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. See more information about how to stay safer when injecting here.

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.  If you can, use a mouthpiece so you don't burn your lips on the pipe. Avoid sharing pipes with others as this can spread disease and infection. 

Drug checking can help you find out what's in your drugs.
Meth can be tested at a drug checking clinic with a spectrometer. If you plan on injecting meth, a drug checking clinic may also test it for fentanyl with a testing strip. You can also test meth yourself with reagent tests that you can buy from places like Cosmic and The Hemp Store in New Zealand. 

Order fentanyl test strips for free from our Resources page.

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 change the way your brain works. It can cause problems for people who use it regularly and over a longer period of time, impacting impulse control, memory, concentration and sleep. It can also increase anxiety, depression and feelings of anger. Some of these effects can fade when you stop using meth, while others can be permanent.

People who use meth regularly can experience malnutrition, as meth can decrease your appetite. Sometimes a person may lose weight or look pale. Smoking meth can also result in blackening, rotting or breaking of teeth. Some people get skin wounds from scratching or picking at sores. These can become infected or scar over time.

The more meth you use and the more often you use, the more likely you are to experience serious long-term effects.

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.

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.