What Is Crystal Meth?

Crystal meth is short for crystal methamphetamine. It is one form of methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive stimulant drug.

Crystal meth is often used as a “club drug,” taken while partying in nightclubs or at rave parties.

Crystal meth’s effect is highly concentrated. Its effects are intense and some users report becoming addicted after using it just once.

“I tried it once and BOOM! I was addicted,” said one meth addict who lost his family, friends, career as a musician and ended up homeless.

It is one of the hardest drug addictions to overcome. One study found that nearly two out of three people who went through drug rehab returned to meth use within a year.

What Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is an illegal drug in the same class as cocaine and other powerful street drugs. It has many nicknames, including meth, crank, chalk and speed. People take it orally, snort it, smoke it or inject it. Meth floods the brain with dopamine, a natural chemical associated with pleasure, creating a false sense of happiness, well-being, confidence and strong feelings of energy and hyperactivity. The high from meth may last up to 12 hours.

Users often try to maintain their high by taking more of the drug, leading to binges where they may not eat or sleep for several days.

Meth acts as a powerful stimulant. But because it is also a poison, at the same time the person is getting high, the drug begins to systematically destroy the body.

Meth use is associated with serious health issues such as memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and potential damage to the heart and brain. Meth use depletes the body’s resources and can create a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of the drug.

Updated: 2025