Meth VS Crystal Meth – What’s the Major Difference?

Understanding meth vs crystal meth is very important to understand methamphetamine abuse. These are two different forms of the same drug, and terms are frequently used to describe methamphetamine. It is important to consider that meth and crystal meth have unique properties and effects on the addicts’ health. Both are addictive substances that are destroying the addicts’ lives.

What is Meth?

Methamphetamine vs crystal meth is categorized as a parent substance with effects on the central nervous system. Meth is available in different forms such as chunky crystal, powder, and pills. 

There are different street names of meth vs crystal meth, such as crank, chalk, and speed. 

Meth is usually available in the odorless, white, bitter-tasting powder that is easy to dissolve in alcohol and water. It can be consumed through smoking, snorting, injecting, and swallowing, which cause potent effects and abuse. 

What is Crystal Meth? 

Crystal meth vs meth is a form of pethamphetamine and is known for its crystalline, clear look. The names for crystal meth are glass and ice due to its transparent texture. Smoking is the most common way of consuming crystal methamphetamine, but it can also be snorted or injected. 

It is important to note that crystal methamphetamine is more potent than its parent substance, methamphetamine. The users can quickly get a high euphoric effect by smoking crystal meth. Therefore, crystal methamphetamine is more addictive and dangerous for the users. 

What is the Difference Between Meth and Crystal Meth?

The most common misconception about both types of substances is their interchangeable use. However, there are prominent differences alongside the similarities. It is important to note that the similarity is only in the effects of the meth and crystal methamphetamine. So, what’s the difference between crystal meth and meth? Crystal methamphetamine ensures a head high, while methamphetamine results in a rush within the body. 

Chemical Formation

In the chemical form, meth and crystal meth have the same ingredient, which is familiar as the methamphetamine hydrochloride. However, crystal meth is in its purest form than methamphetamine, ensuring a higher potency with the risks of addiction and different health problems. This is the difference between meth and crystal meth in terms of chemical form.

Potent Effects

Crystal meth is highly potent, offering an intense euphoria with a higher chance of addiction. It is a fact that both forms of methamphetamine can cause severe long-term and short-term effects. However, crystal methamphetamine versus methamphetamine amplifies the different risks for users due to its purification. Crank vs meth also produces an euphoric effect for users.

Usage Methods

The prominent difference between methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine is also the method of use. Snorting, swallowing, and injecting are the most common ways of consuming methamphetamine. Each route of meth consumption determines the time needed to feel the effects. Smoking crystal methamphetamine is the ideal route for a quick and intense high.

Risks and Health Effects

Both methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine cause hyperthermia and reduced appetite. The users of both substances can also feel the increased energy and wakefulness. Irregular and quick heartbeat is also another potential risk of meth or crystal meth addiction among users.

The chronic use of methamphetamine can also result in serious health problems. A meth addict can face problems like dental issues and extreme weight loss. A skin sore can be caused due to extreme scratching. Anxiety, violent behavior, and paranoia are the result of both meth and crystal meth addiction. The health risks also include brain damage, hallucinations, and confusion.

Paraphernalia

The difference in paraphernalia is related to the different forms of meth available to users. That’s why it is important to take a look at the different methamphetamine forms.

• Base: An oily substance that is usually injected to get an euphoric effect. The paraphernalia for the base injecting includes the needles and syringes.

• Ice: It’s a pure form with different ingestion options. The paraphernalia for ice includes the razors, small mirrors, needles, syringes, roll-up bills, lighters, glass pipes, and empty capsules. 

• Speed: Crank vs crystal is also a street name for the methamphetamine. Speed is usually available in powder form, which can be swallowed, snorted, or injected. The paraphernalia includes the empty capsules, needles, syringes, small mirrors, rolled-up bills, razor blades, and small mirrors. 

How can Meth and Crystal Meth Affect Your Body?

It is important to consider that both meth and crystal meth affect the users’ bodies. There are different short-term and long-term consequences of using crystal meth and methamphetamine. 

Immediate Effects

Your body can experience quick reactions when you use meth or crystal methamphetamine. Soaring blood pressure and increasing the heart rate are the immediate effects. Therefore, you will feel a strain on your cardiovascular system. 

Excessive sweating and raised body temperature are also categorized as short-term effects of methamphetamine use. The quick weight loss because of meth surpassing the appetite is also a sign of the meth immediate effects.

Long-Term Effects

It’s a reality that effects become widespread and severe with the passage of time. Meth mouth is one of the prominent long-term effects, which includes different dental problems such as tooth decay and loss. You will also experience malnutrition due to interference with the substances and nutrient absorption. 

The body vessels of the addicts also experience severe damage and skin infection due to the compulsive picking. Organ damage is also a serious effect of methamphetamine addiction because the kidneys and liver process the toxic substances. 

Brain Chemistry Alteration 

There is a long-lasting and severe effect of methamphetamine misuse on the brain chemistry. Both meth and crystal meth can change the dopamine levels of the users, making it difficult for them to feel happiness due to normal activities. There can be lasting damage to the nervous system in the brain, affecting cognitive functions and emotional regulation. 

Mental Health Problems

There are also devastating effects of both meth and crystal meth on the users’ mental health. You can experience persistent anxiety and paranoia even after withdrawing from crystal meth addiction. Psychotic issues such as extreme paranoia and hallucinations are also the result of continuous and long-term meth use.

Dramatic mood changes and depression are also common long-term effects of meth use disorder. You can also experience a steady decline in your cognitive functions and memory. Difficulty in decision-making is also a serious mental health problem due to methamphetamine.

Physical Appearance

The quick and dramatic changes in physical appearance are also another effect of crystal meth and meth. Premature aging signs become dull with the passage of time. Users also start to lose their teeth, affecting their physical appearance. It also makes users look older than their actual age. 

Conclusion

It is important to understand the difference between meth and crystal meth, even though both share similarities. The differences include the chemical form, potency, use techniques, health problems, and required paraphernalia for each substance. Both substances have immediate and long-term effects. Methamphetamine and crystal meth can badly affect the brain chemistry and mental health.