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Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant

drug that strongly activates certain systems

in the brain. Methamphetamine is closely

related chemically to amphetamine, but

the central nervous system effects of

methamphetamine are greater. Both drugs

have some limited therapeutic uses, 

primarily in the treatment of obesity.

Methamphetamine is made in illegal 

laboratories and has a high potential for

abuse and addiction. Street methamphetamine is referred to by many names, 

such as “speed,” “meth,” and “chalk.”

Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear

chunky crystals resembling ice, which can

be inhaled by smoking, is referred to as

“ice,” “crystal,” “glass,” and “tina.”

Health Hazards ———

Methamphetamine releases high levels of

the neurotransmitter dopamine, which

stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood

and body movement. It also appears 

to have a neurotoxic effect, damaging

brain cells that contain dopamine and

serotonin, another neurotransmitter. 

Over time, methamphetamine appears 

to cause reduced levels of dopamine,

which can result in symptoms like those 

of Parkinson’s disease, a severe movement

disorder.

Methamphetamine is taken orally or

intranasally (snorting the powder), by

intravenous injection, and by smoking.

Immediately after smoking or intravenous

injection, the methamphetamine user

experiences an intense sensation, called a

“rush” or “flash,” that lasts only a few

minutes and is described as extremely

pleasurable. Oral or intranasal use 

produces euphoria—a high, but not a

rush. Users may become addicted quickly,

and use it with increasing frequency and

in increasing doses.

Animal research going back more than

20 years shows that high doses of

methamphetamine damage neuron cell

endings. Dopamine- and serotonincontaining neurons do not die after

methamphetamine use, but their nerve

endings (“terminals”) are cut back, and

regrowth appears to be limited.

The central nervous system (CNS) actions

that result from taking even small amounts

of methamphetamine include increased

wakefulness, increased physical activity,

decreased appetite, increased respiration,

hyperthermia, and euphoria. Other CNS

effects include irritability, insomnia, 

confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety,

paranoia, and aggressiveness. Hyperthermia

and convulsions can result in death.

Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine causes increased heart

rate and blood pressure and can cause

irreversible damage to blood vessels in

the brain, producing strokes. Other effects

of methamphetamine include respiratory

problems, irregular heartbeat, and

extreme anorexia. Its use can result in

cardiovascular collapse and death.

Extent of Use ———

Monitoring the Future Study

(MTF)*

MTF assesses the extent of drug use

among adolescents (8th-, 10th-, and

12th-graders) and young adults across

the country. Recent data from the survey

indicate the following:

• In 2003, 6.2 percent of high school

seniors had reported lifetime** use of

methamphetamine, statistically

unchanged from 6.9 percent in 2001.

Lifetime use was measured at 5.2 

percent of 10th grade students and

3.9 percent of 8th-graders.

• Annual** use remained stable at 3.3

percent in 2003 among 10th-graders

and at 3.2 percent among seniors.

Community Epidemiology Work

Group (CEWG)***

Results reported at the most recent CEWG

meeting indicate that methamphetamine

abuse and production continue at high

levels in Hawaii, west coast areas, and

some southwestern areas of the United

States—but methamphetamine abuse 

also is continuing to spread eastward to

urban, suburban, and rural areas at a

pace unrivaled by any other drug in

recent times. 

The percentage of adult male arrestees

testing methamphetamine-positive

increased in 10 CEWG areas between

2001 and 2003. The percentages were

highest in Honolulu (43.8 percent), San

Diego (36.7), Phoenix (38.5), Los Angeles

(14.8), and Seattle (10.9). More than 

54 percent of adult female arrestees in

Honolulu tested positive for methamphetamine in 2002, as did nearly 42 percent

of those in Phoenix and more than 47

percent in San Diego.

Several other items of significance were

reported, as follows:

• In 2002, 46 percent of the 15,676

methamphetamine lab incidents were

reported in 9 sites located in middle

America: Missouri (2,788), Iowa

(862), Kansas (763), Oklahoma

(595), Tennessee (560), Illinois (551),

Arkansas (398), Kentucky (372), and

Nebraska (272).

• In the first 6 months of 2003, more 

than 56 percent of substance abuse

treatment admissions in Hawaii were

for primary methamphetamine abuse.

San Diego followed, with nearly 51

percent.

• Some MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine

users are switching to methamphetamine, ignorant of its severe toxicity.

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• In many gay clubs found throughout

New York City and elsewhere,

methamphetamine is often used in an

injectable form, placing users and

their partners at risk for transmission

of HIV, hepatitis C, and other STDs.

National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health (NSDUH)****

According to the 2002 NSDUH, 12.4 

million Americans age 12 and older had

tried methamphetamine at least once in

their lifetimes (5.3 percent of the population), with the majority of past-year users

between 18 and 34 years of age.

* These data are from the 2003 Monitoring the Future Survey, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National

Institutes of Health, DHHS, and conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. The survey has

tracked 12th-graders’ illicit drug use and related attitudes since 1975; in 1991, 8th- and 10th-graders were added to the

study. The latest data are online at www.drugabuse.gov. 

** “Lifetime” refers to use at least once during a respondent’s lifetime. “Annual” refers to use at least once during the year

preceding an individual’s response to the survey. “30-day” refers to use at least once during the 30 days preceding an

individual’s response to the survey.

*** CEWG is a NIDA-sponsored network of researchers from 21 major U.S. metropolitan areas and selected foreign countries

who meet semiannually to discuss the latest epidemiology of drug abuse. CEWG’s most recent reports are available at

http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/cewg/pubs.html.

**** NSDUH (formerly known as the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse) is an annual survey conducted by the

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Findings from the latest survey are available at www.samhsa.gov.

National Institutes of Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This material may be used or reproduced without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated.