 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Chemical structure / definition:
Most common Spokane-area street names for meth (other areas may vary widely):
Meth, crank (cut meth), speed, tweak, dope. Marijuana is never referred to as "dope" by those who have been around meth.
Mechanism:
Meth mimics the neurotransmitter dopamine and causes massive amounts of dopamine to be released into the brain. This causes an energy rush and sense of euphoria. See the links to the right for more detailed information on the exact mechanisms in the brain responsible for methamphetamine's effects or click on effects on the user for an overview of the inevitable effects the user experiences.
Meth and meth pipes:
The appearance of meth can vary widely depending on what it is cut with. Most forms have a distinctive crystalline structure (like shards of glass).
Meth is commonly ingested, snorted, smoked, or injected. In a meth pipe (the same as a crack pipe or freebase pipe) the user puts a small amount of the drug in the glass bulb at the end and holds a lighter under the glass heating or "freebasing" the drug. The flame does not actually touch the drug unlike when marijuana is smoked. Users commonly smoke meth using tinfoil or a light bulb in a similar fashion (the flame doesn't touch the drug).
these links will open in a new window: :
Methamphetamine Use Tied to Parkinson’s