Side effects of meth

Crystal Meth Side Effects: Short- and Long-Term Effects of Crystal Meth

Side effects of meth

Crystal meth is a common name for an illicitly manufactured, often colorless, and odorless form of d-methamphetamine.¹ This synthetic stimulant is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means that it is highly addictive with a high potential for misuse and limited medical use (of pharmaceutical formulations of methamphetamine).² Among individuals aged 12 and older, 0.9% (or about 2.6 million people) reported using methamphetamine, including crystal meth, in 2020.

Crystal meth is an exquisitely addictive drug with potent stimulant effects. People often use crystal meth for its relatively long-lasting euphoric high. Typically, individuals smoke or inject crystal meth and experience a high that can last 6-8 hours or more.

Crystal Meth Side Effects

Crystal meth use carries tremendous health risks, including the potential for significant drug toxicity and overdose. While methamphetamine can trigger an intense high, it can also have very serious side effects. These side effects include:

• Rapid heart rate.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Increased respiratory rate.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Insomnia.
• Anxiety.
• Paranoia.
• Aggression and violence.
• Cardiovascular issues such as stroke and heart attack.
• Tremors.
• Convulsions.
• Death.

Crystal Meth Side Effects After One Use

In 2020, an estimated 153,000 individuals aged 12 and older tried methamphetamine for the first time.⁴ While an individual won’t necessarily become addicted to crystal meth after a single use, they may feel the drug’s potently rewarding effects—feeling more awake and energized, less hungry, and with a briskly paced heartbeat and breathing.^1,5 

However, a few of the aforementioned adverse effects may also occur, on a dose-dependent basis, with just a single use—physiological changes like hyperthermia (or increased body temperature) and potentially irregular heartbeat.⁷ Other risks may be introduced when drugs are mixed, even with a single use. For example, when mixed with alcohol, methamphetamine can mask some of alcohol’s intoxicating effects, which could make continued drinking and, ultimately, alcohol overdose more likely.