Crystal

Crystal methamphetamine (crystal, meth, tina) is a particularly strong stimulant. The effects are similar to a big rush of adrenaline. It's part of a class of drugs called amphetamines, which are stimulants - they speed up the body. Crystal does this by affecting brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals relate to mood, sexual function, body movement, sleep/sensory perception, and regulation of body temperature/blood pressure.

Users can:

• Feel very confident and alert.
• Have an elevated mood and feel euphoric.
• Have increased energy, movement, and speech.
• Have a decreased appetite.
• Feel very sexual. Some gay men report decreased inhibitions and increased ability to have sex for longer periods of time.

Quick Links

• Risks and Tips
• Common Terms
• Standard Dose
• The Buzz
• Overdose and other negative effects
• Dangerous Drug Combinations

What are the risks?

• Meth is very seductive: some of us find we become dependent on it and that our use becomes hard to control.
• Like other party drugs, meth can make you feel horny, but some of us report becoming extremely focused on sex when high on meth. For some, we may be more tempted to fuck without condoms increasing our risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Crystal and its effects are hard on the body. The actual chemicals in the drug, combined with the lack of sleep and eating, can have serious negative impacts on your general physical and mental health

Risks and Tips:

• 1) Risk: Dependence (addiction)

  Compared with other drugs like E, K or G, the chance of developing a problem with using crystal, or an addiction, is much greater. A tolerance for crystal builds up quickly. This means if you use meth regularly, it will take more and more of the drug to give you the same high. It can also give you a tough come down period or 'crash' (significant fatigue and depression) which can last a few days to a week or more, leaving you severely anxious or depressed. These factors contribute to a potential for psychological dependence or forming a habit with the drug that makes quitting more difficult. Anecdotally, experienced users and treatment counsellors say that crystal is particularly difficult to use recreationally.

• Tips: Set limits

  If you want to use meth, take extra steps to ensure you don't develop a dependency. Learn the signs of dependency and learn strategies you can use to reduce your risk of becoming dependent.

  • Decide how long you want to party before the weekend and before you get high.
  • Tell your friends what your limit is. Hang out with people that won't tempt you to party longer.
  • Hang out with friends who aren't using and who will watch out for you.
• 2) Risk: High, horny and unsafe sex.

  For some gay men, crystal makes sex last longer and more intense. Whether we're HIV-positive, HIV-negative or not sure, we don't always talk about our status, especially when we want to get off! Using crystal might mean we're less likely to think about HIV / STIs and we may not think to use condoms when fucking.

• Tips: Protect yourself and each other

  While some of us find it difficult to use condoms when high, it's not impossible, and many of us still do use them. You can make choices to protect yourself and others when high.

  • Always carry condoms and lube with you (you never know when you'll be doing it!)
  • Keep condoms and lube in view. When the other guy sees them it will remind him about using them too. And, if you can see them, they'll be easy to reach when you're about to fuck!
  • Make sure to use lots of water-based lube.
  • Change the condom every 30 minutes so it doesn't wear down and break.

  Some of us get "crystal dick" (can't get hard) when high. We might be more tempted to bottom rather than to top; make sure the top wears a condom and uses lots of lube. Some of us take drugs like Viagra® to get hard - this can be dangerous. Meth raises our blood pressure; Viagra® lowers it. Combining them can increase your risk of a stroke.

• 3) Risk and Tips: General health and safety

  Drink Fluids. Crystal raises your temperature and if you're in the sun, dancing or having lots of sex, you'll be sweating more than usual and risk dehydration. Replace these fluids by drinking water, Gatorade® and other sport drinks. Avoid drinking alcoholic and energy drinks (like Red Bull®) as these dehydrate you more.

  Sleep. Meth can keep you awake for hours. This lack of sleep can be hard on your body and be especially bad to your mental health. Try napping, or resting your eyes here and there, if you can't get to sleep. Party for a bit but don't go on "runs" or "binges" where you're high for hours or days at a time.

  Eat. Crystal suppresses your appetite but you still need to eat. It dries out your mouth, making eating more difficult. Try apple sauce, bananas, protein shakes, honey, yoghurt and tuna to get the nutrients you need more easily.

• 4) Amphetamine Psychosis: Chronic use of crystal, or staying high for too long, can lead to severe paranoia or sudden, irrational and sometimes violent behavior.
• Tips: Set limits
  • Only party occasionally.
  • Decide how long you want to party before you get high and only buy what you need to last that long.
  • Only buy what you need. Don't carry much money, bank cards or credit cards on you.
  • Tell your dealer you don't want them to sell you more, even if you ask for it later in the weekend.
  • Call it quits while you're ahead. Don't keep partying longer than you intended - you'll feel worse for it in the long run.
  • Listen to your body. When you're feeling crappy, it's your body telling you to end the party there will be other times to do it again.
• Are you HIV-positive?
  • Meth can lead to higher viral loads and quicker HIV progression.
  • If you are on meds, especially protease inhibitors, you do not need to take as much meth as someone that isn't on meds
  • Do you take HIV "treatment vacations" or miss doses because of meth? Talk to your doctor or case manager about how to better manage your treatment.
  • Why do you do meth? What feelings/emotions do you seek when getting high? For some of us, meth helps with coping, feeling more confident, or having less inhibited sex. Are there other ways to better connect with guys?

Drug Class: stimulant

Individual drugs: crystal methamphetamine

Common Terms: crank, crystal, ice, jib, meth, speed, Tina

Standard Dose:

• Crystal is typically sold as clear crystals in small baggies. (click here for images)
• It is typically snorted in small bumps, or smoked from a glass pipe.
• More recently in Toronto, crystal has been sold in pill format as pills that look similar to ecstasy. They are typically brightly coloured pills (like the colour of Smarties®), might have a fruity smell/taste and are sometimes called Yaba.
• Meth can also be swallowed, injected, and hooped (placed up the ass). There are risks and benefits to different methods of taking the drug:

Swallowing:

Slower come-on, avoiding initial euphoric 'rush' you get with other ways of doing it

Given the slower rush, you might take more to get that feeling

No real risk of tissue damage.

Snorting:

You can get little cuts in your nose and pass blood between the people you share with, putting you at risk of transmitting or contracting HIV/Hepatitis

Avoid sharing bumpers, bills or straws

The come-on is faster and you might keep snorting to maintain the euphoric buzz

Smoking:

A more euphoric rush, making the comedown rougher and increasing your desire to do more

Damages your lungs and can dry out your mouth/lips, making it easier to get chapped lips or to burn them on a hot pipe

Use lip balm and avoid sharing pipes

Booty Bump (sticking it up your ass):

Damages inside of your ass, increasing your risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis or other infections if you're getting fucked

Injecting:

Avoid sharing needles and equipment

If you have a new batch (even from the same dealer), try a little first to make sure it's not too strong

Safer to inject into vein than into muscle or under skin; these last 2 methods have higher risk for abscesses and infections and can be very painful

The method used to get high affects the intensity and duration of the high:

The effects can last up to 24 hours. Doses are typically repeated every 3-8 hours to stay awake, or every 0.5 to 4 hours to remain high.

The Buzz:

• When snorted the effects come on gradually and peak after about 15-30 minutes.
• When injected, the effects are felt immediately and much more intensely.
• Crystal is a stimulant drug with effects similar to cocaine but much longer lasting.
• Effects while high: euphoria; increased confidence, alertness, talkativeness and horniness; dehydration (especially with dancing or sex); decreased appetite
• It causes a sudden increase in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.
• After the high, you may "crash" (feel depressed) and sleep for a long time

Overdose and other negative effects:

• The intense high can lead to an unpleasant comedown which can in turn lead a user to take more.
• In high doses, crystal can lead to seizures, strokes, heart attacks or difficulty breathing (even in experienced users).
• After effects can include depression, agitation, anxiety and paranoia.
• Repeated snorting can damage the nasal membranes.
• Many users can become compulsive in their use of crystal which can lead to physical or psychological addiction.
• Difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection.
• Jaw clenching or teeth grinding.
• Tooth loss and gum disease. Meth constricts blood vessels (tightens them) and less blood flows to some areas of the body. With less blood flowing to your gums, you risk developing problems with your gums and teeth.

Dangerous Drug Combinations:

• Viagra®. Meth raises our blood pressure; Viagra® lowers it. Combining them can increase your risk of a stroke.
• Other stimulant drugs. Drugs like ecstasy or coke are also stimulants. Combining stimulants can push your body too far and you can risk raising your temperature too much, you heart having to work too hard, or potentially having a stroke.
• Heart and blood pressure medications. Again, you increase the strains on you heart and blood vessels, risking a stroke or heart attack.
• Anti-depressants. These drugs work on the same neurotransmitters and can cause over stimulation in these brain systems.
• Downer drugs. Drugs like alcohol or GHB work by slowing the body down; meth speeds the body up. These conflicting signals can lead to a stroke or heart attack.
  

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