Ice basics
Find out all the basics about ice in this fact sheet, including what it is, how it works, and how it affects your mental and physical health.
Summary
Ice (crystal meth, crystal, shabu, yaabaa, glass, tina) is the name for crystal methylamphetamine, a very strong man-made drug that belongs to a group of drugs called amphetamines.
Ice works by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin into the brain and producing feelings of euphoria.
Ice is extremely addictive. Heavy and/or regular use of it can cause a drug-induced psychotic episode and can also trigger a relapse of psychotic symptoms. It can take anywhere from a few months to a year for the brain to return to normal functioning after a regular user has stopped using ice.
What is ice?
Ice is the name for crystal methylamphetamine, a very strong man made drug that belongs to a group of drugs called amphetamines. Other amphetamines include amphetamine sulphate and dexamphetamine.
Ice can be made from household ingredients, including over the counter cold medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Ice commonly contains other toxic chemicals such as red phosphorus, hydrochloric acid, anhydrous ammonia, drain cleaner, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel and antifreeze.
Ice is not legal or regulated and is produced in illegal makeshift laboratories using a range of toxic chemicals. Ice in Australia is usually imported from East or South East Asia.
Ice is crystalline in form and is odourless and has bitter-tasting crystals. It appears translucent (colourless) or white in colour and may have a green, blue or pink tinge.
How does ice work?
Ice works by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin into the brain. These neurotransmitters are chemicals made by the brain that regulate our feelings, thoughts and actions. Dopamine is a feel good chemical responsible for pleasure. Noradrenaline is a fight or flight chemical which increases heart rate and blood pressure, dilates pupils for better vision and constricts blood vessels in organs that are not needed for defence.
When ice reaches the brain it forces the brain to release most of its dopamine and noradrenaline at once, producing feelings of euphoria, high energy and alertness. This depletes neurotransmitter levels in the brain which can cause ice users to feel depressed for up to 10 days after using, while their brain is building back its stores of dopamine and noradrenaline.
Check out how stimulants affect dompamine levels on the brain here:
Acknowledgement: Bluebelly
If ice is used regularly the brain can be overwhelmed and can shut down the transmitters and receivers responsible for releasing and receiving neurotransmitters in the brain. This can leave the user feeling depressed for months after they have stopped using while their brain recovers.
It can take anywhere from a few months to a year for the brain to return to normal functioning after a regular user has stopped using ice.
Classification
Ice is generally classified as a stimulant. Stimulants cause breathing rate and heartbeat to speed up and body temperature to rise. Ice can also have similar effects on the user as some hallucinogens (such as LSD or psilocybin) which means it affects the messages of the central nervous system by distorting what people hear, think and see.
How is ice used?
It only takes very small doses to achieve the desired effects. It's usually smoked or injected. The typical dose of ice is a 'point' (0.1 grams).
-
Ingested (eaten): When swallowed ice is absorbed through the lining of the stomach and produces effects within 20 – 30 minutes, it produces euphoria but not the intense rush associated with other methods. Although the effects are not as intense they will last longer than if other methods were used. This is the least dangerous way to use ice.
-
Snorted: Snorting ice produces effects in 3 - 5 minutess, it produces euphoria but not an intense rush.
-
Smoked: Ice can be smoked in 2 ways via pipe or foil. When smoked it takes effect in 5-10 seconds and produces an intense “rush” or “flash” that lasts only few minutes, described as extremely pleasurable.
-
Shafted: This method involves anal insertion of the drug either in liquid or crystal form. The drug is then absorbed by the blood vessels in the rectum. This method takes 3 - 5 minutes to take effect.
-
Injected: When injected ice takes effect in 5 - 10 seconds producing an intense “rush” or “flash” that lasts only few minutes. This is the most dangerous way to use ice as it bypasses all of the body’s natural defences by putting the drug straight into the bloodstream. It also increases risk of blood-borne viruses (such as HIV and AIDS) and infections from using dirty equipment.
Immediate effects of ice
Physiological
- Feelings of euphoria (happiness)
- Increased confidence
- Increased alertness
- Increased libido (sex drive)
- High energy levels
- Disorganised thought and speech patterns
- Sense of well being
- Increased sociabiliy and talkativeness
- Paranoia and psychosis. This is perhaps the major harm from using methamphetamine, with the most research supporting it. Psychosis is similar to paranoid schizophrenia. The psychosis can cause hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. People with amphetamine psychosis can exhibit bizarre, sometime violent, behaviours.
Physical
- Reduced Appetite.
- Tremors in hands and fingers
- Increased body temperature
- Increased Blood pressure
- Increased Heart rate
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Dilated Pupils
- Dry Mouth
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Itching, Picking Scratching
Effects from regular ice use
Regular use of ice can result in a number of health issues, including:
- Paranoia and psychosis. This is perhaps the major harm from using methamphetamine, with the most research supporting it.
- High blood pressure and increased risk of heart-related complications such as heart attack.
- Rapid weight loss and malnutrition due to reduced appetite
- Chronic sleeping problems
- Increased risk of a stroke
- Premature ageing
- Skin lesions
- Increased risk of kidney problems
- Reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to infections due to the person not sleeping or eating properly
- Increased risk of psychosis
- Depression, anxiety, tension
- Dental problems (from grinding teeth)
- Smoking ice can damage the lungs
- Snorting ice can damage the lining of the nose
- Injecting ice can lead to scarring, abscesses, vein damage and gangrene. Sharing injecting equipment increases the risk of contracting blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
- As ice increases the libido or sex drive, some people may be more prone to practice unsafe sex while on ice. This increases the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV.
Ice and mental health
Heavy and/or regular use of ice can cause a drug-induced psychotic episode and can also trigger a relapse of psychotic symptoms if you already have a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. In some cases the symptoms may continue for days or even weeks after the drug has worn off.
Is ice addictive?
People who use ice can quickly develop a tolerance to the drug so that increasingly greater doses are needed to achieve the desired effects. Ice is an extremely addictive substance and can also lead to physical and/or psychological dependence.
People who are addicted to ice often find that using it becomes far more important than real life, and can find it very difficult to stop using it as they begin to crave the drug and a person’s body adapts and gets used to functioning with the drug present.
If a person who is physically dependent on ice suddenly stops taking it, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. Some of the symptoms people may experience once they have stopped using ice include;
- disorientation
- hunger
- exhaustion
- decreased energy
- apathy
- limited ability to experience pleasure (because of depleted levels of dopamine)
- anxiet
- irritability
- depression and cravings for ice (the length and severity of the depression is related to how much and how often ice was used).
Ice and the law
Some amphetamine-based drugs can be prescribed by doctors for conditions such as narcolepsy. Ritalin, a dexamphetamine, is used to treat hyperactivity in children. Other than these few specialised cases, using ice is illegal. If you use, sell or give ice to someone else and get caught, you could face substantial fines and penalties including a prison sentence.
This fact sheet was prepared with assistance from the Australian Drug Foundation.
Email this page
Not a member?
Join Between the Lines to access a range of great member
features.
Forgot your password?