WHERE ARE YOU AT?
People use meth for various reasons. Some do it strictly for recreational purposes, to study for exams, to escape from problems, or just to feel good for a change.
Not everyone who tries meth will become addicted. Still, methamphetamine does provide a very powerful high. This fact places some people at higher risk of dependency.
If you’re doing side, it’s a good idea to keep track of your use. Tracking can help you modify your intake before you lose control. Below are some ways to gauge where you’re at with meth.
Which category do you fall into?
Experimental:
You’ve tried speed once or twice; it really isn’t your thing.
Periodic:
You party on meth occasionally and enjoy the high, but you can take it or leave it. When you use speed, you find it relatively easy to keep things in check.
To Get Shit Done:
You use Crystal to study for exams, write a paper, to drive all night, or complete a project. Students, artists, workers, and truckers can fall into this category.
If this sounds familiar, be mindful. You may trick yourself into believing that without Tina you can’t perform.
Sex:
You take meth to enhance sex. Do you use Tina a few times a year, several times a month, every weekend?
If you mix sex and meth often, be careful. This type of use can lead to dependency, erectile dysfunction in men, loss of interest in sober sex, as well as contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, or other STI’s through unprotected sex.
Regular:
You get high several times a week. You’ve binged and know what it’s like to go for a few days without eating or sleeping. Sometimes you choose speed over other things you care about. Your tolerance is growing which means you need to spend more money to get high.
If you’re at this stage, you may want to consider getting things under control before they get totally out of hand.
Habitual:
Getting high is your priority. Relationships, school, housing, job, health, and hygiene takes a back seat to it. When you’re out of speed you get stressed. Sometimes you tweak from regular binges where you stay awake for days, hearing voices, seeing shadow people, staring into the mirror, and digging or scratching your flesh. You crash hard. Sleep for 24 hours straight then wake up and start all over again. Meth has become the only thing that makes you happy; without it you wonder: what’s the point?
If this is where you’re at and you want to stop doing meth, getting into detox and a treatment centre can help. Your local harm reduction organization or Mental Health and Substance Use office can connect you with supports.
If you aren’t interested in taking a break or stopping, use harm reduction techniques to lessen some of meth’s impacts on your health (see Reducing Meth’s Harm.
People use meth for various reasons. Some do it strictly for recreational purposes, to study for exams, to escape from problems, or just to feel good for a change.
Not everyone who tries meth will become addicted. Still, methamphetamine does provide a very powerful high. This fact places some people at higher risk of dependency.
If you’re doing side, it’s a good idea to keep track of your use. Tracking can help you modify your intake before you lose control. Below are some ways to gauge where you’re at with meth.
Which category do you fall into?
Experimental:
You’ve tried speed once or twice; it really isn’t your thing.
Periodic:
You party on meth occasionally and enjoy the high, but you can take it or leave it. When you use speed, you find it relatively easy to keep things in check.
To Get Shit Done:
You use Crystal to study for exams, write a paper, to drive all night, or complete a project. Students, artists, workers, and truckers can fall into this category.
If this sounds familiar, be mindful. You may trick yourself into believing that without Tina you can’t perform.
Sex:
You take meth to enhance sex. Do you use Tina a few times a year, several times a month, every weekend?
If you mix sex and meth often, be careful. This type of use can lead to dependency, erectile dysfunction in men, loss of interest in sober sex, as well as contracting or transmitting HIV, hepatitis C, or other STI’s through unprotected sex.
Regular:
You get high several times a week. You’ve binged and know what it’s like to go for a few days without eating or sleeping. Sometimes you choose speed over other things you care about. Your tolerance is growing which means you need to spend more money to get high.
If you’re at this stage, you may want to consider getting things under control before they get totally out of hand.
Habitual:
Getting high is your priority. Relationships, school, housing, job, health, and hygiene takes a back seat to it. When you’re out of speed you get stressed. Sometimes you tweak from regular binges where you stay awake for days, hearing voices, seeing shadow people, staring into the mirror, and digging or scratching your flesh. You crash hard. Sleep for 24 hours straight then wake up and start all over again. Meth has become the only thing that makes you happy; without it you wonder: what’s the point?
If this is where you’re at and you want to stop doing meth, getting into detox and a treatment centre can help. Your local harm reduction organization or Mental Health and Substance Use office can connect you with supports.
If you aren’t interested in taking a break or stopping, use harm reduction techniques to lessen some of meth’s impacts on your health (see Reducing Meth’s Harm.