To learn more about methamphetamine

or obtain referrals to programs in your

community, contact:

SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse

for Alcohol and Drug Information

800-729-6686

TDD 800-487-4889

linea gratis en español

877-767-8432

The bottom line: The bottom line: If you The bottom line: know someone who uses meth, urge him or

her to stop or get help. If you use meth—stop! The longer you ignore

the real facts, the more chances you take with your life.

It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a

teacher, or another adult you trust.

Do it today!

Q. Isn’t methamphetamine less harmful than

crack, cocaine, or heroin?

A. Some users get hooked the first time they snort,

smoke, or inject meth. Because it can be made from

lethal ingredients like battery acid, drain cleaner,

lantern fuel, and antifreeze, there is a greater chance

of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or serious brain

damage with this drug than with other drugs.

Q. Isn’t using methamphetamine like using diet pills?

A. No. Though it is easily attainable, methamphetamine

is dangerous and addictive. From 1998 to 1999,

deaths due to meth rose 38 percent.4 In 2002, meth

was involved in 17,696 emergency room visits.5

Methamphetamine

Curious about the TV ads of the National Youth

Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check out the Web site at

www.freevibe.com or visit the Office of National Drug

Control Policy Web site at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.
Slang—Speed, Meth, Crystal, Crank, Tweak, Go-fast, Ice, Glass, Uppers, Black Beauties

Know the risks. There are a lot of risks associated

with using methamphetamine, including:

• Meth can cause a severe "crash" after the effects

wear off.

• Meth use can cause irreversible damage to blood

vessels in the brain.

• Meth users who inject the drug and share needles

are at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS.

Look around you. Not everyone is using methamphetamine. In 2003, only 3.2 percent of 12th graders

reported having used methamphetamine.3

Know the Signs...

How can you tell if a friend is using meth? It may

not be easy to tell. But there are signs you can look for.

Symptoms of methamphetamine use may include:

• Inability to sleep

• Increased sensitivity to noise

• Nervous physical activity, like scratching

• Irritability, dizziness, or confusion

• Extreme anorexia

• Tremors or even convulsions

• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of

stroke

• Presence of inhaling paraphernalia, such as razor

blades, mirrors, and straws

• Presence of injecting paraphernalia, such as syringes, heated spoons, or surgical tubing

What can you do to help a friend who is using meth?

Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage

your friend to stop or seek professional help. For

information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-

6686.

Methamphetamine

Get the Facts...

Methamphetamine affects your brain. In the short

term, meth causes mind and mood changes such as

anxiety, euphoria, and depression. Long-term effects

can include chronic fatigue, paranoid or delusional

thinking, and permanent psychological damage.

Methamphetamine affects your body. Over "amping"

on any type of speed is pretty risky. Creating a false

sense of energy, these drugs push the body faster and

further than it's meant to go. It increases the heart rate,

blood pressure, and risk of stroke.

Methamphetamine affects your self-control. Meth is

a powerfully addictive drug that can cause aggression

and violent or psychotic behavior.1

Methamphetamine is not what it seems. Even speed

drugs are not always safe. Giga-jolts of the well-known

stimulants caffeine or ephedrine can cause stroke or

cardiac arrest when overused or used by people with a

sensitivity to them.

Methamphetamine can kill you. An overdose of meth

can result in heart failure. Long-term physical effects

such as liver, kidney, and lung damage may also kill you.

Before You Risk It...

Know the law. Methamphetamine is illegal in all states

and highly dangerous.

Get the facts. The ignitable, corrosive, and toxic

nature of the chemicals used to produce meth can cause

fires, produce toxic vapors, and damage the environment.

Stay informed. In 2001, methamphetamine use sent

more people to the emergency room than use of any

other club drug. Over half of these cases involved meth

in combination with another drug, such as alcohol,

heroin, or cocaine.2

Revised in 2004

For more information, go to www.ncadi.samhsa.gov