Why does anyone hook up with meth? Kids say it makes them feel "in control", uninhibited, energetic. Girls sometimes use it to lose weight. At first, meth feels good. But for many users, it only takes a few times to get addicted — and that's not hype.

Click here to listen to one user's story.

Users soon don't recognize themselves — physically, mentally, emotionally.

They reject their families, friends, interests. They begin to do things they never thought were possible — stealing, becoming sexually active, dropping out of school.

	Tina, Crank, Croak, Crypto, Crystal Ice, Fire, Glass, Meth, Tweek, White Cross. No matter what you call it, it's still methamphetamine.	Methamphetamine causes an intense rush when it is smoked or snorted. This rush comes from the brain's release of high levels of dopamine — the substance in your brain that helps you feel pleasure. It's possible to feel these effects for up to 12 hours. But the rush comes with a price — some side effects include convulsions, dangerous fevers, strokes, heart irregularities, stomach cramps and shaking.

After the initial infatuation with meth, things begin to go wrong — physically and emotionally. Meth begins to hurt

You build up tolerance for the drugs, meaning you want more meth to make you feel like you did at first. You might change the way you take meth to see if you can feel even higher. Because you can't sleep and you're not eating, you take the drug for days to just keep going — binging and looking for more.

Made in a lab — there's nothing natural about it — all chemicals and household stuff — lye, drain cleaner, iodine, battery acid, cold medicine — and other things you'd never dream of putting in your body.

Meth doesn't make you grow up — it makes you grow old. Users suffer physical damage from the ravages of methamphetamine. Skin, teeth, hygiene, eating, sleeping — are all neglected for the high that meth temporarily brings. Users smell like chemicals — some like cat urine. It's NOT a pretty picture. See for yourself.

Smile for the Camera!

Meth Mouth is a common condition among methamphetamine users. Poor hygiene, dry mouth from the chemicals in meth, and overall physical neglect result in rotten teeth. Some users lose teeth as they eat ordinary food like sandwiches. Many individuals serving sentences for meth cooking and trafficking are having their decayed teeth pulled, adding costs to the taxpayers to cover dental care for prisoners.

Crank Bugs: Because of the toxic nature of meth, many users experience the sensation of bugs crawling under their skin, and they pick these areas in an effort to find relief. This activity creates open sores that become ugly and infected.