CRYSTAL METH
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT CAN IT DO TO YOU?
Methamphetamine
aka Crystal Meth, Meth, Speed,
Crank, Crystal, Tweak, Gak, Zip,
Sketch, Tik, Go-fast, Chalk, Ice, etc.
WHAT IS IT?
Methamphetamine is a powerful
central nervous system stimulant
that was prescribed throughout the
1900s for narcolepsy, ADD, asthma
and weight loss.
It is now illegally produced and sold
as pills, powder and crystals. It is
made in home laboratories from
ingredients like over-the-counter cold
and ashma medications, red
phosphorous, hydrochloric acid,
drain cleaner, battery acid, lye,
lantern fuel, and antifreeze.
Meth is highly addictive, even more
so than crack cocaine!
One hit costs between $10 and $25.
Why Use?! !
1. Crystal makes you feel sociable, sexy
and smart.
1. Crystal increases high-risk sexual
behaviour leading to increased rates
of HIV and other STI transmission.
2. Crystal helps you lose weight
and be more productive.
2. Frequent use can lead to irritability,
violence, hallucinations and
paranoia.
3. Crystal helps you focus on your
studies or projects.
3. Using can cause you to “tweak”,
having semi-purposeful movements
or focussing on unimportant
details.
HOW IS IT USED?
Meth can be smoked, injected,
snorted, eaten or inserted into the
vagina or rectum.
What’s Reality!
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Meth use can lead to obsessive picking at the
skin, or “Meth Bugs” leading to scabs, infections
and abscesses.
As of 2005 in Canada the maximum penalty for
the production and distribution of meth has
increased from 10 years to life in prison!
“Meth Mouth” - An informal term given to the
effects of long term meth use including dry
mouth, teeth grinding, clenching, poor oral
hygiene, and high calorie diets.
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Fast Facts
behaviour and belief that there are
parasites or bugs under the skin.
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS:
Tooth grinding, sores, acne, sweating,
respiratory disorders.
LONG TERM EFFECTS:
What is the high?
•••
Users take meth to get the “high”.
This is characterized by euphoria,
increased alertness, loss of
inhibitions, increased energy and
decreased appetite.
But what else is it doing to me?
CENTRAL NERVOUS SIDE EFFECTS:
Paranoia, writhing or flailing
movements, irritability, nervousness,
insomnia, anxiety, aggression,
dizziness, fever, numbness,
convulsions.
CARDIAC SIDE EFFECTS:
Chest pain, high blood pressure,
accelerated heart beat, irreversible
damage to blood vessels in the brain,
heart attack and cardiovascular
collapse.
PSYCHIATRIC SIDE EFFECTS:
Long term users can resemble
schizophrenics with anger, panic,
paranoia, hallucinations, repetitive
CONTACTS
Specialized Youth Detox: 383-3514
Victoria Youth Clinic: 388-7841
Alcohol and Drug Services: 387-5077
Y Youth Counseling: 386-7511
Native Friendship Centre: 384-3211
Narcotics Anonymous: 383-3553
AIDS Vancouver Island: 384-2366
Pacific Centre Family Serv: 478-8357
Kidney, lung, liver and brain damage,
blood clots, chronic depression,
hallucinations, violent and aggressive
behaviour, malnutrition, depressed
immune system, psychosis.
OVERDOSE:
As little as 50 milligrams can cause
overdose in a non-tolerant user.
Overdose leads to high fever,
convulsions, cardiovascular collapse
and death.
WHAT IF I’M PREGNANT?
Babies can be born addicted and
suffer from birth defects, low
birth weight, tremors, excessive
crying, ADD and behaviour
disorders.
What if I’m addicted?
Withdrawal will last about 7-14
days and can lead to sadness,
irritability and risk of suicide.
Don’t give up hope, there is help
available! Please see the boxes
below for places you can turn to to
help you get off meth and stay
clean.
1.
Over the past 4 years
meth related deaths in BC
have increased tenfold.
2.
The Specialized Youth
Detox Centre in Victoria
saw an increase in
admissions for meth from 17
to 117 over four years.
3. !
The average age of kids
in detox in Victoria in 2002
was 16.
4. Dealers often cut Ecstasy
with meth or give out free
samples to get you hooked.
5. ! Meth has been linked to
sudden death, heart attack
and psychosis.
A METH STORY:
“All I wanted to do was hang out and get
high – and I could never get high enough.
Sometimes I would be up for days, smoking
constantly. When I’d finally come down, I
was totally depleted. I would barely get out
of bed for weeks. I even tried to stay sober
at one point. I got a job at a local gas
station to support myself, but after a month
I started using again. I couldn’t hold my job
because I was too sick and too high to
function.”
“I know many women who’ve had their
children taken away, even mothers who
chose to give their kids up to the system. I
know women who have literally lost their
minds because of meth and I was
becoming one of them. I had no patience
especially for own son. It was with this
realization that I knew I had to change my
life. “ - Mindy
WEBSITES
RESOURCES
www.yves.ca/syd.html
www.victoriay.com/
youth_outreach.php
www.crystalmethbc.ca
www.kci.org/index.html
www.victoriayouthclinic.ca
http://www.crystalmethbc.ca/
www.vyes.ca/syd.html
www.uptodate.com
www.victoriay.com/youth_outreach.php
www.drugfree.org