Are Crystal Meth and Methadone the Same Drug?

Crystal Meth vs. Methadone

I see a lot of questions about whether Crystal Meth and Methadone are the same drug.

Please, read this very carefully-- it is for you, for those asking and searching online to find out if Crystal Meth and Methadone are the same drug.  Knowing the answer may save your life or a friend's life. Find out the answer, know the difference between these drugs, and share the truth with others.  I want you to understand the difference and why these drugs are often confused because I care about you, and if you decide to use knowing the difference can save your life. I am not going to bullshit you or try some scared straight angle. I know these things first hand.

Are These Drugs the Same - Methamphetamine, Crystal Methamphetamine, Crystal Meth, Meth and Methadone 

The simple answer is no.  People often confuse these as the same the drug because of the slang names we use for these drugs and others. Methadone is not at all like Crystal Meth, in fact, they have very opposite effects on the body, Crystal Methamphetamine is a stimulant or upper; Methadone is an opiate (or narcotic, downer), and they look completely different as well (see pictures below). Confusing these drugs can kill you (no, this isn't exaggeration).

Please keep reading.

What is Crystal Meth? How is it Different than Methadone?

Crystal methamphetamine is an extremely powerful stimulant, in the same drug class as cocaine.

The street name or slang names for Crystal Methamphetamine is where I believe these drugs get confused because the most popular street or slang names are Crystal meth and meth. People also call it ice, crank, shards, Crystal, Crissie, Jib, speed, shit, tweak, glass, Tina, G, and others.  Crystal Meth addiction is hard on the user and those around them, but you can spot Crystal Meth use or denial and help the person.  

I don't put pictures of drugs on my site because they're triggering to some people, but in this case, I'm making an exception because it is important not to just know that there is a difference between Crystal Meth and Methadone, but also that they look very different as well.  I want you as informed as possible.

This is Crystal Meth (the type in this picture goes by the slang name Ice because of its look).  Meth is a highly powerful and addictive because of its purity.

This is also Crystal Meth.  This is a powdered form and most likely goes by the street name Crank.

What is Methadone?

Methadone is an opiate narcotic pain medication available by prescription. Methadone pills prescribed for chronic pain are available by prescription only.  In my opinion, as a person who takes pain medication for severe, chronic pain (including Methadone in the past), try other pain medicines first before Methadone and have a genetic test done by your doctor to find out how you personally metabolize medication.  This test saved my life (more on that to come in another post).  

The slang name for Methadone is also "meth" and this is why it causes so much confusion. When someone just refers to "meth" they might be talking about Methadone or Crystal Meth.  You can see a comment below from a person addicted to Crystal Meth that somehow was initiated onto Methadone.  I don't know how that even happens other than sheer incompetence or possibly a hoax post, but I didn't take it as such.

Many people know Methadone because it has been used for years as a treatment for heroin addicts and other severely addicted opiate addicts.  This treatment is called Methadone Maintenance and is actually quite successful when its done right. Methadone maintenance is a clinic-based treatment that is only used to treat opiate addiction, not addiction to any other type of drug -- OPIATES ONLY.

This is a form of Methadone called Methadose.  

This is a 10mg Methadone tablet.

• Frequently Asked Questions and Info About Crystal Meth and Methadone

  Meth is slang for Crystal Meth (stimulant)
• Meth is slang for Methadone (opiate, depressant)
• Methadone is NOT used to treat Crystal Methamphetamine/Crystal Meth addicts
• Methadone is ONLY used in Methadone Maintenance Clinics to treat Opiate addicts 
• Methadone is prescribed by doctors for chronic pain 
• People who talk about using Methadone to stop using Crystal Meth are probably addicted to an opiate (heroin, pain pills) and also addicted to Crystal Methamphetamine
• Methadone is not Crystal Meth
• Meth and Methadone are only the same drug if someone is using "meth" to refer to Methadone
• Methadone does not have Crystal Meth in it

If you're reading this because you want mix Crystal Meth and Methadone to get high, well, there's not much advice I can give you other than use harm reduction methods.  People mix all types of drugs together to get high and a lot of times it's the concoction that causes bad side effects and overdoses. 

I hope I have cleared up some of the confusion about Methadone and Crystal Methamphetamine and the use of the word "meth" for both.  If you have any further questions, please leave a comment.

Be safe.

Staying Sober During the Holiday Season

The holidays are a heck of a time for alcoholics and drug addicts. New Year's Eve is one of the most dangerous days on the road because of drunk driving. Christmas and other holiday parties are the norm from dress up Halloween parties to the culmination on December 31. Because of all the cheer or stress the temptation to drink or use drugs is very strong. After the first of the year is also a time where there is an influx of people ending up in outpatient or inpatient alcohol or drug rehab or having to take classes associated with drunk driving offenses.

Staying sober during the holidays is tough. This article has some advice for staying clean. Above all else keep yourself safe. You are your first priority. Stay sober!

Snorting, Smoking, Shooting Cocaine Cause Mental or Cognitive Problems

Cognitive Problems Caused by Cocaine Use, Abuse or Addiction

A new animal study released October 23, 2009 confirms that cocaine users/abusers experience severe cognitive problems related to their cocaine use. The Science Daily article stated, "Cocaine users display a range of cognitive deficits, including problems with decision-making, planning, and memory. The greater these deficits, the more likely treatment will fail." The findings are compiled from cocaine-exposed rhesus monkeys who were part of a multiple year study.

Ex-cocaine addicts probably don't need a scientific study to tell them that their cocaine use has caused them to change, even after the cocaine use stopped.  Cocaine abuse and addiction causes changes in the brain that result in the person having various types of residual cognitive problems such as problems with memory, trouble focusing, difficulty problem solving, easily distracted, and sleep problems. It seems that using cocaine can cause cognitive impairment similar to that of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

This article offers hope both for reducing stigma around addiction and creating adequate treatment for people who use, abuse, or become addicted to cocaine. Cocaine has been described as the drug that has the most potent physiological triggers associated with it therefore making it hard to quit and avoid. It's hooks are powerful beyond imagination.