The Effects of Crystal Meth

I posted this as a comment in another thread, but wanted to share it as it's own post. I have never seen a person give this accurate of a description and thought it may be helpful to some people. Typically when I read an article about the effects of the drug, it elaborates on the physical aspects such as sores and looking sick, not on the psychological ramifications.

I am sharing this to spread awareness. This drug is very dangerous and is capable of tricking the user to think it's not. I've lost too many people to death from addiction. If the thought every crosses your mind to try it, I hope that you will remember these words - they could save your life.

Let's get to it...


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The first time I smoked it, it was like opening my eyes for the first time. I realized that I lived my whole life as a shadow of the person I could be. As the effects kicked in, I was able to think clearer and faster than I ever had before. It's like my brain under sobriety only ran at 5%.. This drug broke down the barriers and I could finally be and think at my full potential. The whole world opened up.

It gives a very powerful stroke of confidence. Since my thinking was clearer, I became more creative. Ideas flow, you feel an overwhelm love and appreciation for others. At the same time, I would get rushes if euphoria and would feel like my body is floating. I would stay up for a week at a time. The drug removed the need to sleep and also completely removed hunger. It also made me hornier than I have ever been.

Everything is perfect until the sleep depravation psychosis kicks in. Serious paranoia along with hallucinations. I would be counter surveillancing feds that were staking me out. Watching people climb though the trees and take my photos. Peeking out the windows for days on end waiting for them to kick in the door. To this day I am unable to tell if these were hallucinations or if I was being watched. This happened on many occasions. Talk to any tweaker and they'll tell you similar stories. The hallucinations are commonly referred to as " shadow people".

Telling you my experience wouldn't be complete without telling you about the withdrawal. Once addicted, in no way can an addict function without it. Without the drug, the brain is basically dead. Cannot think, cannot feel anything except desperation, hatred, and sadness.

This is my best effort to explaining meth withdrawals:

Imagine being tied up to a chair. Someone puts a plastic bag over your head and tapes it shut.. Now fast forward a minute in time. That's the moment of what meth withdrawal feels like. This is the reason people steal and are willing to do anything for their next hit. The brain perceives withdrawing and death as the same.

When I got clean, it took about 3 years for my brain to recover and stop with random cravings. But even to this day, the image of the crystals melting in the pipe still occasionally pop into my mind, followed by a rush of excitement. I don't think that will ever go away.

My sobriety date is July 8th, 2012.