Names

"Ice" and "Crystal are the most common slang names used in the Kittitas County area. Other names include meth, crank, lith, lithium, speed, chalk, glass, zip, wire, tina dope, or tweak.

How is it taken?

Snorted, injected, smoked or swallowed. Meth comes in several forms: powder, crystal, rocks, and tablets.

Strawberry Quick

A new "designer" form of methamphetamine is being colored and flavored with a strawberry children's drink to appeal to first time buyers. The fun color makes users this the drug isn't as bad for them and the strawberry flavor cuts down the chemical taste when snorted.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Meth

These forms of methamphetamine are not named for their flavor, but for the unusual color and consistencies. "Peanut Butter" meth is described as an oily or waxy paste. The color results from sloppy manufacturing or an attempt to avoid detection at border crossings.

Ingredients

Drain cleaners, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, solvents, ammonia, red phosphorus, hydrochloric acid, acetone, ephedrine, ether, pseudoephedrine, paint thinner, iodine crystals, anhydrous ammonia (nitrogen fertilizer), benzene, freon, camp stove fuel, rock salt, diet pills, lithium from batteris, acetone, and a variety of store bough chemicals.

Title VII Methamphetamine Epidemic Act

Retailers should be cautious when they sell large quantities of chemicals or products that are used to "cook" methamphetamines. In March 2006 Congress passed Title VII the Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. This law places a daily sales limit on all products that contain a meth precursor. Retailers may not exceed 3.6 grams of PSE (pseudoephedrine) per day per purchaser. There is also a 30 day purchasing limit for consumers. Other limits that have been placed on retailers include: behind the counter placement on all PSE products, logbook of all PSE transactions, retailers must see photo I.D., and all retailers must be trained and certified in PSE product sales. Washington State has also placed retailer and consumer restrictions on iodine. This act has made it difficult for meth manufacturers to purchase the products needed to make the drug, but it does not prevent them from going store to store.

Initial Effects

The initial effect of meth is to send a message to the pleasure center of the brain. Short term, the user feels an increase in energy and alertness, a decrease in appetite, and an intense euphoric "rush."

Other Effects Include:

Paranoia, rage, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, nausea, hallucinations, weight loss, convulsions, racing heart, memory loss, aggressive behavior, violent behavior, acne, skin ulcers, hyperactivity, seizures, dramatic mood swings, irritability, severe depression, stroke, heart attack, tremors, skin infections, anxiety, body order, numbness, bad breath, high blood pressure, dehydration, malnutrition, fevers up to 108 degrees, liver damage, brain damage, fatal kidney and lung disorders, permanent psychological problems, coma, and DEATH.

Meth Mouth

Methamphetamines cause salivary glands to dry out. This allows the mouth's acids to eat away at tooth enamel causing cavities and decay. The term "Meth mouth" is characterized by broken, discolored, and rotting teeth. Teeth may be further damaged by obsessive grinding and binging on sugary food and drinks.

Users

People who abuse methamphetamine regularly are known as "tweakers." They often have twitching, jerking motions, grind their teeth, and have dry, itching skin. Their voice may have a slight quiver, and close inspection of pupils will reveal eye movements that are ten times faster than normal. The repeat users will begin to lose weight, have a pale complexion, skin sores, and sunken eyes and cheeks. They may not have slept for long periods of time. They often behave or act erratically. They are in a state of constant craving for another high. On the other hand a meth user may look "normal" with little or no signs of use.

Tips for Dealing with "Tweakers"

• Keep your distance. Coming too close can be perceived as threatening.
• No bright lights. The "tweaker" is already paranoid and, if blinded by bright light, he or she is likely to run or become violent.
• Slow your speech and lower your voice. The "tweaker" already hears sound at a face pace and high pitch.
• Slow your movements. This will decrease the odds that the user will misinterpret your physical actions
• Keep your hands visible. If you place your hands where the "tweaker" cannot see them, they may feel threatened.
• Keep the "tweaker" talking. If they fall silent it often means that paranoid thoughts have taken over reality, and anyone present can become part of the "tweakers" paranoid delusions.