Short Term Effects of Smoking Crystal Meth

Crystal Meth Basics

Crystal methamphetamine is created from d-methamphetamine and is a highly addictive and dangerous drug that is injected, swallowed, smoked and sometimes snorted. Crystal meth resembles shiny crystal or glass rocks that are usually pale blue-white in color. Crystal meth is a stimulant and can make people feel elated, which makes it an attractive drug choice among many. The long-term and short-term effects of smoking crystal meth have been well documented, and one thing this drug is not is attractive. In fact, crystal meth is downright deadly.

The Short-Term Effects of Smoking Crystal Meth Are Highly Dangerous

Often something you hear about street drugs (all addictive drugs in fact) is that the long-term effects are bad for you health-wise but if you stop soon enough you can reverse some of the health risks. Consider smoking tobacco. Quit-smoking techniques are often centered around the long-term negative health consequences, and it has actually been proven that people who quit smoking (even after years of tobacco use) reduce those health risks. This is not the case with crystal meth. Crystal meth can be deadly from the start and the health risks in the long term are less likely to be reduced by quitting.

This is not to say people should not quit crystal meth if they’re already using; it's just that with this drug there’s a much shorter time-frame in which good health can return if you stop using it. Crystal meth is one of those drugs you never want to be involved with in the first place, but the sooner someone quits the better. With drug abuse, the short-term risks can be just as unhealthy as the long-term risks.

Specific Effects of Short Term Crystal Meth Use

The short-term effects of smoking crystal meth can be instantaneous. Smoking actually produces a different short-term effect than injections or snorting. When someone first smokes crystal meth, what happens is that right away the individual will feel more in focus and exhilarated because smoking meth ensures that a big dose of this toxin heads straight to the brain.

Because smoking creates an instantaneous effect, it’s a huge rush for the people who use it and the feeling of exhilaration or euphoria that occurs is addictive. Other quicker, short-term effects may include a need to clean or organize, along with reduced social and or sexual inhibitions.

While feeling happy and less inhibited can possibly looked at as positive, there are also instant physical issues occurring when crystal meth is smoked. Right away crystal meth goes to work on the central nervous system by producing massive levels of both norepinephrine and dopamine. These are neurotransmitters in the brain that do need to function properly for a normal life to be led. Crystal meth messes with how they work and plenty of research shows that abnormalities in neurotransmitters can affect both mood and behavior negatively.

The effect crystal meth has on neurotransmitters can cause:

• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Unusual to completely bizarre behaviors
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Increased body temperature

All of the above are short- and long-term effects of crystal meth. Most of the time the long-term effects of crystal meth are simply highly-exaggerated short-term effects. Another thing crystal meth can do right away is effect nutrition. It blocks hunger and fatigue, which means people will not eat when then should if they’re constantly using crystal meth and they also run their bodies down with lack of sleep. Basically, crystal meth will push someone’s body at a more rapid pace than anyone’s body should ever go.

Lastly, few studies have been done on how a huge cloud of toxic crystal meth smoke may effect lung health. It’s well documented that cigarettes – full of toxins themselves - are very bad for lung health. It’s likely that smoking crystal meth is even worse because it’s a much more toxic and potent drug.

How Long Does the Effect of Crystal Meth Last?

The first effects noted above that hit someone after smoking crystal meth such as the rush and euphoria can last from two to six hours. The problem is that often users go on what’s called a “speed run” which means they’ll continually use so there’s a question about how long short-term effects last. Also, once a drug tolerance has built in an individual it becomes harder to draw a time table. However, two to six hours is what the best research noted by Narconon relates. Narconon is a great resource for users of crystal meth. Narconon is a non-profit program with associations to around 100 or more drug rehab programs and clinics.

Other resources for help with a crystal meth addiction include:

• Your health care provider. If you don't have one you can go to a hospital and they will help you or contact a low-cost clinic near you. You can find clinics in the Yellow Pages.
• Crystal Meth Anonymous
• The Crystal Meth Addiction Resource Center
• Some good reading material includes; Addiction Treatment Center, Addiction and Recovery, and How to Survive Addiction.