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‘Ice’ is a term used to describe a form of the drug methamphetamine. It is often called ‘ice’ or ‘crystal’ or ‘crystal meth’ due to its crystalline appearance (it looks like shards of glass or ice). Ice differs from other forms of methamphetamine in its level of purity. It is a highly purified form of methamphetamine. This is the main reason why the drug is considered dangerous and can be powerfully addictive. Other forms of methamphetamine are commonly known as ‘speed’ (in powder form) and ‘base’ (in paste form). Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant, which means that it increases the body’s responses, making people feel alert, energetic, excited and euphoric. It stimulates the release of natural chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters (which include dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin). Ice and other forms of methamphetamine are synthetic, man-made drugs that that are made in illegal chemical laboratories from a range of pharmaceutical drugs (such as pseudoephedrine, commonly found in cold and flu medicines) which are then mixed with other toxic, corrosive and flammable chemicals like red phosphorus, hydrochloric acid, methylated spirits and acetone. Factsheets |
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