It has many names but the result is always the same, death. Crystal Meth short for crystal methamphetamine is most commonly known in Pakistan as Ice. Ice is strong and highly addictive synthetic drug that affects the central nervous system and causes an unnatural high. There are no legal uses for crystal meth owing to its many detrimental effects. While, it has been only three years since the drug started popping up in Pakistan, it has already ruined millions of lives.
Crystal meth is often called “ice” or “glass,” because of its crystalline form. It comes in slightly milky or clear crystal chunks depending on the quality of the batch. The cloudy crystals are the lowest quality of meth, often the most deadly.
This dangerous party drug, found in crystal form is abused in a number of ways.
Smoking: Meth Users often called meth heads put the crystals in glass pipes or make their own pipes out of hollowed out bulbs. After putting the crystal inside the bulb, heat is applied to it via blowtorch lighters causing the crystal to melt and produce smoke. This smoke is then directly inhaled by the drug user using a straw. Often times, addicts also use makeshift one hitter pipes, by rolling aluminum foil into a cylindrical shape.
Snorting: Similar to cocaine meth is also consumed by snorting , but snorting low quality meth often results in permanent brain damage. To snort meth, addicts turn the crystals into a fine powder and directly inhale it through the nose.
Injecting: Hardcore drug users also inject meth directly into veins by heating up the crystal on a metal spoon while adding water to create a milky liquid.
Methamphetamine, is fairly new drug in Pakistan , but it has been around for a long time worldwide. During World War II, many soldiers were given ‘ice’ to keep them awake and make them more aggressive. It also causes a false feeling of well being, while reducing hunger. The soldiers who weren’t hungry during the shortage of food and mindless enough to keep fighting, was a massive success for the countries at war. Today, the only legal meth product is a tablet for treating obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but its rarely ever prescribed.
Crystal meth is a crystalline compound and often a lab is required to ‘cook’ meth. Cooks (people who produce meth) usually create meth with the ingredient pseudo ephedrine, which is found common cold medicines. ‘Pseudo’ tablets are added in large amounts to create a batch of meth. Its widespread use for ‘Cooking’ meth, has caused the federal government to go in high alert and closely regulate this ingredient.
Making meth is a dangerous process because of the chemicals involved. Meth labs, usually made inside small houses often explode. A lot of toxic fumes are also produced during the creation, many ‘Cooks’ have been discovered dead upon inhaling these fumes accidentally.
The users of the drug experience a quick rush of euphoria, shortly after using it. This powerful rush causes a feeling of well being and strength, with the users unable to prevent themselves from using it again.
Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical which floods the parts of the brain whenever a human experiences happiness. When crystal meth is consumed by an addict, an abnormal amount of dopamine (80 times more than the normal level) floods the brain causing a feeling of intense pleasure. Users also feel confident and energetic, often putting themselves under huge risks because of the false sense of strength.
While other drugs like Hashish do not cause an instant addiction, Crystal meth is very addictive. A user can become addicted quickly after smoking or snorting ‘ice’ once. Soon after the high is over, user begins to feel the withdrawal kick in. This causes the user to become helpless, and willing to do anything for a fix.
There have been multiple instances of ‘meth heads’ (Ice addicts) trying to exchange their family members or their own organs for some meth. As the addicts continue to use the drug, they build up a tolerance. That means to achieve the same high the user has to use more meth. As the dosage increases, so does the imminent risk of an early and painful death.
Meth addiction is one of the hardest drug addictions to treat, but it can be done. However, trying to do so without any help is very hard. Thus, meth addicts trying to kick the habit often relapse in a few days. Users will need a professional drug counselor or drug rehabilitation program.
Injecting Ice
Smoking Ice
Affects Of Ice
Meth Mouth
Ice Users
Glass Pipes
Makeshift Aluminum Foil Pipes
Meth Crystals
Smoking Meth
Uncrushed Crystal Meth
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17 November, 2019
