Typical Colors of Meth
Meth use is often depicted in TV shows and movies. This explains why most people are familiar with the substance, even if they’ve never used it and don’t know anyone who has. But one thing that many don’t know is that meth comes in different colors, forms, and strengths.
This Schedule II stimulant drug may be clear, white, off-white, yellow, brown, orange, gray, or pink. Depending on how it is produced, it comes in the form of a powder, resembles rock salt, or looks like chipped ice (in fact, this term represents a popular slang for the substance).
What Does the Color of Meth Indicate?
Meth is made in different locations, in different ways, and with different ingredients. Non-prescription methamphetamines often have a base of over-the-counter cold medicines or decongestants. These ingredients are then mixed with other household items.
Typically, these secondary additions are chemicals, like antifreeze, battery acid, lantern fuel, or drain cleaner. The affordability and accessibility of these everyday items make meth easy to make at home, although it is incredibly dangerous.
The color of meth indicates what was used to make it. Most of the time, powdered meth, which resembles chalk dust or cocaine, is white or off-white. But depending on the process and materials used, it can range in color, including the ones listed above.
For example, using red over-the-counter cold medicines during the cooking process would make the resulting powder look red or pink. Because different types and dosages of common cold medicines can come in different colors, meth does too.
Some studies show that colored meth comes with higher health risks, like skin infections and abscesses. This may be because certain ingredients can cause you to scratch your skin more. Further research is needed to determine the extent and direct cause of these risks, as well as which symptoms are related to various chemicals.
Breaking Bad and the Blue Meth Myth
The idea of blue meth was introduced to many of us by the hit television series Breaking Bad. But the rumor of ultra-pure blue meth existed long before then. The illicit drug world is not often an honest one. Rumors, lies, and misunderstandings abound.
Dealers might lie about how pure their products are, leading individuals to ingest drugs with ingredients that they don’t know about. This is how a lot of accidental fentanyl overdoses happen. Dealers lace other drugs with fentanyl to keep their costs down.
The blue meth myth is yet another lie meant to mislead drug users. Anyone who claims to have used blue meth may be telling the truth, but it is not the ultra-pure form portrayed in the show. Blue meth likely has had coloring added to it or is an impure form of methamphetamine.
Pure meth is not blue. It is not pink, yellow, brown, or red, either. Pure meth is colorless. When it is truly created without contaminants, meth is white or clear and forms a rock or crystal. Contrary to what the TV shows tell us, most individuals don’t have the resources or knowledge necessary to create pure crystal meth. As a result, it usually has different kinds of slight discolorations and shades often based on additives or impurities.
The Addictive Nature of Meth in Any Color
Methamphetamines work directly on the central nervous system. Doing so allows them to interfere with our regular neurological activity. Regardless of color, shape, or other physical characteristics, meth is addictive and causes many dangerous side effects.
Long-Term Risks of Meth Use
There are many health risks associated with meth use. They can be short-term or long-term, mental, or physical. Leaving a methamphetamine addiction untreated leaves you exposed to many possible negative outcomes.
Some of the most common methamphetamine side effects among long-term users include:
- Anxiety, depression, and other mood disturbances
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Violent behaviors
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Delusions (most often, the feeling of bugs crawling on or under the skin)
- Emotion and memory impairments
- Weight loss
- Severe tooth decay and loss
- Skin sores
- Blood vessel damage in the brain and heart
- Kidney, liver, and lung damage
- Hypertension, puts you at a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke
In long-term, frequent, or high-dose use, overdoses become more likely. Overdoses are some of the most concerning potential addiction outcomes. From 2011 to 2018, methamphetamine overdose deaths surged, increasing more than five-fold.
Why We Don’t Recommend Detoxing from Meth at Home
In chronic use or high doses, meth can cause brain bleeding, skeletal muscle deterioration, psychosis, and seizures. Methamphetamines are also linked to overwhelming or even dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
The most common of these withdrawal symptoms are intense cravings, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. In addition to the many potential side effects, most of which are listed above, these withdrawal symptoms can cause a lot of complications.
Detoxing from meth at home isn’t the safest or most effective way to get through withdrawals. Experts recommended detoxing in a certified facility like ours. In some cases, our detoxes are even medically assisted.
What is Medical Detox?
Sometimes, addictions or withdrawal symptoms are severe enough that we need an extra boost to overcome them. In these cases, we advance beyond the traditional detox method and employ something called medical detox.
This means that we use proven and safe medications to ease your withdrawal symptoms and set you up for success during the crucial stage of early sobriety. In the comfort and safety of our facility, under the care and guidance of our dedicated medical team, you are free to focus on your recovery.
Free from distractions, temptations, drug cravings, and other withdrawal symptoms, recovery begins to look much more attainable. During either type of detox, you will have 24-hour access to the care, support, and guidance you need.
Our medical team will monitor your progress, ensure that you stay properly hydrated, and help you in any other way that they can. They will get to know you, your addiction, your health, and your needs so that they can guide you through the recovery process.
The detox is the first step. This stage is all about ridding your body of unwanted substances and building your strength and confidence for what comes next. Once you are more stable, we will recommend an appropriate treatment program.
Meth Treatment Options
After your personalized and supervised detox, we offer a full range of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for continued support. These programs feature proven treatment methods, including behavioral therapies and support groups, to help you build a better life.
Overcoming addiction is largely about understanding it and developing healthier habits, coping mechanisms, and support structures. These are just a few of the things that we help our clients with every day.
We have helped thousands of individuals overcome addiction, reconnect with the people and activities that they care about, and build a better life. Now, it’s your turn. Why wait another day to get the care that you need and deserve?
The Discovery House
At The Discovery House, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions or pushy treatment tactics. We work with you to determine what path will best suit your unique addiction and needs. Whether you need part-time or full-time care, we can help.
Call us today at 818-452-1676. Our experts are on call to answer your questions and guide you through the next steps.