“Crystal meth” is a form of the stimulant drug methamphetamine. Like all stimulants, including coffee and cocaine, methamphetamine increases the activity of certain neurotransmitters (dopamine, noradrenalin, and serotonin) in the brain. As the name implies, stimulants speed up certain aspects of the mind and body.

Methamphetamine is a synthetic substance that comes in many forms. The crystal form looks like shards of ice or glass. It can be smoked in a cigarette or pipe. It can also be dissolved in water and injected with a needle. Methamphetamine also comes in the form of powder, pills, or capsules. In these forms it can be snorted, swallowed, or inserted (vaginally or rectally).

While some methamphetamine pills are made legally by pharmaceutical companies, most methamphetamine is manufactured illegally, some in makeshift operations located in homes, hotel rooms, storage lockers, and even vehicles. Manufacturers of the drug may use chemicals derived from other substances, such as drain cleaner, paint thinner, and anti-freeze.

As a street drug, methamphetamine is relatively inexpensive and easy to access. These two factors contribute to the recent escalation of concern regarding the potential for increased use among some groups of teens and young adults.

All forms of methamphetamine are illegal in Canada unless prescribed by a doctor. The pharmaceutical form is sometimes used as a medicine for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, sleeping disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. The street form is often made from impure chemicals.