Information about Methamphetamine

 Being aware of Methamphetamine/P

On this page:

• What is methamphetamine?
• What does methamphetamine look like?
• How does methamphetamine get into New Zealand?
• What you can you do about methamphetamine?

What is methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive, powerful stimulant. It produces wakefulness, hyperactivity and an euphoric effect.

On the street, methamphetamine has a range of nicknames including "speed", "pure", "P" "burn" "goey", "crank", "meth", "crystal", "ice" and "Ya Ba". It can be a powder, a crystal 'rock' like form, or a pill.

The crystal form of methamphetamine, called 'ice' due to its appearance, is the most pure. This highly addictive form of methamphetamine has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system and is becoming increasingly common.

Users snort it as a powder, inject it, swallow it as a pill or smoke the more pure (and more dangerous) crystal forms using what is called an "ice pipe".

Methamphetamine has serious social, economic and even environmental consequences. Police are focussed on breaking-down local and international crime syndicates and disrupting the production, importation and distribution of methamphetamine.

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What does methamphetamine look like?

Below are some pictures of the two forms of methamphetamine drugs in New Zealand - crystal methamphetamine and methamphetamine. Please note: methamphetamine can come in a variety of shades of blue, green, brown and yellow.

1 gram of crystal meth/ice

1 gram of methamphetamine

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How does methamphetamine make it into New Zealand?

Methamphetamine is manufactured in New Zealand in clandestine (secret) drug laboratories, known as "clan labs", or imported in crystal form from countries like China.

The illegal manufacture, distribution and marketing of methamphetamine is big business in New Zealand and the profits to be made from it have produced some previously unheard of business alliances.

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What you can do methamphetamine?

Learn how to recognise a methamphetamine lab.

If you are a parent, relative, friend or concerned member of the community and need support or information, seek help from the police or community organisations.

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Get more information about Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine - New Zealand Drug Foundation

The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants in New Zealand - report Sep 2004

Recent changes in the methamphetamine scene in New Zealand: Preliminary findings from key informant surveys of drug enforcement officers and drug treatment workers - report Jan 2004