The “Crystal Method”
METHAMPHETAMINES:
ALSO:
CRANK, CRYSTAL, SPEED, METH, C.R., GO, GO FAST, GEEK, GACK, GEET, RED ROCK,
TWEAK, SHABU, HIRRPOPON, BATU, AMP, PEANUT BUTTER, PROPE DOPE, P2P, POOR MAN'S
COKE, PINK GLASS, CHALK, ZIP
SMOKERS
ALSO: LOKER,
BULB BABY, BULBER, CHORE BOY, HITTER:
Inhaled use
Smoking methamphetamines through a glass pipe is the most
efficient way to take the drug because little of the drug is lost, leaving it
quite concentrated. However, smoking
speed is very dangerous because heating the compound increases the rate of
chemical reaction. Thus the compound reacts to itself and to other constituents
(impurities). There is great potential
for fire hazard because of this reactivity.
The risk of overdose is also increased because often times the user is
unaware of the toxic effects being produced.
The drug is consumed faster by smoking (3 seconds to reach the brain!)
than by other methods. The problem with
smoking meth is that it hits the
bulb hitter's brain so quickly that they wouldn't even realize if they've
overdosed.
INCLUDE VISUAL OF THE
CHEMICAL COMPOUND
EFFECTS:
Smokers
experience an exhilarating high or rush, similar to the elation of intravenous
users. Methamphetamine is a so biologically appealing that animals will choose
to receive meth over fufilling basic needs, such as eating, sleeping, and
reproducing. The potential for
addiction is enormous and immediate.
After some time has elapsed, the user could experience toxic
effects. Sweating, shaking, temperature
increases, dry mouth, and headaches often accompany these effects.
Smoking
meth seems to be less physically detectable than other methods, thus more
attractive to some users. A bulb baby
may seem quite coherent, outwardly stable, and confident. On the other hand, the tweaker may exhibit
any number of positive psychotic traits, delusions, and hallucinations. These traits, of course, will vary with the
individual.
The
method of use has influence upon the intensity, duration, and quality of
effects achieved by the user.
Interestingly, smoking methamphetamine is regarded with suspicion and
looked down upon by many recreational methamphetamine users. People who smoke speed are scorned by other
because somehow this style of use seems more "junked out" than, say,
snorting fat rocks does.
SNORTERS:
ALSO: GACKERS,
GEETERS, TWEAKERS, RAILS, TRAIN TRACKS, RAILING DOWN, LIGHTNING BOLTS, SNORTING
FAT ROCKS:
Intranasal use
Intranasal methamphetamine
use is a common method of administration. Snorting takes about 6 seconds for
the drug to cross the blood/brain barrier. The substance is readily routed to
the brain via free nerve endings in the epithelial
layer (mucous layer) within the nose (include visuals). Though this harsh chemical agent will damage
these nerve endings and diminish the capacity for olfactory perception (sense of smell), it is a lucky coincidence
that these fibers regenerate every 5 to 8 weeks. The olfactory system
is one of our most primitive sensory systems, and requires no thalamic relay (neuronal routing within
the brain). For this reason, the drug
acts upon the brain quite quickly.
EFFECTS:
"Riding the Rails" wears heavily on the body. Because of the close proximity that the
sinuses and nasal areas share with the eyes, the eyes will water and become
irritated. The famous "Black Basketball" pupils are, of course, pronounced, and the eyes
give telling physical indications of meth use.
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As the drug works its way
down the back of the throat, a ghastly burn and taste is experienced. This is sometimes accompanied by a numbing
effect. It is common to gag at the taste
or even vomit.
SHOOTERS:
ALSO: BANGERS,
SLAMMERS, THROWING DARTS, HOOKING UP, FRESHIES, ARROWS, POINTS:
Intravenous use
Throwing
darts is definitely the most intimidating and risky method of drug use. From the early Vick's inhaler days of
amphetamines in the 1930's, people have derived pleasurable effects from
"shooting" meth. The
trademark characteristic of intravenous drug use, such as morphine or heroin,
is the powerful euphoria immediately
experienced. Slammers dissolve the drug
into solution to eliminate the impurities from the product, then siphon the solute
into a cotton. The liquid would then be
drawn up into a "rig" and administered into a vein. (visual)
EFFECTS:
The
most obvious problem with intravenous drug use is the potential for overdose
and contamination. Hepatitis C is a
recent development, largely attributed to the sharing of needles. The AIDS virus can be communicated through
the blood via "dirty" or contaminated points.