Could you recognize methamphetamine if you saw it? If your answer is “no,” you aren’t alone. Even though meth is the deadliest illicit substance in West Virginia behind fentanyl, few people can tell it apart from other substances, including common household items like sugar or flour.
Meth identification is important, though. Knowing how to recognize meth can help you intervene if you find it in the possession of a loved one, and distinguishing between meth and other substances can guide you on how to better approach the situation.
If you’re taking meth yourself, it’s useful to know this information to understand the purity of the substance you have. It could save your life. At Hope for Tomorrow, we believe any harm we can avoid from substances is a step in the right direction – whether it comes in the form of treatment for a substance use disorder, or a blog providing additional knowledge. Let’s cover what you need to know about meth identification today.
Meth comes in several different forms but is most commonly found in crystalline chunks, known as crystal meth, or in a powdered form.
Crystal meth is one of the most infamous forms of meth and resembles broken glass. It’s typically clear, gray, or white, sometimes with a blueish tone.
Powdered meth is also fairly common, and is most often fine, whiteish, and easy to confuse with other substances like cocaine or even sugar. This form of meth comes in various colors depending on how it’s made, including light brown, pink, or grayish-yellow. Powdered meth might still have a few crystalline chunks in it, which can be an easier way to differentiate it from other things that come in a white powder form.
Sometimes, powdered meth is made into pills or tablets, and can come in all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. This form of meth is often a mixture of multiple substances. It also comes in a prescription form under the name of Desoxyn and is used very rarely to treat ADHD.
We highly recommend against intentionally trying to identify meth by smell, because some of the chemicals frequently used in meth manufacturing can be dangerous to your health.
That being said, it can still be useful to know the scent of meth in case you encounter it accidentally, though you might have a hard time identifying it regardless. Pure meth doesn’t have much of a scent at all, but meth sold on the street isn’t pure. It’s full of toxic chemicals like ammonia, lithium, battery acid, cleaning products, and red phosphorus, just to name a few.
Meth gets its smell from the chemicals it’s made with. It most often has an ammonia-like smell and may smell as strong as cat urine. In other cases, people report it smells like burning plastic, metallic chemicals, rotten eggs, or cleaning chemicals.
Again – it’s never a good idea to consume meth to try to identify it. We’re providing this information for the sake of further understanding meth, not to encourage tasting it.
If you were to taste meth, chances are it would be very bitter, and taste similar to how it smells, depending on its chemical makeup. People who regularly take meth typically avoid taking it orally, and even smoking it can leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
On top of the toxic chemicals and substances meth is usually manufactured with, meth is often laced with other illicit substances.
The most common – and most dangerous – of these substances is fentanyl. Fentanyl is odorless and indistinguishable from meth to the naked eye. It’s also usually in meth supplies without the knowledge of people utilizing it.
Dealers often “cut” their supplies of meth with fentanyl, because fentanyl is incredibly strong, and produces a more intense “high” at a cheaper cost to them. That potency is also what makes fentanyl dangerous, and why overdose deaths are rising.
There’s a common belief among people with opioid use disorders (such as heroin or fentanyl addiction) that taking meth alongside opioids makes overdose less likely. This isn’t true. In fact, over 60% of people who lost their lives to meth overdose in 2021 also had fentanyl present in their system. In another study, more people overdosed on fentanyl and meth combined than either individually.
The best thing to do to avoid meth laced with fentanyl is to use fentanyl test strips. If you find meth laced with fentanyl, it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible – including if the meth supply is your own. Dealers often don’t keep track of how much fentanyl they “cut” other substances with, and it doesn’t take much to overdose. It’s not worth the risk of administering it.
Identifying meth when you see it is important, but so is identifying meth when you hear about it or read about it. There are many street names to refer to meth, and it can be very confusing – which is precisely why people use such a variety of names. Some of the most popular street names for meth include:
This list is not at all comprehensive, and street names are always evolving. Listening to context clues within the conversation can help you better recognize when a word might be a code for illicit substances like meth.
Because coordination of getting meth often happens over text or messaging applications, learning the emojis representing meth is also useful. People often send blue emojis for meth, such as a blue heart, diamond, crystal ball, or test tube. They also might use ice-cream emojis.
If you’ve identified a substance as meth, what’s the next step?
It’s a good idea to call a local recovery center and ask them how to dispose of the meth. They’ll be able to inform you of any safe drop-off locations in your community, and further guide you on what to do.
If you find meth in a loved one’s belongings, you’ll want to talk to them. Try to approach the subject as calmly and non-judgmentally as possible. Just finding the substance doesn’t necessarily mean your loved one has a stimulant use disorder. At the same time, if they do have a meth addiction, they may not be honest with you in order to protect their meth habits. It’s not an easy situation to be in.
No matter what, empathy is most important. Do some research on treatment facilities and meth addiction before you talk to them so you can approach the conversation with a deeper understanding of the situation. Suggest they get help, and if they claim the meth belongs to a friend, provide the information you learn about treatment for “the friend,” too. If your loved one truly isn’t taking meth, there’s no harm done in assuming they are. If they are on the road to a meth addiction, or already traveling on it, your concern could be just what they need to take the first step toward recovery.
Addiction is a condition in need of treatment, just like any other health condition. Thankfully, there are a lot of options for meth addiction treatment. That’s a good thing because everyone in need of care is different. Someone might benefit most from residential treatment, which includes structured, 24/7 care in a facility away from home. Another person might need a more flexible schedule so they can still attend to obligations at home. In that case, an outpatient program might work best.
What’s most important is finding compassionate staff that will give your loved one the respect, kindness, and individualized care they deserve. We encourage you to sit down with your loved one and talk about the next steps toward healing together. Then, take that step and reach out for treatment.
Hope for Tomorrow is an addiction recovery center with locations in Point Pleasant and Beckley, West Virginia. Our friendly, passionate staff would love to meet you and your loved one and learn your story. Every story is important to us, and we offer treatment to everyone who needs it. That includes people with additional health conditions, veterans, pregnant women, and couples seeking treatment together. It doesn’t matter if this is your first time seeking treatment or your fifteenth – you’re welcome at Hope for Tomorrow. Give us a call at 877-679-8162 to get started today.
Treatment today for a brighter tomorrow.
Where do people commonly hide meth?
Places people often hide meth in mattresses, books, plush toys, hygiene and feminine products/bags, cars, vents, toilet tanks, and food containers.
What is some common paraphernalia used with meth?
Common meth paraphernalia includes burnt spoons, lighters (especially with broken tops), loose razor blades, scratched mirrors, straws or empty pens, and extra shoelaces or elastic strings/bands.
