Meth or 'methamphetamine' is an illegal drug in the same class as cocaine and other powerful street drugs. Meth pictures show that meth is a powerful and highly addictive synthetic (man-made) stimulant that can come in the form of a crystalline white powder or in clear chunky crystals resembling ice or chunks of glass. Other colors of the powder form have been observed in meth pictures, including brown, yellow-gray, orange and even pink. It can also be compressed into pill form.
Meth pictures demonstrate that methamphetamine is taken into the body by snorting it, smoking it or injecting it with a needle. Some even take it orally by swallowing it. The most common way meth is used is by smoking it. It is common to see meth pictures showing meth being smoked in a small glass tube with a bulb at one end otherwise known as a "oil burner", "chalet" or "pizzo".
When meth is taken, users feel a false sense of happiness and well-being; a rush (strong feeling) of confidence, hyperactiveness and energy. These drug effects generally last from six to eight hours, but can last up to twenty-four hours. Meth users also experience decreased appetite, which often results in extreme weight loss, as seen in meth pictures. The first experience might involve some pleasure, but from the start, methamphetamine begins to destroy the user’s life, as depicted in meth pictures. Meth is a dangerous and potent chemical or poison that first acts as a stimulant but then begins to systematically destroy the body. Meth pictures show how meth is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart problems and irreversible brain damage. Individuals who use crystal meth also may have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. The drug can produce psychotic symptoms that persist for months or years after an individual has stopped using the drug.
One of the most striking effects of meth is the change in the physical appearance of meth users. These effects are very appearant in meth pictures. Because meth causes the blood vessels to constrict, it cuts off the steady flow of blood to all parts of the body. Heavy usage can weaken and destroy these vessels, causing tissues to become prone to damage and inhibiting the body's ability to repair itself. Meth pictures show that acne appears, sores take longer to heal, and the skin loses its luster and elasticity. Meth pictures often depict users covered in small sores, the result of obsessive skin-picking brought on by the hallucination of having bugs crawling beneath the skin, a disorder known as formication.
Another common sign of meth abuse is extreme tooth decay, a condition that is commonly seen in meth pictures and has become known in the media as "meth mouth." Meth pictures show meth users with blackened, stained, or rotting teeth, which often can't be saved, even among young or short-term users. The exact causes of "meth mouth" are not fully understood. Various reports have attributed the decay to the corrosive effects of the chemicals found in the drug, such as anhydrous ammonia (found in fertilizers), red phosphorus (found on matchboxes) and lithium (found in batteries), which when smoked or snorted might erode the tooth's protective enamel coating; however, it's more likely that this degree of tooth decay is brought on by a combination of side effects from a meth high, as seen in meth pictures.
Meth pictures show that meth is commonly manufactured in illegal, hidden laboratories or 'meth labs'. Meth pictures show that meth labs have been found in barns, garages and other outbuildings; back rooms of businesses; apartments; hotel and motel rooms; storage facilities; vacant buildings; and even in vehicles. Ingredients most commonly used are over-the-counter cold and asthma medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine along with other ingredients such as red phosphorous, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel, and antifreeze. These dangerous chemicals are potentially explosive and because the meth cooks are drug users themselves and disoriented, they are often severely burned and disfigured or killed when their preparations explode. Meth pictures demonstrate how such accidents endanger others in nearby homes or buildings.