Identifying Meth by Smell, Taste, and Look

What is Methamphetamine (Meth)?

US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defines meth as one of the illegal drugs widely causing substance abuse in the country. It may come in pill or powder form and is originally intended to treat hyperactive disorders

Its common street names include:

• Ice
• Shards
• Bikers' Coffee
• Stove Top
• Trash
• Chalk
• Crank
• Shabu

As it is highly addictive, it can cause various physical symptoms that may cause health problems longer-term. Some of its side effects include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Palpitations
• Increased blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Cardiovascular problems
• Stroke
• Death
• Convulsions
• Paranoia

Methamphetamine is characterized by its powdery white and sometimes yellowish or brownish appearance. For some people, drugs like meth smell like cat urine, rotten eggs, nail polish remover, or even paint thinner.

Meth production, while illegal, is prevalent as a make-shift meth lab used to make meth can be found almost anywhere. Meth contains the following:

• red phosphorous
• sulfuric acid
• hydrochloric acid
• lithium
• acetone
• ammonia

What Does Meth Smell Like?

As some of the most extremely dangerous chemicals to be created and ingested by individuals, it makes sense that meth smells distinct and may produce various odors that may be compared to familiar products or other substances. Some say it has a powerful odor and that meth drugs smell like cat urine, rotten eggs, and even burning plastic.

The way it is used may also change its scent or odor profile. When it is smoked, it is believed to have a lighter, sweet smell. However, its stench may also intensify depending on the environment it is made.

You would ask, "Can a meth lab smell worse?" The answer is yes. Meth production involves the use of strong chemicals and meth ingredients include powerful substances that may create a chemical reaction causing these odors. Toxic fumes released in meth labs may produce smells of paint or a "hospital smell" akin to the chemical cleaners and disinfectants used in these treatment facilities.

In summary, the "meth smell" can be classified upon "use" and during the "manufacturing process."

When smoking meth or ingesting meth:

• It has a sweet smell
• It may smell like chemicals

When making meth:

• You can smell meth similarly to cat urine or paint thinner
• It can also smell like nail polish remover
• A meth house can smell like rotten eggs too

What Does Meth Taste Like?

As a stimulant drug, crystal meth is not necessarily known for its taste. Widespread meth use among individuals or meth people can lead to meth addiction, regardless if it has a repulsive or agreeable taste as it is mostly used for recreation.

How drugs such as meth smell or taste will vary depending on the batches when it was made. There are some factors at play that significantly impact the form and taste of crystal meth.

Here are some of the more common taste profiles of meth:

• "Chemical taste" - This is the most common taste associated with methamphetamine use. It can be usually tasted in powder, liquid, or crystal meth.
• "Bitter" - As most chemicals are bitter by taste, meth shares the same profile too. This is more evident when snorting meth.
• "Flavored" - To make meth less dangerous or more appetizing for users, meth production also includes improving the taste of meth. You'll see a meth lab producing flavored variants of the drug either in orange, chocolate, or cola. Pink meth is the most common flavor associated with strawberries.

What does Meth Look Like?

As a stimulant drug used to treat ADHD, meth abuse has been common, especially for people who are after its "feel-good" effects during recreational use. For anyone who does meth, it is usually available in various forms.

Meth addicts usually have their preferred type of meth to help them achieve that high. Sometimes, it can be in powder, liquid, crystal, or pill form—all depending on how they want to ingest or consume the drug.

Here are the more common forms of meth including its physical characteristics and distinctions based on their perceived purity.

Base

It is usually characterized as an oily substance ranging from yellow, white, or brownish. When it comes to strength, the base has the highest among all the forms and is mostly ingested/swallowed, or injected. It is known as "paste," "wax," and "pure," as some of its common street names.

Powder

Generally known as "speed," this meth form has the weakest potency of all the types of meth on the market. It is often mixed with glucose and other substances. Similar to "base," it is ingested, snorted, and sometimes compressed into pill form.

Crystal

Known for its translucent and crystalline appearance, crystal meth earned the nickname "ice," and is regarded as one of the most potent forms of meth. Users mostly smoke or inject its crystal form.

Liquid

Liquid meth is a type of illegal drug that is injected or taken intravenously by a user. As it reaches the bloodstream, the effect is immediate compared to other forms and is also one common meth exposure.

Pill

Meth's pill form is known as Desoxyn. It's usually prescribed by specialists to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and is usually white and round, with the initials "OV" etched on one side and the number "12" on the opposite.

Can I Recover from Meth Addiction?

There are many viable treatments that an individual can access for their recovery. Addiction specialists may incorporate single or multiple treatment programs depending on the severity of a person's substance use disorders.

Before someone receives addiction treatment, they must first undergo a proper diagnosis to get the proper treatment placement tailored to their needs. Here are the common treatment options for meth addiction:

• Behavioral therapy - It helps address a person's behavioral health conditions that negatively affect a person. Therapy also helps the person to shift behaviors and cease unhealthy behavioral patterns that otherwise hinder them from recovering.
• Detoxification - A detox program involves withdrawal for the success of rehabilitation and to achieve long-term recovery.
• Alternative therapy (music, art, life skills teaching, and equine therapy) - other forms of therapy involve self-expression as a means to process their relationship and feelings toward addiction. Individuals are also taught valuable life skills to enrich their lives and prepare them as they transition back to society.

In addition to seeking professional medical advice for a person's substance use disorder or mental health disorder, licensed medical professionals may also recommend sober living as part of a person's treatment regimen.

Living in a halfway house allows recovering individuals to grow and mature better surrounded by a supportive and positive community, where residents and an addiction specialist can help them in a safe and relaxed setting.

Individuals may also recover comfortably through luxury sober living arrangements, where high-end facilities and amenities are readily available to them, such as their chef and house staff.

Can Transcend Recovery Community Assist with Drug Abuse?

It's not easy to find professional treatment advice and support for someone's drug abuse. That's why mental health and recovery partners, such as Transcend Recovery Community, commit themselves to help people have a second chance in life while undergoing treatment for their addiction.

With various locations across the country, such as Houston, LA, and New York, you can easily seek help. Our recovery counselors will gladly sit down and talk to you to review your options and help you achieve long-term sobriety.

Don't hesitate to contact us right away to get you started with a second chance in life.

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