Crystal meth is a strong, highly addictive amphetamine stimulant which usually comes in a white powder or crystals.
It is usually snorted, smoked, mixed with water and injected (slamming), or injected inside the anus (booty bumping).
It releases the brain’s stress hormone norepinephrine and feel good chemicals dopamine and serotonin.
People feel high, full of energy, confident, impulsive, less likely to feel pain and very horny with fewer inhibitions.
It suppresses appetite and increases energy levels, so people taking crystal meth can go for days without eating or sleeping.
Crystal meth can make people feel extremely sexually aroused for long periods.
People using this drug may do things they wouldn’t normally do, which can include riskier sex.
This can also mean that the boundaries we set for ourselves, particularly around consent, can get blurred. Sometimes it can be difficult to fully consent to the sex that is happening, or to gain full consent from our sexual partners. This can lead to sexual situations that can cause harm or trauma or ourselves or others.
It often makes it difficult for men to get an erection or ejaculate.
It can become hard to think of having sex without being on meth which can have a big impact on your ability to have sex sober.
Long or rougher crystal-fuelled sex sessions can cause the genitals, mouth or anus to become irritated, sore or bleed. This may not be noticed at the time, but it can increase the risk of HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections being passed on.
The elevated body temperature, heartbeat and blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, coma or even death.
Comedowns can leave a person exhausted, aggressive and paranoid, in some cases even suicidal. For some, this can lead to longer term impacts on mental health, including low mood, anxiety and psychosis.
People can develop stomach problems such as acid reflux or gastritis due to not eating for a long period of time.
With long-term use, crystal meth can damage the lungs, nose and mouth and lead to lasting mental health problems, even after quitting the drug. It can also interact dangerously with other recreational and prescription drugs.
People may find quitting crystal meth very difficult and its effects on the brain can last long after giving the drug up.*
Injecting is best avoided. It’s the quickest way to get addicted and runs the risk of serious health problems, such as skin abscesses, collapsed veins, blood poisoning and heart infections.
Never share injecting equipment as there’s a high risk of HIV, Hepatitis C and other infections.
