How is crystal methamphetamine used?
Crystal can be smoked, snorted, injected, or eaten. Users usually begin feeling the effects within 3-5 seconds when smoked, and the initial high may last 8-16 hours. What does the high feel like? Initially, the user experiences intense feelings of euphoria. The user feels energized, alert, talkative, happy, confident, and powerful. What are the symptoms of crystal methamphetamine use? • Dilated pupils and rapid eye movements • Clammy, flushed skin • Increase in body metabolism, heart rate, and blood pressure • Jitteriness, twitching, and muscle spasms (especially apparent in the face, jaw, and neck) • Loss of interest in normal activities like eating, drinking, sex, and sleeping (a user on a run or binge can stay awake for up to a couple of weeks at a time) • Compulsive and repetitive behaviour (e.g., picking at one’s skin, overzealous cleaning or grooming behaviour, tooth grinding) • Hyper alertness • Mental confusion • Inability to focus on one task • Rapid speech • Agitated, anxious
