What Does Meth Look Like? Risks & Effects of Meth Abuse

What Does Meth Look Like?

Meth (methamphetamine) can be found in two common forms – as a crystalline powder and as glass-like rocks known as crystal meth. Less commonly, the drug is sold in pills or as a gooey waxy oil known as meth base. Regardless of its form, meth produces an energetic and intense high. It can also have dangerous side effects, including an irregular and rapid heartbeat, convulsions, elevated body temperature, and even death. Individuals who repeatedly use this drug can easily develop a meth addiction. Meth addiction is a serious worldwide public health problem with major medical, psychiatric, socioeconomic, and legal consequences.

What Does Liquid Meth Look Like?

Liquid meth is one of the rarer forms of methamphetamine. Most meth drug traffickers often traffic these illicit drugs in liquid form. But it’s rare to purchase the drug in this form on the street. Liquid meth is a dark yellow liquid that has a syrup-like consistency. Most of the time, dealers boil liquid meth to make it back into powder. Liquid meth can also be boiled, leaving only the drug behind. Gallons of liquid meth can be converted into thousands of pounds of powder or crystal methamphetamine, which have a high street value.

Statistics

There are about 24.7 million amphetamine-type stimulant abusers worldwide. In 2018, these figures continued to increase. There are about 24.7 million amphetamine-type stimulant abusers worldwide. In 2018, these figures continued to grow.

What Does a Meth Pipe Look Like?

What is a meth pipe? A meth pipe– is also known as an oil burner, pizzo, bubble, or tweak pipe. Common meth pipe names include gacking, crank, or ice pipe. A pipe for smoking meth is a glass pipe that consists of a tube connected to a spherical bulb with a small opening on top designed for freebasing methamphetamine or crack cocaine as well as other drugs. What does meth pipes look like? A pipe for meth is often advertised as “oil burners” or “mystic vases” designed for burning incense oils.

Homemade meth pipes can be manufactured from aluminum soda cans, GHB vials, and light bulbs. DIY meth pipes and discreet meth pipes can be crafted from household items like glass pipes and aluminum cans. Homemade meth pipes made from makeshift materials may cause harm, including cuts, burns, and blisters around the mouth area. This may lead to infections. “Meth pipe for sale” can be made and sold by drug traffickers or purchased in smoking or vaping shops.

What Does a Meth Lab Look Like?

Like most illegal rugs, meth has paraphernalia that enables it to be cooked, sold, and used. First, meth is manufactured in meth labs. These aren’t the laboratories a person would see in a hospital or a legitimate business. Meth labs can be in a mobile home, a house, or even a vehicle. You usually smell strong and unpleasant odors when you come close to a meth lab. Because the people who make the drug are exposed to these odors, they will keep windows open in all weather and fill the house with fans to pull the noxious air outside.

What does meth lab look like? The processes and equipment used to manufacture meth can also reveal the existence of a secret meth lab. There are some things to look for that may seem innocent enough at first glance but may indicate a methamphetamine laboratory is nearby.

• Propane tanks with fittings that have turned blue, an unusual amount of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, and coffee filters that are stained red.
• A strong chemical odor. Sometimes it can smell like urine.
• Frying pans or glass cookware with powdery residue, bottles with rubber tubing attached, and other chemicals. 

What Does Meth Residue Look Like?

When meth oxidizes and changes into a vapor via cooking or smoking, it absorbs into the structures and settles onto the surfaces of your home. This ‘residue’ is all but indistinguishable from your senses. Many do not even realize a problem until they’re already ill. When meth is smoked, a residue can stain the glass pipes or surfaces where users stay. What does meth residue look like on walls? It can be described as brown or black spots or stains on the walls. Meth manufacturing labs can also have this residue when the substance is “cooked” for long periods of time.

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What Does Fake Meth Look Like?

Replacing or mixing meth with less-expensive drugs or cutting agents allows drug dealers and manufacturers to stretch their profits. What does good meth look like? Without access to a mass spectrometer or other advanced equipment, identifying adulterated or fake meth can be challenging. Depending on the specific cutting agents or adulterants being used, it may or may not be possible to identify phony meth visually.

Common Fake Meth Substances

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) – is a supplement sold to reduce inflammation, relieve muscle pain, and boost immunity. Methylsulfonylmethane is a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) compound, meaning that it is not known to have any harmful effects on the human body. It is a fine, crystalline powder highly soluble in water and will crystalize into methamphetamine crystals directly.

N-isopropylbenzylamine (ISO) – ISO (and related compounds N-Methylbenzylamine, N-ethylbenzylamine, and dimethyl sulfone) is another crystalline compound that is visually similar to methamphetamine. However, it does not have stimulant effects on the body. ISO is not a controlled substance. It is thought to cause headaches and confusion, though its toxicity in the body is not well-tested.

Flakka / Bath Salts (cathinones) – Flakka and bath salts are cathinones that often come as white or pink crystals. These illegal substances have been deemed New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), putting them among a range of inexpensive man-made stimulants with unpredictable and severe effects. Bath salts and Flakka can cause a stimulant high with increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as feelings of euphoria, focus, and boundless energy. 

What Does Someone on Meth Look Like?

Meth face is the name for the decline in physical appearance in the face of many meth addicts, especially those with a long history of abuse. A person’s face on meth usually includes dental problems, skin issues, meth sores in the mouth, false aging, and an overall deterioration of the face. The adverse effects of meth on a meth addict’s face typically get worse with heavier and more frequent use. When meth use stops, many of these effects can be reversed, but these changes often take time, effort, and professional help.

• Mouth Sores – What causes meth sores? Many people addicted to meth may choose to dissolve the drug in water to inject it. This is especially common with advanced meth users. As meth becomes water-soluble, it escapes the body through our pores like sweat. 
•  Premature Aging – What does meth do to your face? Meth has also been linked to the development of certain aging-related diseases, including coronary artery atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and liver steatosis (fatty liver disease). Recent research has found that meth can cause cellular aging and inflammation, factors that may contribute to these problems.
• Skin Acne – The most common effect of meth on the skin is acne lesions. Since acne can be easily noticed and obvious, it’s no wonder why many people have been linking meth to acne breakouts. People who use meth, especially those who binge on the substance, don’t feel the need to drink as much water as people who don’t take meth. This is why their skin tends to get dehydrated.
• Meth Eyes – What does your eyes look like on meth? Methamphetamine causes the pupils of your eyes to be dilated (become larger).  Dilation of the pupils is usually the result of methamphetamine dramatically increasing dopamine in the central nervous system.

What Does Meth Mouth Look Like?

Meth mouth is a term used to describe the visible effects of oral disease in an individual who uses meth (short for methamphetamine) because of the widespread tooth decay that often happens with the drug’s use. People who use meth may have stained, blackened, broken, or rotting teeth, both due to side effects of the drug itself and related lifestyle factors. The typical decay pattern involves the facial and cervical areas of the maxillary and mandibular teeth, with eventual progression to coronal involvement.

Eventually, the best treatment for a person struggling with oral disease caused by meth use, such as meth mouth, is to treat the addiction. Moreover, treating meth addiction is usually a long, continuous process requiring medical detox, ongoing social support, and therapy to recover and prevent a relapse fully.

What does meth mouth look like? There are many reasons why a person may develop a meth mouth. For many individuals addicted to meth, poor nutrition habits, poor dental health, and lack of proper dental maintenance can be factors. Poor overall hygiene can result from combining sugary foods with meth or forgetting to brush your teeth. Usually, individuals abusing meth maintain poor diets and may seek out sweets and sodas– commonly called buzzing — further damaging their enamel. Smoking meth and eating sugary foods also contribute to cavities. Untreated cavities can lead to tooth damage, nerve damage, and sores in the mouth.

What Does a Meth Head Look Like?

Meth head is a methamphetamine addict (referred to as a “tweaker.”) Meth heads are known for their extreme paranoia, flagrant dishonesty, and lack of non-methhead friends. A meth head will steal your stuff and help you look for it. This is a stereotypical definition of a meth head.

Others say that “Meth Head” is used by law enforcement and those out there who have no clue what using meth is like and therefore have no first-hand knowledge of what meth does to the human mind and body. They use the term only to label meth users. It’s the same as calling a group of young men with baggy pants on thugs, or a group of young men with their heads shaved skinheads.

What does a meth head look like? Just because someone has sores on their face doesn’t mean they use meth, that person has probably never used a day in their life, and their skin irritation can be caused by cancer, eczema, a bacterial infection, or allergic reaction.

Some people automatically think they must be on meth because they have messed up teeth. Wrong again. Bad teeth stem from genetics and or bad personal hygiene, and just because you see someone with bad teeth doesn’t mean they are on meth.

What does a meth user look like? Your “typical” meth head likes to get high and often smokes throughout the day. They never stay in one place for too long because they are always on the go. They house surf and carry a backpack with all their worldly belongings. They will sell whatever they have to get a pipe load and appear dirty because they are constantly working on something, whether it be their bicycle or rewiring their car stereos.

What Does Meth Mites Look Like?

What are meth mites? Meth can cause tactile hallucinations, which is when a person feels something that doesn’t exist. Long-term meth abuse may make a person feel as if they have insects crawling on or burrowing beneath their skin. Referred to as “crank bugs” or “meth mites,” the scientific term for this is formication. The sensation is most commonly experienced on the face of meth addicts.

People pick at the skin to relieve the sensation or eliminate the perceived bugs. This skin picking can become obsessive, rendering the skin scaly, dry, irritated, and covered in sores. The more someone picks at sores, the longer it will take to heal, and there is an increased risk of infection.

What Does a Meth Overdose Look Like?

An acute methamphetamine overdose occurs when someone takes this drug accidentally or on purpose and has side effects. These side effects can be life-threatening. A chronic methamphetamine overdose refers to the health effects of someone who uses the drug regularly. Methamphetamine can kill you. High doses can cause the body to overheat to dangerous levels. Death can result from a stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ problems caused by overheating.

What does meth overdose look like? Meth is a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it has a high potential for abuse and limited medical use.

Meth Overdose Signs and Symptoms

What does a meth overdose look like? If someone you know struggles with meth effects, getting familiar with the signs of an overdose could one day save a life.

Common symptoms of a meth overdose include:

• Chest pain
• Arrhythmias
• Hypertension or hypotension
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis
• Seizures
• Rapid or slow heartbeat
• Hyperthermia

What Does Meth Withdrawal Look Like?

Like any other drug addiction, people who repeatedly use meth eventually develop a tolerance to the drug, needing a higher dose to get the same meth effect. They experience meth withdrawal symptoms when the drug leaves their system. 

Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

• Anxiety: 30% of people going through meth withdrawal experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder
• Depression: People often experience a depressed mood as they withdraw from methamphetamines. This often lessens after a few weeks but may continue for a more extended period for some people.
• Fatigue: While meth often causes people to feel energized and hyperactive, withdrawal from the substance can cause severe sleepiness and fatigue.
• Intense Cravings: As with many other addictive substances, people frequently experience intense drug cravings as they withdraw from the meth.

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Getting Help For Meth Addiction

First and foremost, if you think a loved one is abusing meth, you should research its drug and ask yourself, “what does meth look like?” and addiction to understand better what your loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle their addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. 

Lastly, offer your support throughout the entire treatment process. In addition, prolonged meth use can have severe physical and psychological effects, so seeking treatment as soon as possible is essential. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of withdrawal. Meth can kill you.

Medically-Assisted Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated withdrawal process but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient drug rehab helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give the necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 

Medication-Assisted Treatments

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily. The meth effects on the nervous system can be treated simultaneously with the help of therapies.

If you or a loved one is struggling with crystal meth smoke addiction or a high-functioning meth addict, call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation. The We Level Up NJ treatment center network offers nationwide facilities. Connect with one of our rehab specialists.