Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly potent stimulant drug that is sometimes used medicinally to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While this substance has medicinal use, the meth found on the street is not the same. Most methamphetamine found on the street contains dangerous household chemicals like battery acid, drain cleaner, and even antifreeze.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 2.5 million people reported abusing meth in 2021.[1]

Anyone who uses meth is likely to become addicted to it. Long-term meth abuse can lead to an array of health problems, from organ damage and tooth decay to mental health concerns like psychosis and aggression.

If you are worried that your loved one is abusing meth, you may find certain paraphernalia items in your home, such as meth pipes.

 

 

How to Spot a Meth Pipe

The most common way to abuse meth is by smoking it, so individuals who abuse it may have pipes in their homes or in their personal belongings.

Meth pipes have several slang terms or street names, including:

• Glass rose
• Bubbles
• Pizzo
• Banger
• Pookie

Additionally, meth pipes can come in many colors, including clear glass, blue, and green. These pipes have a long and straight base that leads to a glass sphere. This sphere will have a hole in it that serves as a percolator.

When someone smokes meth, they will put the crystal substance into the glass sphere, heat it up with a torch or lighter, and inhale from the stem of the pipe.

Other Meth Paraphernalia to Be Aware Of

If your loved one is abusing meth, they might also have other types of paraphernalia around their room or home. Being aware of all of the drug paraphernalia associated with meth can help you determine whether your loved one is addicted.

Other types of meth-related paraphernalia  include:

• Syringes or needles
• Cut up straws
• Meth pipes or makeshift bongs
• Razorblades
• Torch lighters
• Butane for the torch lighters
• Tin foil with a burnt substance on it
• Rolled-up dollar bills
• Small spoons
• Small plastic baggies with crystal substance or powdery residue
• Capsules that may be empty or full of crushed-up meth crystals

People can smoke, snort, inject, or even swallow methamphetamine, so there are several different paraphernalia that can be connected to meth addiction. Since some of these items can be used to abuse other drugs, it’s important to also be aware of the physical, mental, and behavioral signs of meth addiction.

How to Tell if Your Loved One is Abusing Meth

Meth is an incredibly powerful stimulant drug, and abusing it will lead to obvious physical, behavioral, and emotional signs.

Common signs of meth addiction include:[2,3]

• An inability to sleep for days at a time
• Less need for food
• Erratic or aggressive behavior
• Severe anxiety and paranoia
• Increased self-confidence
• Hyperactivity
• Significant weight loss that cannot be explained by dieting or exercising
• Poor hygiene or compulsive cleaning
• Sores on the skin
• Hallucinations of bugs crawling under the skin (“meth mites”)
• Tics or muscle spasms
• Moving the jaw in odd patterns
• Extreme tooth decay (“meth mouth”)
• Increased symptoms of pre-existing mental health conditions
• Psychosis caused by meth abuse or poor sleep
• Rapid changes in mood
• Large dilated pupils
• Suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviors

If your loved one is experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms, they could be suffering from meth addiction. Long-term meth abuse can lead to a variety of physical and mental health problems, making it vital that you seek professional help. Thankfully, drug rehab programs like Moving Mountains Recovery Center can provide you with the tools and support you need to overcome meth addiction.

Get Connected to a Meth Rehab Program

If you or a loved one abuse meth, you know how hard it can be to achieve sobriety. Meth addiction can significantly impact your ability to think clearly, making it difficult to identify whether you are addicted or not, but programs like Moving Mountains Recovery Center are designed to help people recover from addiction no matter what stage of substance abuse they are at.

At our facility, we can provide you with a combination of evidence-based therapies, group counseling, addiction education, and relapse prevention planning. To learn more about our meth rehab program, contact the Moving Mountains Recovery Center today.

References:

1. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): What is the scope of methamphetamine use in the United States, Retrieved September 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-misuse-in-united-states
2. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): What are the immediate (short-term) effects of methamphetamine misuse, Retrieved September 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-immediate-short-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse
3. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse, Retrieved September 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse