Crystal meth significantly increases the risk of a number of other health problems, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The body reacts to crystal meth the same way it reacts to danger. In addition to a surge of dopamine, which results in feelings of well-being, crystal floods the body with adrenaline – the same hormone that prepares it for emergencies. Adrenaline gives a super charge of strength and endurance so the body can deal with danger and injury. The effects of crystal are easier to understand if you think of them as the body’s strategies for self-defense. Here are some of the ways that crystal meth may affect the body.


Teeth and gums need blood to stay healthy. Crystal causes the vessels that supply blood to oral tissues to shrink up. Reduced blood supply causes tissues to deteriorate. With repeated shrinking, the blood vessels cannot recover and tissues die. Crystal also causes dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes acids in the mouth so less saliva means more acid. Acids eat away minerals in tooth enamel and causes holes or weak spots that turn into cavities.


The kidneys filter blood and decrease fluid waste through urine. Crystal is filtered by, and then excreted through the kidneys. Kidneys also balance the acid level in your body’s fluids. Crystal constricts blood vessels in the kidneys. With less blood flow, the kidneys produce less urine. Toxic waste gets recycled back into the bloodstream. When toxic waste reaches the brain, you can get headaches and suffer confusion. Urine becomes very concentrated and stays in the bladder. This concentration of urine can result in bladder infection, and the kidneys can get inflamed.


Lungs transfer oxygen from the outside air to the bloodstream. Blood carries oxygen to every cell and tissue in the body. Cells need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to make energy. Crystal relaxes air passages and opens them up, increasing oxygen intake. Respiratory problems associated with crystal meth use involve the materials used to cut crystal which can block blood vessels in the lungs. Long term use can permanently reduce the amount of air lungs can take in.


The liver is the body’s largest internal organ. Along with the kidneys, the liver clears the blood of drugs and poisons that may otherwise build up in the body. Crystal competes with other drugs to get broken down in the liver. The liver cannot break down the overload of toxic substances that build up in the bloodstream. This leads to dangerous blood interactions and stimulation overdose. Overdose can mean a sudden and dangerous increase in blood pressure causing a severe lack of oxygen to the brain. Body temperature can increase to dangerous levels. Sweating (which cools down the body) sometimes does not happen in stimulant overdose. The user may see spots (due to pressure on the nerves in the eye) or pass out. Chances of heart attack, stroke, or coma may increase.


The nervous system carries messages from your brain to the rest of your body. When you use crystal, your nervous system shifts into high gear. The brain floods your body with “danger messages.” Your body responds immediately to what it thinks is a threat. It prepares to fight or run away. Common body responses to perceived danger include: pupils get larger to let in more light; hair stands on end (getting goose bumps); blood vessels just under the skin constrict and body temperature increases.