The Truth About Ice or Methamphetamine
Q. |
Is using ice safer than Yaba? |
| A. | Ice, also known as crystal methamphetamine, is a stimulant that abnormally increases brain activity. Ice is similar to Yaba but is 4 to 5 times more concentrated, which makes it more addictive and harmful. Ice can cause harmful consequences both physically and psychologically, as well as adversely affecting the person’s level of functioning and relationship with others. |
Q. |
Is ice useful for losing weight? |
| A. | When ice enters the body, it can decrease a person’s appetite, which may lead to weight loss. Ice is often abused for this purpose. However, the effect is not permanent. When a person stops using ice, they will experience the opposite effect. The person may eat more than usual and end up gaining the weight back. Other adverse physical effects of ice can include sleep problems, emotional problems, paranoia, and hallucinations. |
Q. |
Can ice enhance my sexual experience? |
| A. | Some people believe that ice can enhance sexual desire, increase sexual stamina, and heighten arousal. However, doing so will increase the risk of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases, from needle sharing and prolonged sexual activity, which can cause small tears and cuts in vaginal or anal tissues. In addition, people who use ice to increase sexual activity can experience long-term sexual dysfunction, low sexual desire, and difficulty engaging in normal sexual activity. Specifically, they may be addicted to the “high” from ice, which may result in sex addiction. |
Q. |
What should I do If I want to quit using ice or other drugs by myself? |
| A. | You can follow the A-B-C steps to assist you in your effort to stop using ice or other drugs. The “A” step stands for “Aim” and involves setting goals to quit. In the “Aim” step, think about the reasons why you want to stop using ice or other drugs and the good things that can happen if you stop using them. The “B” step stands for “Barriers”. This step involves identifying barriers or things that can prevent you from reaching your goals. These can be external triggers, such as drug use paraphernalia, drug dealer contact information, places you used to go to take drugs, and the internal triggers such as stress, depression, and celebration. Lastly, the “C” or “Connect” step, involves the process of contacting addiction professionals at a hospital or drug rehabilitation center to help stabilize your condition, as well as learning new skills necessary for your recovery. |
The most important thing is you don’t have to face drug addiction alone. Just keep an open mind and talk to addiction professionals, because drug addiction is manageable and can be treated.
