Ice – also known as ‘crystal meth’ – is the crystalline form of the drug, methamphetamine. Lately the impact of the drug in our community has featured heavily in the news as a major problem, linked to a range of negative impacts including increased violent crimes.
Maybe you’ve seen or heard about the hugely successful, multi-award winning US television series , Breaking Bad, in which a struggling chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer teams up with a former student to cook and sell crystal meth to fund his treatment and help secure his family’s financial future before he dies.
But if you think this problem has snuck up on you, and you’re feeling like you’re a bit in the dark, you’re not alone.
While ice has been around for years (Breaking Bad was first released in 2008!) , its use here in Australia has recently surged. The media now refers to many violent crimes as ‘ice-related’ and the police are frequently quoted as being concerned about the high levels of ice use they are seeing here.
So, here is some basic information to help you understand a bit more about the drug, how to recognise someone who may be using it and how to handle it.
The reason ice is on the increase here is because Australians pay a high prices for it. In China the going price for a gram is about $100 but in Australia, the price is more like $500 – $600. This high price has made Australia a premium market for the drug and a target for organised crime – giving us what the police now refer to as an ‘ice-epidemic.’
What happens when people use ice?
Ice is an extremely strong stimulant. When people take ice, at first it makes them feel alert and alive – pretty much larger than life. It can make them feel invincible – almost superhuman. This is because it dramatically increases the levels of the hormone dopamine – by up to 1000 times the normal level – much more than any other drug.
But as these more positive effects wear off, the negative side of the drug kicks in. Users can feel jittery and anxious and it can be hard for them to relax or sleep.
The need for more
As ice users become addicted to the drug, they need to increase the dose to get the good feelings again. The problem is, once they start taking higher doses they can also start to feel jumpy or anxious, hostile and aggressive. This can escalate to feelings of intense paranoia or psychotic episodes.
This is because ice releases another neurotransmitter called noradrenaline in your brain, which induces a ‘fight or flight’ response. So if someone is experiencing an overload of this response, they can become extremely erratic, aggressive and unpredictable.
This is the time where some ice-addicts have been seen to become violent. They can often be delusional about why they want or need to commit a crime. They can sometimes feel justified in quite violent behaviour because of the way the drug affects their thinking.
Some people who have smoked ice have attacked children or family members in a paranoid rage, and there have been deaths. The actions of an ice abuser or addict are highly unpredictable. The person may exhibit enormous strength far beyond what they normally possess.
Erratic behaviour
So, if you see someone behaving erratically or potentially violently, it’s best not to approach them on your own but to seek help.
Ring 000 [in Australia]and tell them where you are and what you witnessing before you do anything else. Then, if you can, seek help from any other people close by, also witnessing the incident. Remember that people having a negative reaction related to the use of ice do not usually respond to reasoning. If possible, don’t try to help them on your own.
Some of the tell-tale signs and symptoms of ice use:
- Weight loss. Ice addicts have no appetite, especially when they are high. It is common to see a large weight loss in a very short amount of time when a person is addicted to it.
- Mood swings. High doses of ice can cause permanent depression and other psychotic illness.
- Repetitious behaviour. They will often want to take things apart and put them back together, exercise excessively or find other repetitive projects to do.
- Dilated pupils. An addict will have dilated pupils for about 26 hours after they take the drug.
- Body odour. Ice addicts have a harsh smell to them and they often sweat a lot. This odour can remind you of cat urine. The chemicals in the drug are what causes the person to have this smell.
- Paranoia. If someone is an ice addict, they often become very paranoid for no reason. They will think everyone is out to get them and sometimes hide away from people.
- Itchy skin. If someone is an ice addict they will have very dry and itchy skin. They sometimes want to itch all of the time, all over their body – even itching until their skin bleeds.
- Meth mouth. Ice addicts suffer from tooth decay and other mouth problems. The drug can cause their teeth to blacken and fall out and their gums to be very sore.
If you are concerned and think you may know someone who has been behaving erratically, contact a drug and alcohol service provided by your State government health department, often located at your nearest hospital, and ask for help. Or check out some of the online support services such as: ReachOut.com (Aust) or CounsellingOnline.
