What is Crystal? | Crystal Shatters | FAQ | Words of Advice | Resources
What is Crystal? Check out our Online Training.
Crystal meth is a mix of toxic ingredients such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, red phosphorous, battery acid, lantern fuel, and lead acetate. It can be found as a white, yellowish or reddish powder, a waxy solid (glass) or a clear rock (ice). It is commonly called Tina, Crissy, crystal, bump, speed, or tweak. It can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, injected, or inserted anally ("booty bumping").
This drug is a stimulant that triggers pleasure centers in the brain. During the first 8-12 hours you can experience increased alertness, decreased fatigue, lowered inhibitions, increased sex drive, and feelings of power, confidence and invincibility. With it you can have great sex but the price you pay can be high. Crystal meth lowers your inhibitions so you forget about the importance of safer sex. Men who use crystal are three times more likely to have unprotected receptive anal sex than non-users. All of this is followed by "the crash", a period of exhaustion, depression, irritability, and (sometimes) paranoia.
Crystal meth is extremely addictive. Doing crystal every once in a while can quickly transform into dependence and addiction. Even with treatment, many users cannot control the urge to get high on crystal. For some ex-users, not a day goes by in which they don't think about using again.
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ONLINE TRAINING: Crystal Meth Use Among Gay Men
Professionals (case managers, social workers, nurses, doctors, dentists, counselors) who provide health-related services to gay and bisexual men will be interested in the Project CRYSP online training.
It takes less than a half hour, includes a pre-and-post test, and offers a certificate of completion. Service providers who complete this training module will be able to…
1.Identify crystal meth by its various names and physical appearances, as well as routes of administration
2.Identify factors that place people, especially gay men, at risk for using crystal meth
3.Understand the basic pharmacodynamics of crystal meth, and its effects on oral and mental health
4.Identify typical presenting features of people who have an addiction to crystal meth
5.Understand the link between crystal meth use and changes in sexual behavior that place a person at increased risk for acquiring/transmitting HIV and other STIs, and effects on overall health
6.Utilize methods to effectively engage and work with a person who is using crystal meth
7.Locate community resources for persons at risk for or already using crystal meth
Click here and take the training now.
