Methamphetamine or meth is a highly potent stimulant drug. While it is available by prescription under the name Desoxyn to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), most people are abusing a street version of meth. Street or crystal meth might contain dangerous additives and household chemicals like battery acid, drain cleaner, and even antifreeze.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), “an estimated 9.6 million U.S. residents aged 12 and older used methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime.”[1]
If you are worried that your loved one is abusing meth, it can be helpful to know what meth paraphernalia looks like. Most people who use meth smoke it out of a pipe. Meth pipes have a long and straight base that leads to a sphere or “bubble.”
Other signs that your loved one is using meth include unexplained weight loss, increased energy levels, not sleeping for days at a time, changes in appearance, and more. Meth addiction should always be treated by a professional drug and alcohol rehab program. At Alamo Behavioral Health, we can provide your loved one with the tools and support they need to achieve long-term recovery from meth addiction.
What you will learn:
- How to spot a meth pipe
- How to identify other meth paraphernalia
- What are the signs of meth abuse
How to Identify a Meth Pipe
Meth can be smoked, snorted, swallowed, and injected, but most people smoke it.
Meth pipes look similar to crack pipes. They have a long and straight base that leads to a sphere or bubble. If your loved one abuses meth, they will put the meth inside of the bubble and light the underside of it while inhaling through the straight base.
Meth pipes have several street names or slang terms, including:
- Glass roses
- Bubbles
- Pizzos
- Bangers
- Pookies
These glass pipes can come in a variety of colors, including clear, blue, green, red, and more. They are typically bought in gas stations or smoke shops and sold as if they are intended for tobacco use.
Other Meth Paraphernalia to Look Out For
If your loved one abuses meth, they might have other types of drug paraphernalia in their home. For example, people who primarily snort meth might not have glass pipes. Instead, they would have plastic baggies, cut-up straws or rolled-up dollar bills, and powdery residue on surfaces around the home.
Examples of common meth paraphernalia include:
- Syringes or needles for injecting meth
- Cut up straws for snorting meth
- Glass pipes or homemade meth pipes like light bulbs
- Razor blades for crushing meth into a powder
- Torch lighters and butane
- Tin foil with a burnt substance on it
- Rolled-up dollar bills
- Small spoons for injecting meth
- Small plastic baggies with crystal substance or powdery residue
- Capsules that may be empty or full of crushed-up meth crystals
If your loved one smokes methamphetamine or abuses it in another manner, they are most likely suffering from addiction. Meth addiction develops rather quickly and can wreak havoc on a person’s physical and mental health. Due to this, you should always try to convince your loved one to attend an addiction treatment center.
What are the Signs That Your Loved One is Doing Meth?
Because meth is such a potent drug, abusing it leads to obvious physical, behavioral, and psychological signs.
The main emotional and behavioral signs of meth abuse include:[2]
- Mental confusion and strange behavior
- Trouble concentrating and organizing information
- Being unable to feel pleasure without the drug
- Paranoia and erratic behavior
- Insomnia or failing to sleep for days on end
- Mood swings, irritability, and anger
- Periods of intense depression
- Anxiety and increased energy
- Reckless behavior and risk-taking
- Tactile hallucinations or auditory hallucinations
- Episodes of sudden, violent behavior
- Severe memory loss
Physical signs of meth abuse might include:[2]
- Tremors and shakiness
- Dry mouth that leads to “meth mouth” or severe dental decay
- Weight loss and malnutrition
- Excessive sweating and oily skin
- Sores caused by the person picking at his or her skin
- Teeth grinding
- Unexplained seizures
- Irregular heartbeat- can lead to sudden death, heart attack, or chronic heart problems
- Kidney and liver failure
- “Tweaking,” or uncontrollable movements that are repeated regularly
- Infected skin sores that can cause severe scarring
As you can see, meth is a dangerous drug to abuse. The longer a person uses meth, the more likely it is that they will develop severe health problems. Thankfully, Alamo Behavioral Health is here to help your loved one overcome meth addiction once and for all.
Get Connected to a Meth Rehab Center
If your loved one abuses meth, it’s time to consider professional help. At Alamo Behavioral Health, we offer an individualized and evidence-based approach to meth addiction treatment. In other words, we will ensure your loved one receives all of the tools and support they need to achieve long-term sobriety.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your loved one overcome meth addiction.
References:
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Methamphetamine Fast Facts
- Sacramento County: Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Use
