisoning, bacterial infections which may damage the heart valves, vein collapse, infection at injection site, bruising or more serious injuries if users inject into an artery or tissue.

Look after yourself and your friends…
If you use meth or know someone who does, remember that:

• It is important to eat and sleep before and after using meth.  
• Because using meth can have harmful effects, users can be in dangerous situations and they should not be left alone. 
• If you suspect any bad effects, call an ambulance immediately. Don’t delay, you could save a life. 
• The ambulance officers are there to help you. The police will not be called unless a there is a death or the ambulance officers are threatened. 
• Be sure to describe what drug the person has taken. If the user is unconscious and you know first aid, place them in the recovery position and ensure the airway is clear. If they have stopped breathing, perform Expired Air Resuscitation (EAR). 
• It is much safer not to inject drugs. However, if you do inject, use clean equipment (needle, syringe, swab, tourniquet, spoon, glass, filter and sterile water) and do not share gear. Fitpacks® which contain clean syringes are available from most pharmacies, needle and syringe exchange programs

Frankly the only way to really be safe from the dangers of illicit drugs is to not use them at all.  You never know what they may contain or what the effects will be, and even if you have used a drug previously you can’t expect it to have the same effect the next time you take it. 

Get paid to look after your friends – join Project Amped
If you are interested in being involved in a new project aimed at keeping your mates safe when using meth, we want to hear from you. People who use meth regularly are invited to be part of focus groups running at the end of October. You will paid for your time. To register your interest email projectamped@yahoo.com.au or phone ADIS on 9442 5000.

I’ve got more questions – who can I speak to?
For good advice about drugs or alcohol you can contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 9442 5000, to speak confidentially to a trained counsellor anytime of the day or night.