Meth is a potent stimulant drug that causes an intense euphoric and energetic high. While it is available by prescription in low doses to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity, people abusing meth are buying it off of the street. Street meth or “crystal meth” contains dangerous chemicals and toxic byproducts like drain cleaner and red phosphorus.
People who smoke meth typically use glass pipes. They might be referred to as glass roses, pookie pipes, oil burners, or crack pipes. Some people use homemade pipes that are created out of broken light bulbs, aluminum cans, or tin foil.
Meth pipes are made out of a glass tube and have a circular end that holds the meth crystals. People inhale through the glass tube of the meth pipe and use a torch under the “bubble” to turn the meth into smoke.
There is also other paraphernalia associated with meth. If you are trying to determine if your loved one is engaging in substance use like smoking, snorting, or injecting meth, you should keep an eye out for straws, rolled up dollar bills, burnt spoons, and more.
Other signs of meth abuse include unexplained energy, significant weight loss, sudden dental problems, strange sleeping schedules, and paranoia or distrust in others. If you believe someone you love is abusing meth, you must get them into an addiction treatment program.
In this article, you will learn:
- What do meth pipes look like?
- What other types of paraphernalia do meth users have?
- What are the signs of meth use?
What Do Meth Pipes Look Like?
If someone you love smokes meth, they will probably have a meth pipe somewhere in their home or belongings. You can buy meth pipes at many convenience stores, smoke shops, and gas stations. Some people create makeshift pipes at home instead of going to purchase one.
Meth Bubblers and Glass Pipes
Most people buy meth pipes out of convenience. It is easier to smoke out of a glass pipe than to create a makeshift one.
Meth is smoked differently than marijuana, so meth pipes look very similar to crack pipes. They have a long and straight stem that connects to a round glass bowl that is referred to as a “bubble.” The meth goes into the bubble, is lighted with a torch, and the person smoking meth inhales from the straight stem.
Meth pipes can be all different types of colors. Sometimes they are clear, blue, green, red, or even purple and pink. While they can be colorful, the meth pipe is always translucent so the person smoking can see whether the meth crystals have been heated up enough to smoke.
Homemade Meth Pipes
Many meth users create makeshift methamphetamine pipes when they don’t want to go to the store to buy one. Sometimes, the effects of meth make people so paranoid that they believe buying one from the store is a risk.
Homemade methamphetamine pipes can be made out of:
- Cracked light bulbs
- Tin foil or aluminum foil
- Soda cans
- Broken glass bottles
- Flower vases
- And more
If you find something that appears to be a makeshift meth pipe, you can look at it to determine if meth has been smoked out of it. When meth is smoked, it leaves a waxy residue. Sometimes there will be a yellow residue as well.
Identifying Other Types of Crystal Meth Paraphernalia
While meth pipes are the most common form of meth paraphernalia, there are other items to be aware of. Meth users need different items depending on whether they are smoking, snorting, or injecting it.
Smoking Meth
If your loved one prefers smoking meth, they’ll have a meth pipe somewhere in their belongings. Meth pipes can be just about any color. Meth pipes also break frequently, which means your loved one might have multiple.
They will also have small plastic baggies that contain crystal meth. Some people have a hard time keeping their space clean when they use meth, which means you might find empty baggies around their home.
Meth users who smoke it also have torches and butane on hand, as meth must be heated at very high temperatures to be smoked. You might notice physical burns on a meth user’s skin, clothes, couches, or blankets.
When meth is smoked, it creates toxic fumes. You should never remain in the same room as someone smoking meth. You could even experience a contact high from being near it.
Snorting Meth
Some people prefer to snort meth instead of smoking it. There is a misconception that snorting the drug will prevent health risks like meth mouth. Unfortunately, snorting can lead to the same long-term health consequences as smoking methamphetamine.
If your loved one is snorting meth, they might have the following types of drug paraphernalia:
- Cut up straws
- Rolled up dollar bills
- Small plastic baggies
- Razor blades or credit cards with powdery residue
- Glass mirrors with powdery residue
Injecting Meth
If your loved one is injecting meth, they might not have a meth pipe at home. Instead, they’ll have drug paraphernalia like needles and syringes, burnt spoons, alcohol swabs, lighters, items used as a tourniquet, and makeshift filters like cotton balls.
Meth users might use the following items to tie off before injecting:
- Belts
- Elastic tourniquets
- Stockings
- Neckties
- Condoms
- Shoelaces
- Rubber tubing
- And more
If your loved one injects meth, they are at a high risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose. They could also develop diseases like HIV or Hepatitis from sharing needles with other people. To reduce risks of experiencing long-term consequences of meth addiction, you should attend a drug rehab program.
What are the Signs of Meth Abuse?
Aside from looking through someone’s room for a meth pipe, there are other ways to determine if they are struggling with meth abuse. Because of how potent crystal meth is, there are a variety of physical, mental, and behavioral signs to look out for.
The main signs of meth addiction include:
- Unexplained increases in energy
- Going multiple days without sleeping
- Frequently complaining of chest pain
- Sudden weight loss and refusal to eat
- Isolating from friends and loved ones
- Having a new friend group that engages in substance abuse
- Rotting teeth and tooth decay (“meth mouth”)
- Acting paranoid or displaying a distrust of others
- Having drug paraphernalia in the home, such as used pipes or alcohol swabs
- Uncharacteristic bouts of anger or aggression
- Displaying signs of an intense high, like fast talking, dilated pupils, and excitement
- Experiencing life-threatening overdoses
If your loved one has meth pipes in their home and displays the above-mentioned signs of substance abuse, they might be dealing with meth addiction. Whether your loved one smokes meth or injects it, they’ll need to attend a drug abuse rehab center.
Get Connected to a Meth Addiction Treatment Center
If you find meth pipes in your loved one’s belongings, it’s time to have a conversation with them about attending a drug abuse recovery center. Long-term meth use can lead to a variety of physical and mental health problems due to the harmful materials it contains, including overdoses. Thankfully, addiction treatment programs can help your loved one achieve long-term sobriety using a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning.
Whether you abuse meth or other drugs, it’s time to seek professional help. At Palm City Wellness, we can help you regain control over your life. We help our clients recover by offering individual therapy, group counseling, harm reduction services, holistic care, and support groups.
Contact us today for more information on how to identify meth pipes, spot the signs of substance use, and get your loved one into our treatment center.