Crystal Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive man-made stimulant drug. Unlike opioid drugs that slow down heart rate and breathing, stimulant drugs cause the body to feel awake, anxious, excited and energetic in the short-term. With long-term use, methamphetamine can cause sleep deprivation, psychosis, paranoia, heart attack, stroke, and other problems.
Crystal methamphetamine (aka meth, jib, crystal) use is very prevalent in Manitoba. The drug is cheap and easy to access, and the high lasts for several hours. Crystal meth can be swallowed, crushed and snorted, smoked, or injected.
If a person takes too much crystal meth (overdoses or has stimulant toxicity), they may:
- have rigid jerking limbs or seizures
- go in and out of consciousness
- have a racing pulse or chest pains
- experience psychological distress (paranoia, delusions, agitation)
- have severe headaches and overheating
- exhibit aggressive behaviour
- be dehydrated or over-heated
There is no antidote to stimulant overdose. Naloxone will not work for a stimulant overdose, but it will not cause harm. Call 911 immediately in case of a suspected overdose.
Other resources
- Methamphetamine: The Basics (Fact Sheet from the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba)
- Methamphetamine (Government of Canada)
- Methamphetamines (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
- Stimulant Overdose Awareness
- Methamphetine (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse)
