Methamphetamine is one of the amphetamine group of drugs, which are all manufactured from readily available chemicals. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug. Stimulants speed up the function of the brain and nervous system. Methamphetamine is available in three different forms commonly known as speed, base and ice. Variations in the methamphetamine structure produce other drugs and MDMA (methylene dioxy methamphetamine) or ecstasy is the best known example. For more information see Ecstasy Drug Facts. Sometimes, but not often, doctors prescribe amphetamine drugs to treat particular health problems. But mostly people use amphetamine that is made illegally. Most of these drugs currently sold on the street are methamphetamine or variants that are stronger than amphetamines.

Speed, base and ice are all the same drug, methamphetamine, but they differ in their purity. Ice is about 80 per cent pure, whereas speed is typically around 10 to 20 per cent pure. The purity of ice makes the effects stronger and longer lasting but also makes it more addictive with worse side effects.

Speed

Speed usually comes in the form of white or yellow powder, but can also be bought as pills. People either sniff it through the nose (snort it), inject it or swallowed it in tablet or capsule form. Speed is also known as go-ee, whiz, rev and uppers. People who sell speed often mix or cut the powder with other things that look the same, to make the drug go further. Some mixed-in substances can have unpleasant or harmful effects. It is difficult to tell what thedrug actually contains.

Base

Base is a damp or oily substance with a white to yellow or brown colour which is more pure than powder. It can vary a lot in its appearance and is also known as pure, paste and wax. Base is usually injected but sometimes swallowed.

Ice

Ice is the purest form of methamphetamine available. It usually looks like colourless to white crystals, or a coarse crystal-like powder. It can also appear in other colours. Ice is also called tik, crystal, crystal meth, meth or shabu. Ice is usually smoked or injected. A drug that is smoked or injected enters the brain more quickly which makes it much more addictive. Ice is also sniffed through the nose (snorted), swallowed or
inserted into the anus (shafted). Because of its purity, ice is more powerful than speed and base and a given amount puts a greater strain on the body. Its use can therefore be much more dangerous. It has stronger side effects and a worse comedown.

Small amounts
When you take a small amount of methamphetamine the effects can last from a few hours to a few days. You may:
• feel very good and confident
• feel alert and energetic
• be excited or agitated
• talk a lot
• feel aggressive
• feel anxious or panicky
• take more risks than usual.
Effects on your body may include that:
• your heart beats faster
• you breathe faster
• you feel less hungry
• your blood pressure rises
• the pupils in your eyes get bigger
• you move more quickly
• it is hard to sleep.

Large amounts
If you take a large amount of methamphetamine you might:
• get headaches
• feel dizzy
• feel restless
• shake
• have irregular breathing
• have a very fast or irregular heartbeat
• become pale
• feel very powerful or better than others
• become hostile or aggressive
• have psychosis — a serious psychological problem where you hear voices, imagine things, and/or fear that others want to hurt you.

Overdose of methamphetamine can happen to anyone. Even small amounts may cause overdose with some people who have an especially strong reaction to it. When a person overdoses, it may cause:
• methamphetamine psychosis
• faster, irregular or weak heartbeat
• heart attack
• bleeding blood vessels in the brain
• very high fever
• death (rarely).

People who use methamphetamine sometimes take other drugs at the same time to cope with some of the things methamphetamine does to the body. Some people take drugs such as minor tranquillisers, alcohol, marijuana or heroin to help them sleep. This can make you dependent on several drugs at once. For example, some people need speed or ice each day to get them going and minor tranquillisers each night to get to sleep. This type of dependence can lead to many serious physical and psychological problems. Mixing different drugs can also make you more likely to overdose.