Methamphetamine

The immediate and long-term effects of all types of methamphetamine are the same. Because ice is a more potent or purer form of methamphetamine all the effects and side-effects are more likely to occur and be more intense than speed and base.

Physical Effects may include:

• heart beating faster (palpitations)
• breathing faster
• feeling less hungry
• blood pressure rising
• pupils in your eyes getting bigger
• sweating a lot
• moving more quickly
• finding it hard to sleep
• jaw clenching and teeth grinding
• getting headaches
• feeling dizzy
• feeling restless
• shaking
• having irregular breathing
• having a very fast or irregular heartbeat and chest pains
• becoming pale.

Psychological effects may include:

• feeling very good and confident
• feeling alert and energetic
• being excited or agitated
• talking a lot
• feeling sexually aroused
• feeling aggressive
• feeling anxious or panicky
• taking more risks than usual
• feeling very powerful or better than others
• becoming hostile or aggressive
• developing psychosis – a serious psychological problem where you hear voices, imagine things, fear that others want to hurt you
• making the symptoms of an existing mental health disorder worse.

If you use methamphetamine often and for a long time you may:

• become dependent on the drug
• become irritable, anxious or agitated
• have decreased memory and concentration
• get sick more often because your body can’t resist disease properly
• feel down
• develop psychosis
• have relationship, work, money, legal or housing problems
• impair your capacity as a parent/primary carer of children
  

How is methamphetamine used?

The way a person takes methamphetamine can also cause problems such as:

• Snorting the drug can lead to nosebleeds, sinus problems and damage inside the nose
• Injecting the drug can result in blocked blood vessels (caused by the drug constricting your blood vessels or by the substances sometimes mixed with ‘speed’) leading to serious damage to the body’s organs such as the liver, heart, kidneys , inflamed blood vessels and abscesses
• Injecting and snorting amphetamine type substances also increases the risk of becoming dependent on the drug and of getting other health problems
• Dependent methamphetamine users are at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, a blood borne virus or an unplanned pregnancy due to the increased likelihood of having unprotected sex
• Injecting methamphetamine with unsterile injecting equipment makes you more likely to contract blood borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and get blood poisoning (septicaemia) and skin abscesses (sores with pus)

To avoid problems associated with unsterile injecting equipment NEVER share fits (needles and syringes), spoons, water, filters, alcohol swabs or tourniquets.

In NSW, free sterile injecting equipment is available from Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) outlets and from selected pharmacists.

Call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) for the nearest NSP outlet.

Forms of methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is available in three different forms commonly known as speed, base and ice but they differ in their purity. Ice is about 80% pure, whereas speed is typically around 10-20% pure.
People have been known to have serious mental and physical difficulties after using a lot of ice.

Speed
Speed usually comes in the form of white or yellow powder, but can also be bought as pills. People either sniff it through the nose (snort it), inject it or swallow it in tablet or capsule form. Speed is also known as go-ee, whiz, rev and uppers. People who sell speed often mix or cut the powder with other things that look the same, to make the drug go further. Some mixed-in substances can have unpleasant or harmful effects. It is difficult to tell what the drug actually contains.

Base
Base is a damp or oily substance with a white to yellow or brown colour which is more pure than powder. It can vary a lot in its appearance and is also known as pure, paste and wax. Base is usually injected but sometimes swallowed. It isn’t commonly used in Australia.

Ice
Ice is the purest form of methamphetamine available in Australia. It usually looks like colourless to white crystals or a coarse crystal-like powder, but it can also appear in other colours. Ice is also called crystal, crystal meth, meth or shabu. Ice is usually smoked or injected. A drug that is smoked or injected enters the brain more quickly which creates a ‘rush’ that many people find very difficult to resist repeating. This is why some people think it is ‘more addictive’. Ice is also sniffed through the nose (snorted), swallowed or inserted into the anus (shafted). All forms of ingestion can have a physical and mental impact, including dependence.

Because of its purity, ice is more powerful than speed and base and when used puts a greater strain on the body. Its use can therefore be much more dangerous. It has stronger side effects and a worse comedown. During a ‘comedown’, the user may feel physically and emotionally drained. Some users may experience a ‘crash’ – negative feelings associated with coming down.

Variations in the methamphetamine structure also produce other drugs such as MDMA (methylene dioxy methamphetamine) or ecstasy.

Sometimes, but not often, doctors prescribe amphetamine drugs to treat some health problems. But mostly, people use amphetamine that is made illegally. Most of these drugs currently sold on the street in Australia are methamphetamine or variants of this molecule which are stronger than amphetamines.

People who use methamphetamine sometimes take other drugs at the same time to cope with some of the things methamphetamine does to the body. Some people take drugs such as minor tranquillisers (benzodiazapines), alcohol, marijuana or heroin to help them sleep. This can make you dependent on several drugs at once.

 For example, some people need speed or ice each day to get them going and benzodiazepines each night to get to sleep.

This type of dependence can lead to many serious physical and psychological problems. Mixing different drugs can also make you more likely to overdose.

Overdose of methamphetamine can happen to anyone who takes the drug. Even small amounts may cause overdose with some people who have an especially strong reaction to it. You are at greater risk of overdose if you are alone.

When a person overdoses, it may cause:

• methamphetamine induced psychosis, usually for a short time
• faster, irregular or weak heartbeat
• heart attack
• bleeding in the brain
• very high fever
• death (rarely).

If you can’t wake someone up or you are concerned that they may have sustained a head injury from a drug related fall – call an ambulance immediately – dial Triple Zero (000).

If the person has been mixing methamphetamines with other drugs, tell the NSW Ambulance paramedic exactly what they have taken. Paramedics are there to help. Generally paramedics don’t involve the police unless there is danger to themselves or other people/children, someone dies, or a crime (such as violence or theft) has been committed.

With regular use, anyone can develop a tolerance to speed, base or ice. Tolerance means that you must take more of the drug to feel the same effects you used to have with lower amounts.

Dependence on a drug such as methamphetamine means that it takes up a lot of your thoughts, emotions and activities. You also have trouble cutting back on your drug use even though it is causing you problems.

Dependence on speed, base or ice can lead to a variety of health, money, legal, work and relationship problems. Not all people who use methamphetamine are dependent.

People who are dependent on speed, base or ice may find it very hard to stop using or cut down because of withdrawal symptoms. These can include:

• tiredness
• stomach cramps
• aches
• nausea
• rapid heart beat
• hot and cold flushes
• hunger
• chest pains
• feeling confused, anxious or agitated
• weight loss
• deep depression (feeling very down or sad)
• being nervy or restless
• feeling angry or upset
• problems sleeping
• wanting the drug very badly (cravings).

If you are experiencing problems with withdrawal, contact your doctor or health centre.

There is evidence that methamphetamine use can affect fetal development. Methamphetamine use during pregnancy has been linked with bleeding, early labour and miscarriage, as well as an increased risk of fetal abnormalities. Use of methamphetamines will also increase the heart rate of both mother and baby. Inform antenatal staff of methamphetamine use and attend regular antenatal checkups.

If methamphetamines are used by the mother close to birth, the baby may be born with symptoms of methamphetamine use. Babies of mothers who regularly use amphetamines may also experience withdrawal symptoms in the first few weeks after birth.

It is generally risky to take any drug while breastfeeding without medical advice.

​These interactive tools have been created to help you and your community learn more about 'ice'. Explore a range of topics, including the impacts of 'ice' and support services, with audio and video animation.

Explore the effects of crystalline methamphetamine on the body and brain.

Start module 1. Click here

Learn about how to get support, or support a loved one who is struggling with crystalline methamphetamine use.

Start module 2. Click here

Find out the best way to help your community.

Start module 3. Click here

Learn how stigma affects the user and loved ones. See the person, not the drug.

Start module 4. Click here

Using speed, base or ice is illegal. If you use, sell or give these drugs to someone else and get caught, you could face substantial fines and penalties including a prison sentence.

Methamphetamine can make you feel more confident when you drive. This can make you take dangerous risks and have accidents. It is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, including speed, base and ice. If you break this law you could lose your license for a set time, or be fined.

Police can test drivers for recent amphetamine use.

Anyone under the influence of speed, base or ice who kills or injures another person while driving a motor vehicle can be sentenced to a term in prison.

Narcotics Anonymous Australia, a non profit organisation aiming to support people to abstain from drugs.​

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs 24 hours, 7 days a week, call the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline 1800 250 015.

It will automatically direct you to the Alcohol and Drug Service in the state or territory you are calling from. 

Other support services

• nuaa.org.au NSW U​sers and AIDS Association (NUAA) is a peak drug user organisation in NSW providing harm reduction information and blood borne virus prevention peer education.
  

  Nepean Youth Drug and Alcohol Service (NYDAS) works within a holistic model of care to address a range of issues for young people (12 -20 years) of age related to their alcohol and other drug use. Call (02) 4734 2129 or (02) 4734 1333.

• Poisons Information Centre is a  24/7 call centre service to NSW and after hours call centre across Australia. Call 13 11 26

• ahmrc.org.au for Aboriginal community controlled health services across NSW. Go to Members/ Members regional map/ Member services or Member websites.

• alcohol.gov.au provides information about related health issues and Australian government policy. 

• druginfo.adf.org.au for facts and resources on alcohol and other drugs and the prevention of related harm.

• druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au State Library of New South Wales provides up to date information for public libraries in NSW.

• headspace.org.au for mental health and wellbeing support, information and services for young people (12-25 years) and their family and friends.

• kidshelp.com.au is a free, 24 hour counselling service for young people aged 5-25 years. Counselling is offered by web, email or call 1800 55 1800.
  

• au.reachout.com ReachOut is an Australian online youth mental health service with a mobile-friendly site and forums where you can access help, information and support.

• shil.nsw.gov.au for free and confidential sexual health support and information.

• smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au Smart Recovery is a voluntary self-help group that assists people in recovering from alcohol, drug use and other addictive behaviours.

• Visit tafensw.edu.au for help with education, career development or personal matters. Students can contact a local TAFE / university counsellor. Follow the links to student services, careers and counselling.

• youthaction.org.au Youth Action is the peak organisation for young people in NSW. Use the search option to access a directory of NSW youth services.

• youthsolutions.com.au for services for young people 12 – 25 years of age and the community including prevention and health promotion, drug and alcohol education, community programs and referral. You can also call (02) 4628 2319. [provides services to young people in Macarthur & Wingecarribee].

​When someone uses methamphetamine, it can affect everyone around them. This site offers a variety of resources for friends and families concerned about their loved ones, including a Breaking the Ice fact sheet for families. Support services are available specifically to help people supporting others with substance use or misuse, including the Family and Friend Support Program. There are also tips for talking with kids about alcohol and other drugs (part 1 and part 2). ACON provides support specifically for LGBTQ+ families through Pivot Point.


Informational resources are available in 27 languages. This includes videos providing information about where and how to get help for yourself or someone you care about.

General resources include:
Information and support for family and carers
Managing aggression, alcohol and drug use in the home: A guide for those concerned about children 5-12 years
Coping with aggression, alcohol and drug use in the home - A guide for teenagers 
A parents' guide to drug slang