Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The drug is available in a legal prescription form to treat ADHD and obesity. Typically, methamphetamine is prescribed at a much lower dose than that which is used to create a high.
To understand how meth works, it is key to understand the role that dopamine plays in the brain. This neurotransmitter provides the brain with a sense of accomplishment for a job well done. Social connections, sex, affection, love, good food, and exercise are all-natural ways to boost the dopamine output of the brain.
When a person uses meth, the brain releases an abnormal amount of dopamine. Since the brain can’t release the same amount of dopamine naturally, many users find themselves constantly thinking about using meth, since they are not able to recreate the same level of good feelings in any other way.
Meth does not just act by allowing the brain to release dopamine – over time, it also destroys the brain’s dopamine receptors, making it impossible for people who use meth to experience pleasure through other means. Many people who use meth find that over time, their work/school performance diminishes, their relationships become troubled, and they find themselves in extreme financial duress.
Meth comes as a pill or powder and may be altered into crystals (known as crystal meth) for illegal use. Crystal meth looks like small shards of glass and is created by altering the prescription form of the drug by cooking it with over-the-counter drugs.
Common street names for methamphetamine include:
- Trash
- Stove Top
- Tweak
- Shards
- Ice
- Bikers Coffee
- Meth
- Speed
- Shabu
- Crank
- Chalk
There are several ways that users consume crystal meth. Meth can be taken as a powder or a pill, or it may be injected, snorted, or smoked. Some users may vary the way that they take meth to intensify the drug’s effects.
