Methamphetamine is a powerful lab-made (synthetic) stimulant with high addiction potential.¹ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved methamphetamine for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as for short-term treatment of obesity. It is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II stimulant, which makes it legally available only through a nonrefillable prescription. 

However, most methamphetamine used in the United States is illicitly manufactured,² and commonly appears either as a powder or in a crystalline form called crystal methamphetamine (common names include “Tina,” “ice,” and “crystal meth”). 

Methamphetamine is most frequently smoked but can also be snorted, injected, or administered orally³ or rectally.⁴ Methamphetamine use causes increased alertness and talkativeness and decreased appetite, as well as feelings of happiness and well-being, among other immediate effects.¹ However, long-term use may have serious health effects, including unintentional overdose. Methamphetamine is also present in many people who die from overdoses involving fentanyl.

What are the short-term health effects of methamphetamine?

The effects of methamphetamine may be felt immediately or within 20 minutes, depending on how it is used.⁵  When smoked or injected, it enters the bloodstream and brain rapidly and produces an immediate and intense “rush” or euphoria. Other immediate effects include increased wakefulness, confidence, energy, and sex drive, as well as decreased appetite.^1,3,6

The euphoria wears off quickly, leading to a “crash.” Some people try to avoid this and extend the euphoria by repeatedly taking the drug in a binge pattern. Repeated use in this way increases the risk of developing a methamphetamine use disorder.

Methamphetamine use can have immediate negative health effects, including paranoia, anxiety, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, stroke, increased blood pressure, kidney damage, nonfatal overdose (also called “overamping”), or fatal

What are the long-term health risks of methamphetamine use?

Methamphetamine affects many of the body’s organs and systems¹⁰ and can cause severe health problems, especially when it is used frequently. These include:

Substance Use Disorder

• Methamphetamine’s unique properties make it extremely addictive.  Repeated use of methamphetamine may lead to methamphetamine use disorder.

Other Mental Health Disorders

• Anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and mood disturbances.¹
• Symptoms of psychosis, such as seeing and/or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations) and deeply believing false stories or ideas (delusions), even when not intoxicated. Heavy drinking and stress have been shown to increase the odds that someone who has experienced methamphetamine-associated psychosis in the past will have psychosis symptoms again.¹²

Effects on Cognition (Thinking)

• Some studies have found decreased cognitive function associated with long-term methamphetamine use, including difficulty with verbal learning and slower reaction times (reduced motor speed).¹³ More research is needed on the impact of methamphetamine use on cognition.¹⁴

Other Long-Term Health Effects

• Increased chances of acquiring bacterial infections, such as a heart infection called infective endocarditis, through shared injection equipment.¹⁵
• Increased chance of acquiring HIV or viral hepatitis through shared injection equipment or sexual behavior associated with methamphetamine use.
• Cardiovascular events like stroke and heart failure.¹
• Tooth decay and loss (“meth mouth”).¹
• Decreased sexual function in men

overdose