Who uses methamphetamine?

What are the risks?

In the past the typical methamphetamine user was an adult male with a 

lower than average income. However, 

now individuals of all ages and economic status use methamphetamine. 

Data reported in the National 

Household Survey on Drug Abuse 

indicate that an estimated 9.6 million 

U.S. residents aged 12 and older used 

methamphetamine at least once in their 

lifetime. The survey also revealed that 

many teenagers and young adults use 

methamphetamine—338,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 1.5 million individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug at 

least once.

Methamphetamine use among high

school students is a particular concern.

Nearly 7 percent of high school seniors in

the United States used the drug at least

once in their lifetime, and nearly 2 percent used the drug in the past month,

according to the University of Michigan’s

Monitoring the Future Survey.

Methamphetamine use is associated 

with many serious physical problems. 

The drug can cause rapid heart rate, 

increased blood pressure, and damage 

to the small blood vessels in the 

brain—which can lead to stroke. 

Chronic use of the drug can result in 

inflammation of the heart lining. 

Overdoses of methamphetamine can 

cause hyperthermia (elevated body 

temperature), convulsions, and death.

What is methamphetamine?

What does it look like?

How is methamphetamine abused?

Methamphetamine is a synthetic 

(man-made) stimulant that is highly 

addictive. The drug is abused 

because it produces euphoric 

effects—sometimes described as a 

sense of well-being—that can last up 

to 24 hours. Methamphetamine is 

inexpensive and relatively easy to 

produce—making it affordable and 

readily available to teenagers.

Because methamphetamine can be 

produced using many different methods, its appearance can vary dramatically. The drug may be sold either as 

a powder—sometimes crystalline—or 

as rock-like chunks. The color of 

methamphetamine likewise varies: 

white, yellow, brown, gray, orange, 

and pink all have been observed.

Methamphetamine can be injected, 

smoked, snorted, or ingested orally.

Injecting or smoking the drug produces an immediate and intense rush.

The euphoric effect that results from

snorting or ingesting the drug is not as

intense and requires more time to take

effect—3 to 5 minutes for snorting and

15 to 20 minutes for oral ingestion.

Individuals who abuse methamphetamine also may have episodes of violent 

behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion,

and insomnia. Methamphetamine also

can produce psychotic symptoms that 

persist for months or years after an 

individual has stopped using the drug.

Methamphetamine abusers who 

inject the drug expose themselves to 

additional risks, including contracting 

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 

hepatitis B and C, and other bloodborne viruses. Chronic users who 

inject methamphetamine also risk 

scarred or collapsed veins, infections of 

the heart lining and valves, abscesses, 

pneumonia, tuberculosis, and liver and 

kidney disease.

The most common names for methamphetamine are crank, meth, and 

speed. (Please see the Street Terms text 

box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

Who uses methamphetamine?

What are the risks?

In the past the typical methamphetamine user was an adult male with a 

lower than average income. However, 

now individuals of all ages and economic status use methamphetamine. 

Data reported in the National 

Household Survey on Drug Abuse 

indicate that an estimated 9.6 million 

U.S. residents aged 12 and older used 

methamphetamine at least once in their 

lifetime. The survey also revealed that 

many teenagers and young adults use 

methamphetamine—338,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 1.5 million individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug at 

least once.

Methamphetamine use among high

school students is a particular concern.

Nearly 7 percent of high school seniors in

the United States used the drug at least

once in their lifetime, and nearly 2 percent used the drug in the past month,

according to the University of Michigan’s

Monitoring the Future Survey.

Methamphetamine use is associated 

with many serious physical problems. 

The drug can cause rapid heart rate, 

increased blood pressure, and damage 

to the small blood vessels in the 

brain—which can lead to stroke. 

Chronic use of the drug can result in 

inflammation of the heart lining. 

Overdoses of methamphetamine can 

cause hyperthermia (elevated body 

temperature), convulsions, and death.

What is methamphetamine?

What does it look like?

How is methamphetamine abused?

Methamphetamine is a synthetic 

(man-made) stimulant that is highly 

addictive. The drug is abused 

because it produces euphoric 

effects—sometimes described as a 

sense of well-being—that can last up 

to 24 hours. Methamphetamine is 

inexpensive and relatively easy to 

produce—making it affordable and 

readily available to teenagers.

Because methamphetamine can be 

produced using many different methods, its appearance can vary dramatically. The drug may be sold either as 

a powder—sometimes crystalline—or 

as rock-like chunks. The color of 

methamphetamine likewise varies: 

white, yellow, brown, gray, orange, 

and pink all have been observed.

Methamphetamine can be injected, 

smoked, snorted, or ingested orally.

Injecting or smoking the drug produces an immediate and intense rush.

The euphoric effect that results from

snorting or ingesting the drug is not as

intense and requires more time to take

effect—3 to 5 minutes for snorting and

15 to 20 minutes for oral ingestion.

Individuals who abuse methamphetamine also may have episodes of violent 

behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion,

and insomnia. Methamphetamine also

can produce psychotic symptoms that 

persist for months or years after an 

individual has stopped using the drug.

Methamphetamine abusers who 

inject the drug expose themselves to 

additional risks, including contracting 

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 

hepatitis B and C, and other bloodborne viruses. Chronic users who 

inject methamphetamine also risk 

scarred or collapsed veins, infections of 

the heart lining and valves, abscesses, 

pneumonia, tuberculosis, and liver and 

kidney disease.

The most common names for methamphetamine are crank, meth, and 

speed. (Please see the Street Terms text 

box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

Beannies

Brown

Chalk

Chicken feed

Cinnamon

Crink

Crypto

Fast

Getgo

Methlies quik

Mexican crack

Redneck cocaine

Rock

Tick tick

Wash

Yellow powder

Street Terms for Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine

NDIC

Methamphetamine

www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Other products of interest:

For more information on illicit drugs 

check out our web site at:

www.usdoj.gov/ndic 

Call 814-532-4541 

to request NDIC products

, Huffing—The Abuse of Inhalants

, Prescription Drug Abuse and Youth

, Drugs,Youth, and the Internet

National Drug Intelligence Center

319 Washington Street, 5th Floor

Johnstown, PA 15901-1622

Telephone: 814-532-4601

FAX: 814-532-4690

NDIC Washington Liaison Office

8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1001

McLean, VA 22102-3840

Telephone: 703-556-8970

FAX: 703-556-7807

NDIC publications are available on the following web sites:

ADNET http://ndicosa

LEO home.leo.gov/lesig/ndic

RISS ndic.riss.net

INTERNET www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Is methamphetamine illegal?

Yes, methamphetamine is illegal. 

Methamphetamine is a Schedule II 

substance under the Controlled 

Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, 

which include cocaine and PCP, 

have a high potential for abuse. 

Abuse of these drugs may lead to 

severe psychological or physical 

dependence.

Cover photo: NDIC

Check out Fast Facts on:

, Crack cocaine

, Crystal methamphetamine

, GHB and analogs

, Heroin

, Inhalants

, Jimsonweed

, Ketamine

, Khat

, LSD

, Marijuana

, MDMA

, PCP

, Powdered cocaine

, Prescription drugs

, Yaba NDIC Product No. 2003-L0559-006

National Drug Intelligence Center

a component of the 

U.S. Department of Justice

051503

Fast Facts

Questions 

and 

Answers