A breakdown

Methamphetamine

aka Crystal Meth, Tina, Ice, Glass

A powerful, long-lasting stimulant — high lasts 8–12 hours, with severe physical and mental cost.

What it is

Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant smoked, snorted, swallowed or injected. It floods the brain with dopamine for far longer than cocaine. In the UK it's most common in chemsex contexts, where its use compounds the risks dramatically.

Short-term effects

Euphoria, hyper-focus, no need for sleep or food for days
Increased libido and sexual stamina
Jaw clenching, teeth grinding, raised body temperature
Paranoia, agitation, sometimes psychosis after long binges

Long-term effects

'Meth mouth' — severe tooth decay and gum disease
Persistent psychosis even after stopping
Heart muscle damage, stroke risk
Skin sores from picking; rapid weight loss; cognitive impairment
In chemsex: dramatically higher risk of HIV, hep C and sexual assault

What it does to the body

The things people don't always tell you. Not to scare — to give you the full picture so you can make informed choices.

Slamming (injecting) carries massive overdose and infection risk
Sleep deprivation alone causes psychosis after 3–4 days awake
Combining with Viagra/poppers + GHB (a common chemsex mix) has a high fatal-overdose rate

What withdrawal looks like

Knowing the shape of it makes it survivable.

Crushing exhaustion and hypersomnia for days
Severe depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) for weeks
Cravings can return strongly for 6+ months

What actually helps

Practical, not preachy. Pick one.

01London's Antidote service (LFHC) is the UK's specialist chemsex support — free and discreet
02If you're chemsex-using, you are not alone — at least 1 in 10 gay/bi men in London report it
03Sleep hygiene is recovery medicine — protect 7+ hours, every night
04Replace the dopamine cliff with movement, sunlight, and meaningful connection (not 'positive thinking')

UK help

Antidote (LGBT chemsex support)Frank — Crystal Meth Crystal Methamphetamine Anonymous (UK)

One more thing — you are not alone in this.

People recover every day, and most of them needed help to do it. If you want to talk to one of us privately rather than post in the community, we'd be honoured.

Keep reading

Cocaine (powder)

A powerful stimulant snorted, rubbed on gums or injected — fast high, fast crash.

Crack cocaine

Smokable form of cocaine. The high is shorter, more intense — and the dependence develops faster.

Heroin

Powerful opioid — warm rush, deep numbness. Lethal when mixed with other depressants or fentanyl-contaminated.

Prescription opioids

Legitimate painkillers that quietly become dependence — often without anyone realising until withdrawal hits.

Information shaped by NICE, NHS, Frank, Release UK and clinical guidelines. Not a substitute for personalised medical or legal advice.