What would you do if you found an unlabelled pill bottle in your partner’s glove box? What about a baggie of white powder tucked behind some socks in a dresser?
If this or something similar has happened to you or someone you know, you’re not alone. In 2022, over 600 million Texas residents reported using illicit substances at least once.
Meth identification is crucial in situations like these, helping you determine whether the substance in question is meth and how to respond. Today at San Antonio Recovery Center, we’ll walk you through the basics of identifying meth and answer some of the most common questions you may have.
When you come across what feels, to you, like an unknown drug, your first reaction might be anger or fear. Why does your friend or loved one have this? How long have they been doing this? Why have they been hiding it from you?
And most importantly, what is it?
Many of the same steps can be taken for any unknown substance, but today we’re specifically going to dive into how to identify meth. This will include sensory input, context clues, and more. We aim to help you understand the safe ways to approach this situation, including how to talk with your loved one afterward.
When we find something we don’t recognize, our senses are our first line of defense when it comes to parsing out what it is. This is likely your instinct, also, when you encounter an unknown substance. Since you can’t hear it, and touching it won’t help much, let’s talk about taste, smell, and visuals.
You can, in theory, taste meth, but that doesn’t make it a safe or reliable way to identify it. Oral ingestion is one of the primary methods of meth consumption. By ingesting it as a means of identification, you’re putting yourself in harm's way.
Additionally, meth doesn’t have such a distinct taste that it’d be enough to identify it. The taste can be sweet but may also have chemical undertones.
The smell of meth can vary from sweet to sterile, “like a hospital.” The exact tones differ depending on how the meth was made. Other things people frequently compare the smell to include ammonia, wet diapers, paint thinners, cleaning products, fertilizer, and motor oil.
Despite knowing this, we do not advise utilizing your sense of smell to identify meth. Inhalation is another common form of meth consumption. By inhaling even just nearby the product, you risk putting meth into your system in the process.
Meth can come in a few forms, so there isn’t one defined way it presents itself. Most commonly, it comes in a powdered, shard-like form. The bigger pieces will be mostly transparent, though they can be opaque, with an overall white or off-white appearance.
Meth can also come in larger pieces, known as crystal meth. These can look like quartz or chunks of glass. In some cases, meth may be manufactured into a pill form, which can vary in size, shape, and even color.
When your immediate senses don’t help you narrow down what kind of substance you’ve found, your next step is to look at context clues. This includes side effects, other paraphernalia, and even specific words your loved one may use in conversation.
The signs of meth use do have some overlap with other stimulants, like cocaine, but there are some signs unique to meth, such as meth sores and meth-induced psychosis.
The other common signs of meth use include:
Drug paraphernalia refers to any item or equipment that is used to consume, produce, and hold illicit substances. In this case, even the package or container you found the meth in would be considered drug paraphernalia.
Much drug paraphernalia isn’t exclusive to methamphetamine, such as pill bottles, ziplock bags, syringes, and pipes.
Meth’s standard forms of consumption include smoking, snorting, oral ingestion, and injection. This means you may find needles, syringes, and glass pipes if the substance in question is meth.
Street names are nicknames given to drugs and drug-related activities as a way to hide what’s being discussed with those not involved. While not all possible street names are known and documented online, many are. These include chalk, crank, glass, ice, shards, speed, and yaba.
Many street names are derived from how a substance looks, is made, makes you feel, or is consumed. If you hear your loved one use a term you don’t understand, you can use context clues to determine if it may be a street name for meth.
Your instinct after finding an unknown substance that you may identify as meth might be to dispose of it.
Don’t.
We’re not saying you need to keep it, but there are steps you need to take in order to get rid of it safely.
You shouldn’t throw it into the trash, burn it, or flush it down the toilet. Flushing it contaminates the water system, and burning or trashing it harms the environment.
Many public-facing facilities like hospitals, pharmacies, and police stations have “drug drop-off” systems in place. These, however, are also not intended to be used for methamphetamine but rather for regulated medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.
This is where rehab centers come into play. They will have connections, knowledge, and resources to tell you how to best dispose of unwanted illicit substances.
After discovering an illicit substance in your loved one’s possession, you’re next thought is likely to talk to them about it. This is understandable, and we recommend you do it, but only after you’ve composed your thoughts.
If you charge into the conversation fired up and without taking the time to think about what you want to say, it’s likely that you won’t get the results you want. In fact, you may push them further away as a result.
People who’re engaging with meth understand that those they care about will likely judge them or be angry if they find out. This can directly contribute to them hiding their substance use from others. If you approach the conversation with anger, they won’t want to open up to you about it.
During the conversation, remind them that you care about them and their well-being. Tell them you love them and want to see them happy and healthy. Be prepared to listen and not judge.
You can offer your support without “enabling” them. This can include helping them research recovery options, driving them to their appointments, or even being there.
Looking into a quality meth rehab program is the first step on the road to recovery. It can be daunting to make such a life change and narrow your options while being confident in your chosen facility.
So, what makes a quality rehab program?
The most important thing is compassion and long-term support. A good rehab program should have different options for levels of care, such as inpatient and outpatient options, as well as ongoing support through alumni programs. Additionally, if family therapy is important to you, make sure they have that as well.
Everyone is deserving of healing and support. With one of the largest alumni networks in the city, our team and community at San Antonio Recovery Center are equipped to give you the tools and connections you need. No matter your history with meth use, mental health, or any combination of the two – we’ll help you build up your new life. Give us a call at 866-957-7885 to get started.
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