Methamphetamine

How much methamphetamine do people usually take?

There are no publicly available tests to measure how strong your drugs are, so often people start low and go slow.

How can you be safer when using meth? 

Swallowing meth may be less risky than other ways of taking it. Swallowing meth or mixing it into a drink can help avoid the damage that some other methods of using can have on your body. Using meth this way delivers the drug to your body more slowly, so wait for 1 hour before re-dosing as you may not feel the effects straight away. If you re-dose too quickly, you can increase your chance of overdose.

If you are injecting meth, use new, sterile equipment every time. Use new and sterile needles, filters and butterflies and sterile water every time you inject meth. You can get these from needle exchanges across New Zealand. This helps to reduce skin infections and the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis that you can get from sharing needles. For more information, see our safer injecting page.

Use a glass shatterproof pipe if you are smoking meth. These pipes will prevent you from getting cuts or burns when using. If you have a pipe that has a broken edge it is best to avoid using it. Brass screens are also useful to hold your drugs in place and stop you from inhaling particles. If you can, use a mouthpiece so you don't burn your lips on the pipe. If you can't access a mouthpiece, you can use something rubber that fits on the end of the pipe (like a rubber band). Avoid sharing pipes with others as this can spread disease and infection. 

Take breaks after using. Many people who use meth use it monthly or less. The more you use, the harder it is on your heart, body and mental health. It also increases your chance of becoming addicted. While recovering remember to drink water, eat and get as much rest as possible. If you've been using regularly, see the cutting down section for tips to manage withdrawal.

Take care around children. Store drugs safely and be aware that drugs can remain in breastmilk. Follow safe sleep guidelines and be aware that you may not wake up as easily as usual after taking drugs. For more information and advice, see Pregnancy and Substance Use: A Harm Reduction Toolkit from National Harm Reduction Coalition.

If you're thinking about cutting down, MethHelp offers free and confidential nationwide phone counselling. Call 0800 METH HELP (0800 638 443) or you can refer yourself via their website.

To order MethHelp workbooks that support people to make changes to their methamphetamine use and other free resources for safer use, see Resources.

What happens if you overdose on meth?

Overdoses on meth are not uncommon in New Zealand, especially if you use often or in large amounts. If you are using meth, it is helpful to be aware of what an overdose or a bad trip looks like so you or the people around you can act quickly.

You might feel anxious, paranoid, irritable, nauseous or jittery. You might feel hot-and-cold or feel like there's something crawling on your skin.

Try: 

• Focus on breathing – try taking slow, deep breaths.
• If you are able, call and talk to somebody you trust and ask them to help keep you calm.
• Do not take more meth, caffeine, alcohol or other drugs, as these can make you feel worse.
• Move to somewhere quiet – try to sit or lie down and do something relaxing.
• Drink water to stay hydrated.

If you have more severe symptoms, like worsening mental health, hallucinations, bladder problems, diarrhea, vomiting or feeling very hot or sweaty, call a doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116). You won't get in trouble if you tell them you've used drugs.

Psychosis, fast heart rate, delirium, having difficulty breathing, seizures, numbness on one side of your body, fevers and losing consciousness are a medical emergency. Call 111.

What do comedowns from meth feel like, and how can you feel better?

If you're coming down from meth, you may: feel tired, have trouble concentrating or thinking, get cravings, have aches and pains, experience mood swings or feel anxious or irritable, have memory problems or have difficulty sleeping.

You can try…

• Get plenty of rest and sleep.
• Remember to eat and drink plenty of water.
• Get moving to release feel-good brain chemicals.
• Reach out and talk with friends and whānau for support.
• Relax and do things that you enjoy to take your mind off not feeling well.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and other drugs.
• Practise mindfulness and deep breathing, and try writing down your thoughts and feelings.

If any of these symptoms intensify or don't go away then call a doctor or Healthline 0800 611 116. They can talk you through the next steps.

If your symptoms worsen or you are with somebody who:

• Have trouble breathing
• Have severe chest pain
• Experience psychosis
• Act violently
• Have suicidal thoughts
• Have a seizure
• Lose consciousness

Call 111. These are signs that something more serious is going on. You or the people around you should act quickly.

What are the long-term effects of using meth?

Meth can impact both your brain and your body. Long-term methamphetamine use can impact your impulse control, memory, concentration and sleep. It can also increase anxiety, depression and feelings of anger. Some of these effects may fade when you stop using meth, but others can be permanent. Regular methamphetamine use, especially in large amounts can sometimes cause methamphetamine-induced psychosis; symptoms of this include paranoia, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts and delusions. You might be more likely to experience psychosis if you have a history of mental illness such as schizophrenia. 

Long-term methamphetamine use can also affect your body; in particular, your heart. As methamphetamine is considered 'cardiotoxic', regular, heavy methamphetamine use increases your risk of developing a variety of heart conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes. Long-term methamphetamine use can also cause issues for your liver,  lungs and digestive system. Methamphetamine supresses your appetite, so many people who use methamphetamine daily experience vitamin deficiencies and in more severe cases, malnutrition. 

Smoking methamphetamine on a regular basis can cause mouth problems. In particular, tooth decay, brittle or fragile teeth and mouth sores. This is because smoking meth can cause your mouth to become very dry and methamphetamine is very acidic- both of which can increase your risk of teeth problems. Keeping up oral hygiene and getting regular dentist check-ups can prevent more serious problems such as abscesses or tooth loss. 

Noticing physical symptoms early can help prevent health problems from developing. Check out our physical health section for things to watch out for.

How do you manage withdrawal from methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance, which can also mean it is difficult to cut down or stop using.

Withdrawal symptoms can start within 24 hours of when you last used meth. The most severe part of the withdrawal usually lasts 7–10 days, and symptoms start to become less unpleasant after another 2 weeks.

If you're thinking about cutting down, MethHelp offers free and confidential nationwide phone counselling. Call 0800 METH HELP (0800 638 443) or you can refer yourself via their website.

You might:

• feel tired, hungry, sweaty or nauseous
• feel anxious, irritable, confused, jittery or down
• have nightmares
• get stomach-aches
• have cravings to use meth

You can try:

• Follow a tapering plan from a health professional to reduce your dose slowly.
• Consider counselling or support groups if feelings of anxiety and depression are getting worse.
• Lean on a support network of friends, family and professionals.
• Stick to a routine – waking up, eating well, keeping active and rewarding yourself with things that bring you joy.
• Practise mindfulness by writing down your feelings, doing breathing exercises or meditating.

If you experience severe cravings, have a fever, have violent or suicidal thoughts, call a doctor or Healthline (0800 611 116).

Your doctor may be able to help with other medicines to help you get through withdrawal, or info about rehab or withdrawal clinics in your area – visit Health Point to see what services are available.

Psychosis, seizures, violence and suicide attempts need urgent medical care. Call 111.

The long-term effects of meth use on the brain and body can last for several weeks to several years after you stop using.

See the 'Making changes' page for more information on how to manage withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.

Drug checking helps you stay safer by telling you what's in your drugs. 
Find a free clinic near you on our drug checking calendar.

How can meth affect your daily activities?

Even at low doses, meth can affect your everyday activities. At a single low dose, these effects usually last 4–12 hours. If taken at a large dose, used regularly or mixed with alcohol or other drugs, some effects can last from several weeks to several months.

Methamphetamine can cause unpredictable behaviour, hallucinations and physical symptoms like extreme sweating, shaking and cramps. It can be unsafe to drive or operate heavy machinery or to do tasks that need concentration. These drugs can cause personality changes, mood swings and hyperactive behaviour, which could make it difficult to interact with others.

Will meth show up on a drug test?

Methamphetamine will usually be tested for in hair, urine, saliva (spit) or blood. The timeframes in which meth can be detected in your body may vary depending on the size of dose you have taken and how long you have used methamphetamine for.

Generally, meth can be detected for 1–7 days in urine, 1–4 days in saliva, 1–3 days in blood and up to 90 days in hair.

Is meth illegal?

Methamphetamine is considered a Class A controlled drug in New Zealand. This means that possessing, buying, selling, making or giving methamphetamine to others is against the law.

You can also get in trouble with the law if you are found to be impaired by methamphetamine while driving.  

To find out more about the law around legal and controlled drugs, including methamphetamine, see Drugs and the law.