There are generally five ways to use methamphetamine;oral, injection,
insufflation, smoking, and
plugging.
People generally have a preferred ROA, and it's usually their favorite either because of the bioavailability, or the ritual.
Smoking- Methamphetamine is smoked, either out of a glass bowl and stem, or off of some kind of foil. This is the most common ROA due to it's high bioavailability(~90.3%) without the risks of injection, or the discomfort of insufflation or plugging.
Insufflation- Just as
snorting most other substances, This produces a quick but short lived peak followed by a few hours of coasting. the bioavailability is a surprisingly low ~79%.
Injection- This is a popular ROA among long time users for it's quick intense rush and the 100% bioavailability. The risks of injecting street methamphetamine are very high. A regular user is at risk of developing pulmonary embolism (PE), a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches, and commonly develop skin rashes (also known as "speed bumps") or infections at the site of injection. One also risks putting "cut" into their veins when this is done.
Oral- This ROA is often used for it's discreet nature. Users will sometimes empty Tylenol capsules and fill them with Methamphetamine for public use. This is the safest way to ingest methamphetamine, presenting the least amount of risk factors. The only common factor being the substance itself, not taking into consideration each persons individual risk factors. Oral bioavailability of methamphetamine is ~62.7.
Plugging- This is a very uncommon ROA, due to the natural stigma of it. Using methamphetamine as a suppository involves inserting the
drug into the anal or vaginal cavity via capsule, putting the product directly into the cavity, or dissolving it in water and injecting it with a hypodermic syringe with the needle removed. Some users report increased sexual satisfaction due to this ROA. The drug will have a fairly easy onset with a high peak, a long coast and an easy
comedown. The bioavailability of suppository methamphetamine use is ~99%
The effects of methamphetamine can vary greatly from user to user when compared to other
drugs. This is mainly due to variations in how the product is produced, as well as the large range of quality from one batch to another. Different types of crystal meth, and quality of crystal meth can greatly differ from country to country, and more specifically, even city to city. Meth can also provide different effects depending on the route of administration used.
Since users of meth often stay awake for long periods of time, the effects experienced during the inital onset can be quite different than the effects experienced during the end of a methamphetamine binge. Methamphetamine can offer a wide range of effects, many of which are considered beneficial to the user, and many of which are considered to be a detriment.
Many of the effects of meth can also be caused by sleep deprivation or poor eating habits. Meth causes sleep deprivation and poor eating habits, and these would be considered direct causes of meth use. Any effects manifested from lack of sleep or poor nutrition would be considered secondary or indirect causes of meth use, though ultimately they are caused by meth.
Beneficial Effects:
The following is a list of effects that a typical user would consider to be beneficial. Some users however do not share the same desire when it comes to effects, therefore the following can possibly considered detriments to some users. Also, as previously mentioned, not everyone should expect to experience meth in the same way as another person. Methamphetamine may or may not provide any of the following effects.
Euphoria, and a general sense of well being.
Increased mental alertness, focus, and clarity.
Creative stimulation (i.e. music, writing, art)
Increased libido. Some users experience a very significant increase of sexuality.
Wakefulness. Users can even stay up for a week at a time, or even longer in some cases.
Decreased appetite, which in turn often leads to rapid weight loss.
Increased desire for social engagement.
Decrease of stress and anxiety. Users often feel carefree.
Increased interest in tasks that would otherwise be uninteresting.
Confidence
Negative Effects:
The following is a list of effect that are generally perceived as detrimental, and are not usually desired by a typical user. Many of these effects are experienced during the end of a binge or during the comedown, and other effects may not manifest until long term use.
Auditory Hallucinations
*
Visual Hallucinations
*
Strong, rapid heart beat.
Excessive sweating.
Muscle spasms, and "shakiness"
Depression, and a feeling of "hopelessness" (Generally only experienced during the comedown)
Dehydration, meth causes user to not feel thirsty which leads to lack of fluid intake.
Insomnia
Excessive weight loss
Feeling excessively carefree. Users can lack care for important issues like death, work, or relationships.
Dry mouth. This is believed to be the main cause of rapid tooth decay or "meth mouth".
Paranoia, sometimes to an extremely unreasonable extent.
Narcissism
Irritability and moodiness.
Aggressiveness, whether verbally or physically.
Suicidal thoughts or actions.
Can trigger psychotic episodes, or delusional thoughts. The threshold for falling into a psychotic state can be very low for some users, and may not be experienced ever by other users.
*Can be positive to some users purely due to fascination.
Serious Health Effects:
Methamphetamine's have not been in popular usage for as long as most other mainstream drugs. Because of this, the long term effects of meth aren't as well understood as they are for other drugs. The following are serious health effects that are caused by meth. The frequency, and probability of experiencing these effects are not yet fully understood.
Lung and kidney complications, which can be fatal.
Meth can wreak havoc on ones circulatory system, and can increase likelihood of heart attack.
Liver damage.
Stroke
Meth can spawn permanent mental disorders in some cases.
Weakened immune system.
Joint and muscle pain.
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