Know the risks of methamphetamine

Find out what methamphetamine is and why it is harmful.

Protect yourself and your whānau

Learn how you can protect yourself and others from methamphetamine.

Get support

Free, safe and confidential support for you or someone you know to talk about methamphetamine.

Know the risks of methamphetamine

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Methamphetamine is a very strong stimulant from the amphetamine family that speeds up your brain and body. It can give you an initial feeling of euphoria, but it can also make you feel paranoid, aggressive, and confused.

Methamphetamine also affects your reaction time and judgement. This can lead to an increased risk of accidents on the road or at work.

The effects of methamphetamine can last for up to 12 hours.

What methamphetamine is

Methamphetamine increases dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is a chemical linked to feeling good and rewarded. It creates feelings of happiness and high energy, but these effects do not last. They are usually followed by a harsh comedown.

The real danger? Methamphetamine gradually destroys your brain's dopamine receptors, making it harder to feel pleasure over time.

This starts a vicious cycle: needing more methamphetamine to feel the same high, while causing more damage to your brain with each use. Methamphetamine use is hard to control, stop or cut down because of this.

As well as damaging your brain, methamphetamine can damage your heart, your lungs, your teeth and skin.

Why methamphetamine is so addictive

Methamphetamine can contribute to significant mental and physical health issues over time including: 

  • tooth loss and mouth sores (‘meth mouth’)
  • skin sores and scarring because of intense itching 
  • damage to your heart and lungs that can lead to conditions like heart disease and heart attacks 
  • depression, anxiety, mood swings, and agitation 
  • symptoms of psychosis such as paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions 
  • sleep problems  
  • memory loss.

Signs of methamphetamine use

What to do if someone is having an overdose

Methamphetamine causes serious harm to individuals and communities

In 2024, an estimated $13.4 million of profits generated from the methamphetamine trade was channelled into organised criminal activity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Methamphetamine is increasingly being detected in serious and fatal road accidents. Conservative estimates are that methamphetamine is present in up to 13% of all fatal and serious crashes in Aotearoa today.

The harm in areas where methamphetamine use is high ripples across families and communities. In a recent study, 62% of grandparents raising their grandchildren were doing so because of methamphetamine-related harm.

Protect each other from methamphetamine

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Most people do not use methamphetamine, but if it is offered in a social situation, it can be hard to say no. Being clear in your intention to say no is the first step. There are lots of practical strategies available to help you follow through on your intention:

  • Keep your answers short and confident.
  • Have an excuse ready if you want to.
  • Change the subject, or suggest doing something different.
  • Have a buddy system.
  • Just leave.

Be kind to yourself. Keep doing the things you love and stay connected to the people you care about. It could be sport, being outdoors, or spending time with friends and whānau. Anything that helps you feel good will help you stand strong against the risk of meth for yourself and those around you. 

The New Zealand Drug Foundation has resources for schools, community groups, parents, and caregivers to help with talking about drugs, and supporting young people to make healthy decisions.

Communities — New Zealand Drug Foundationexternal link

You might have seen images of meth users that show dramatic physical changes like missing teeth or extreme weight loss. It is true that this can happen over time, but there are much earlier signs that someone could be using meth. These include: 

  • changes in sleep or eating patterns 
  • being unusually alert or physically active 
  • changes in behaviour like unexpected outbursts or mood swings 
  • changes in social circles 
  • paranoia or hallucinations. 

If you notice these kinds of changes, having a kōrero early on can help protect friends and whānau from meth. The Level has tips to help you plan your conversation.

Honest conversations — The Levelexternal link

Get support for yourself or someone else

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Methamphetamine use can creep up when you are struggling or feeling disconnected from the positive things in life. If you are struggling with your mental wellbeing it is important to reach out for support.

There are free and confidential resources available to help you. Your friends and whānau can also be an important source of support.

Depression.org.nzexternal link

Find ways to top up — Top up wellbeingexternal link

There are reliable and non-judgemental resources available to help you cut down and stop using methamphetamine. They include:

  • ways to reduce risks or make changes to how you are using
  • options for support and treatment programmes
  • support to help with withdrawal from methamphetamine.

Getting help for your methamphetamine use — The Levelexternal link

See what community and live-in treatment services are available.

Getting help with alcohol or drug addiction

If you or someone you know is using methamphetamine, there are things you can do to reduce the harm it causes. There is reliable information available on preventing overdoses and cutting down.

Methamphetamine — The Levelexternal link

Call the alcohol and drug helpline

If you or someone you know is struggling with methamphetamine, you can get free, safe and confidential support through the alcohol and drug helpline.

Reaching out is a sign of strength.

0800 787 797