Methamphetamine

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Images
• Health Check Tools

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Methamphetamine - meth for short - is a very addictive stimulant drug. It is a powder that can be made into a pill or a shiny rock (called a crystal). The powder can be eaten or snorted up the nose. It can also be mixed with liquid and injected into your body with a needle. Crystal meth is smoked in a small glass pipe.

Meth at first causes a rush of good feelings, but then users feel edgy, overly excited, angry, or afraid. Meth use can quickly lead to addiction. It causes medical problems including

• Making your body temperature so high that you pass out
• Severe itching
• "Meth mouth" - broken teeth and dry mouth
• Thinking and emotional problems

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Start Here

• Meth (Crank, Ice) Facts (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
• Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Drug Testing (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Methamphetamine Use and Oral Health (American Dental Association) - PDF
• Methamphetamine Use and Pulmonary Hypertension (Pulmonary Hypertension Association) - PDF

Specifics

• Methamphetamine Pills (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)

Images

• Methamphetamine (Drug Enforcement Administration)

Health Check Tools

• Test Your Knowledge: Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Statistics and Research

• Methamphetamine Alters Brain Structures, Impairs Mental Flexibility (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Research Reports: Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Stress-Induced Enzyme Compounds Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Methamphetamine (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Association between cytochrome P450 2D6 polymorphisms and body fluid methamphetamine...
• Article: Identification and characterization of 4-chloromethamphetamine (4-CMA) in seized ecstacy -...
• Article: CDK5-mediated tau accumulation triggers methamphetamine-induced neuronal apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum-associated...
• Methamphetamine -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Methamphetamine: Glossary (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• National Institute on Drug Abuse Also in Spanish
• Partnership at Drugfree.org (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
• Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Children

• Mind Over Matter: Methamphetamine (National Institute on Drug Abuse) Also in Spanish
• What You Need to Know about Drugs: Methamphetamines (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Methamphetamine (Meth) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Methamphetamine (Meth) (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Tips for Teens: The Truth about Methamphetamine (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF

Women

• Methamphetamine/Dextroamphetamine and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Methamphetamine overdose (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Substance use -- amphetamines (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Tips for Teens: The Truth about Methamphetamine (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF