Crack vs Meth: What Are The Similarities and Differences?

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What you will learn

• Crack and meth are both illegal stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system.
• Crack is derived from a plant, is usually smoked, and has a short-lived high.
• Meth is man-made. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally, and has a long-lasting high.
• Pleasurable or desirable outcomes of crack and meth are similar such as increased energy, increased attention, decreased appetite, and decreased need for sleep.
• It’s possible to suffer from substance risks and long-term crack and meth effects, such as changes in mood and behaviors, decline in cognitive ability, and damage to organs.

Crack and meth are both illegal stimulant drugs. They are both categorized as Schedule II drugs due to their high propensity for abuse and addiction. They have many differences, such as how they are made, how long the high lasts, and how they impact the brain. The consequences of using crack and meth are similar, both in the health damages they can cause, including death, and the toll they take on the individual who uses them, their social relationships, and communities.

What is Crack?

Crack is a processed version of cocaine. It is a stimulant drug derived from the coca plant.[1]  Crack is created by cooking cocaine’s white powder with water and baking soda until it becomes a solid chunk. It is called crack because of the crackling noise the cocaine makes as it is being cooked. The cooking process changes the white power of cocaine into white, off-white, or brown chunks or rocks of crack.

Crack is typically used by smoking, either with a glass pipe or mixing it with tobacco or marijuana. It results in an immediate effect of high and a feeling of euphoria. However, the high is short-lived and only lasts for 15 minutes.[2]

Short-term side effects of crack include:[3]

• Panic & anxiety
• Paranoia
• Restless & Irritable
• Dry mouth
• Dilated pupils
• Rapid heart rate and breathing
• dizziness, nausea, and vomiting

Long-term side effects of crack use include:[4]

• Extreme changes in mood and behaviors
• Cardiovascular problems
• Respiratory system damage
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Cognitive difficulties
• Psychosis

What is Meth?

Meth is the shortened name for the highly addictive stimulant drug methamphetamine.[5] It is a white crystal powder, which is why it is also called crystal meth. Meth is made in labs out of commonly found, store-bought chemicals. Meth ingredients are pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, found in cold medicines.[6] It is transformed into meth through a cooking process with other ingredients such as ether, paint thinner, freon, acetone, ammonia, iodine crystals, red phosphorus, drain cleaner, and even battery acid.

A meth lab can be made out of crude materials that are easily purchased. Labs tend to be either:[7]

• Super Labs: these labs produce large amounts of meth to supply drug trafficking organizations. These groups operate in Mexico and are managed by Mexican Drug Trafficking Groups that operate in Mexico and the United States.
• Small Toxic Labs: These are small labs that produce limited amounts of meth. They are usually set up in people’s homes or hotel rooms. However, they can also be found in cars, parks, or rural outdoor areas. These labs are producing meth for their meth use or distribution within their local community.

Meth has a bitter taste but no smell. Meth can be taken orally as a pill or dissolved in a liquid, and it can be smoked, snorted, or injected. If taken orally, the effects are felt in 15-20 minutes; if snorted, the effects are felt in 3-5 minutes, and the effects are felt almost immediately if injected.  The high from meth can last for 12 hours.[8]

Common short-term side effects of meth include:[9]

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fast heart rate
• Insomnia
• Upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Tremors

Meth can cause long-term side effects with heavy use or use over an extended period, which includes:[10]

• Psychosis
• Paranoia
• Memory loss
• Skin damage
• Sleeping problems
• Tooth decay
• Organ damage

Crack vs. Meth: Similarities

Crack and meth are both stimulant drugs that impact the central nervous system. When someone uses crack or meth, they are most likely going to feel some pleasurable side effects or outcomes that cause them to want to use again, such as:

• Euphoria or a pleasurable sense of well-being
• Increased activity
• Increased talkativeness
• Increased attention
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased fatigue

Both crack and meth are classified as Schedule II drugs due to their highly addictive potential. Using either can lead to developing a substance use disorder.

Crack vs. Meth: Differences

Despite both being central nervous system stimulants, crack and meth have several differences.[11]

Manufacturing 

Crack is made from processing a plant-based material.

Meth is made from processing chemicals.

High

Crack produces a short-lived high of fifteen minutes or less.

Meth produces a long-acting high of six to twelve hours.

Half-life

Crack’s half-life is one hour.

Meth’s half-life is 12 hours.

Neurotransmitters

Crack blocks dopamine reuptake.

Meth increases dopamine release and blocks dopamine reuptake.

Medical Use

Crack has no medical use (cocaine is used in limited situations as a local anesthetic in surgical procedures.

Methamphetamine can be used to treat ADHD, narcolepsy, and as a weight loss drug.

Crack vs. Meth Withdrawal

There are some similarities and differences with experiencing withdrawal symptoms between crack and meth.

Crack Withdrawal

Due to the crack’s high lasting for such a short period, its withdrawal effects can be felt relatively quickly. Withdrawal symptoms of crack include:[12]

• Muscle tremors
• Severe headache
• Fatigue
• Disoriented thinking
• Irritability
• Depression
• Increased appetite
• Difficulty sleeping

Meth Withdrawal

Meth’s withdrawal effects take longer to happen as the high is longer lasting than with crack. Meth withdrawal symptoms begin 12-24 hours after use; symptoms peak around seven days but can last 2-4 weeks. Withdrawal symptoms of meth include:[13]

• Dysphoric mood
• Fatigue
• Vivid and unpleasant dreams
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Increased appetite
• Psychomotor retardation or agitation.

Crack vs. Meth Addiction

Crack and Meth both have a high potential for addiction. Experimenting with crack or meth often results in dependency and addiction that requires treatment to break the cycle of use. Withdrawal from crack or meth can be severe and results in the person seeking more drugs to avoid the terrible withdrawal symptoms. A treatment program can help you or your loved one with detox and provide support to limit the extreme withdrawal symptoms. Overcoming an addiction may include detox, inpatient or outpatient treatment, aftercare groups, and family support sessions. Addiction treatment centers will work with you to find the best treatment that meets your needs.