NICKNAMES

Crystal and crystal meth are common street names for methamphetamine, the
most hyper-charged member of the amphetamine drug family. Widely used in
the 1960s and early '70s for its intense effects, crystal virtually
disappeared in the mid-'70s, but has resurfaced on a large scale in recent
years.

Other names: Crank, meth, go-fast, speed. Smokable forms of crystal are
called "ice" or "glass."

Appearance

White crystalline powder. Although legal amphetamine is odourless, illegal
forms of the drug often have a strong ammonia smell, due to incomplete
clearing of solvents or reagents during manufacture.

Trends

Use of crystal soared in the 1990s as new sources of supply emerged, but it
shows signs of levelling off in recent national surveys.

Actions/Effects

Crystal increases arousal in the central nervous system by pumping up
levels of two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. At low doses,
it boosts alertness and blocks hunger and fatigue. At higher doses, it
causes exhilaration and euphoria. At very high doses, the drug can cause
agitation, paranoia and bizarre behaviour. Physical effects include an
increased heart rate and higher blood pressure and body temperature.

Risks/Side-Effects

Anxiety, emotional swings and paranoia are the most common psychological
effects of chronic use. Symptoms increase with long-term use and can
involve paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Violence and
self-destructive behaviour are common. Overdose is also a risk with
crystal. Symptoms include fever, convulsions and coma. Death can result
from burst blood vessels in the brain (triggered by spikes in blood
pressure) or heart failure.

Demographics

Whether crystal has topped out, tapped out or merely levelled off for the
moment, whenever it's around it causes problems for people unaware of its
reputation as a mind- and body-cruncher. In the United States, meth-related
emergencies nearly tripled between 1991 and 2000, when the drug landed
29,702 users in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.