Commonly Abused Drugs

Methamphetamine

An extremely addictive stimulant amphetamine drug.

Street Names Commercial Names Common Forms Common Ways Taken DEA Schedule
Crank, Chalk, Crystal, Fire, Glass, Go Fast, Ice, Meth, Speed Desoxyn® White powder or pill; crystal meth looks like pieces of glass or shiny blue-white "rocks" of different sizes Swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected II

Possible Health Effects
Short-term Increased wakefulness and physical activity; decreased appetite; increased breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature; irregular heart beat.
Long-term Anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood problems, violent behavior; paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, weight loss, severe dental problems ("meth mouth"), intense itching leading to skin sores from scratching.
Other Health-related Issues Pregnancy: premature delivery; separation of the placenta from the uterus; low birth weight; lethargy; heart and brain problems.

Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles.
In Combination with Alcohol Masks the depressant effect of alcohol, increasing risk of alcohol overdose; may increase blood pressure and jitters.
Withdrawal Symptoms Depression, anxiety, tiredness.
Treatment options
Medications There are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction.
Behavioral Therapies
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Contingency management or motivational incentives
  • The matrix model
  • 12-Step facilitation therapy