| The discovery someone you care about is using | | | | indicates intravenous use. You might find a "kit" that |
| meth is heart breaking. The signs of use are easy to | | | | contains all the paraphernalia needed to administer the |
| identify if you know what to look for. You will notice | | | | drug. A telltale sign of blood on sleeves and pants is a |
| definite change in behavior. Meth is a stimulant, it | | | | sign of IV use, as well as needle marks on the arms |
| heightens the senses, and a feeling of well being is | | | | and legs. To hide the needle marks the addict will |
| experienced. The user will become talkative and | | | | wear long sleeve shirts even in hot weather. |
| active. Insomnia develops, sometimes for days. They | | | | Physical signs of meth use: |
| lose interest in eating, schoolwork, and relationships | | | | Finding burnt foil or glass pipes |
| with non-users. Other users start hanging around. The | | | | Presence of butane lighters or torches |
| person becomes secretive, locking himself away for | | | | Slight smell of burnt plastic |
| hours at a time. Things of value start to disappear. | | | | Presence of small plastic bags |
| Soon, irritability from lack of sleep sets in. They | | | | The discovery of syringes and spoons |
| become distant and defensive about using. Hygiene | | | | Blood spots on sleeves and pants |
| starts to decline. They quit bathing, brushing their | | | | Needle marks on arms and legs |
| teeth, and combing their hair. As the addiction | | | | Wearing long sleeve shirts to cover the needle marks |
| progresses, they disappear for days without telling | | | | Manufacturing methamphetamine has become popular. |
| anyone where they have been. They become | | | | Contributing to its popularity is the ease of obtaining |
| secretive about their friends. Life is in disarray. They | | | | the ingredients and simple process involved. Empty |
| become a shell of their former self. This is a painful | | | | cold and sinus pill packages, chemical odors, such as |
| time for loved ones. Going days on end wondering | | | | acetone and toluene, and ammonia permeate the air. |
| when the call will come with news of an overdose or | | | | Most of these solvents are highly carcinogenic. The |
| death. | | | | process also involves lithium from disassembled |
| Emotional signs of meth abuse: | | | | batteries. Lithium is toxic and volatile. Making meth is |
| Change in behavior | | | | nasty and dangerous. However, the nature of meth |
| More active than normal | | | | addiction causes the user to think he can |
| Talkative | | | | manufacture the drug and get by with it. It seems |
| Insomnia | | | | that once they pass this threshold, their inhibitions |
| Loss of interest in eating | | | | lower and leads to other criminal conduct. By this |
| Loss of interest schoolwork | | | | time, they are deep into their addiction. |
| Loss of interest in relationships | | | | Signs of meth manufacture: |
| Strange friends hanging around | | | | Empty cold and sinus pill packages |
| Irritability | | | | Chemical odors |
| They become distant and defensive | | | | Empty cans of industrial solvents such as toluene or |
| They become secretive | | | | acetone |
| Disappear for days without explanation | | | | Ammonia smell |
| The physical signs of meth abuse are unmistakable. | | | | Presence of disassembled lithium batteries |
| Smoking meth involves using glass pipes or tin foil. | | | | Presence of drain cleaner containing lye |
| The presence of pipes with residue or foil that | | | | Presence of pool or concrete cleaner containing |
| appears burnt is an indication of use. Butane lighters | | | | hydrochloric acid |
| and miniature torches used to melt the drug are | | | | If you suspect someone of using meth, be proactive. |
| present. There will be a noticeable smell of burnt | | | | The sooner they attempt to quit the better. Meth |
| plastic. Small plastic bags carrying the drugs will be | | | | abuse is a progressive addiction. The longer it is used, |
| found. The discovery of syringes and spoons | | | | the harder it is to quit. |