Meth abuse is growing rapidly but there are still many general questions surrounding meth. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about meth.

What exactly is meth?

Meth is short for methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a stimulant similar to amphetamines but the effects of meth on the central nervous system are stronger. Meth is a white power with no smell but a bitter taste. Meth is composed of highly toxic, volatile ingredients. Some have referred to meth as a mixture of lighter fluid and laundry soap. Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?

Does meth have any other street names?

Meth, speed, crank, ice, glass, and crystal are a few of the more popular street names for methamphetamine.

How is meth ingested? And how long does the high last?

Meth can be ingested in many ways including injection or snorting. The meth high can last anywhere from 2 to 16 hours. Meth users claim it provides exhilaration and sharpens focus.

What are the physical effects of meth?

The effects of meth depend on the dosage. Meth arouses the central nervous system by increasing levels of nor epinephrine and dopamine. In lower doses meth increases alertness and eliminates hunger and fatigue. Users experience a euphoric high with larger doses and with extremely high doses meth can cause paranoia and bizarre violent behavior. Short term memory loss is also common.

What about the psychological effects of methamphetamine?

Chronic use of meth can cause anxiousness, wild mood swings, and paranoia. Longer term meth abuse can result in paranoid delusions as well as hallucinations. Self-destructive behavior is also common.

How widespread is the meth epidemic?

For a long time, meth was the drug of choice in southern California but meth use has spread rapidly throughout the West and Southwest and the use of meth is also increasing in the Midwest and South so it's pretty much got the whole country covered anymore.

In addition, meth was formerly known to be used more commonly by white, male, blue-collar workers but meth is now widely used by all sexes, races, and socio-economic backgrounds. Recent data suggests about 4 to 5 million Americans have tried meth at some point in their lives.

Are there common symptoms of meth withdrawal?

Meth withdrawal symptoms are cravings for meth, exhaustion, depression, and insomnia. The length and level of severity of meth withdrawal symptoms are generally in relation to the quantity and frequency of use.

How easy is it to overdose on meth?

Meth overdose can happen with relatively low doses especially in new users. There are too many variables to provide any guidelines on what would be considered a "safe" level of meth. Individual metabolic rates differ as does the strength of meth from batch to batch. Meth can cause death through heart failure and stroke.