Stimulant information
What Is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is a powerful synthetic stimulant. It can lead to compulsive use, physical and mental health harms and stimulant use disorder.
Overview
What is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is a powerful synthetic stimulant. It can lead to compulsive use, physical and mental health harms and stimulant use disorder.
How it can affect the body
Methamphetamine can increase wakefulness, energy, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. High doses and prolonged use can contribute to agitation, paranoia, psychosis and cardiovascular complications.
Dependence vs. addiction
Repeated use can produce tolerance, intense cravings and a difficult cycle of stimulation and crash. A clinician can assess whether the pattern meets criteria for a substance use disorder.
Signs of problematic use
- Compulsive or binge use
- Strong cravings
- Sleep disruption and mood changes
- Continued use despite health or social consequences
Important health risks
- Heart attack, stroke or abnormal heart rhythm
- Psychosis or severe agitation
- Overheating and dehydration
- Overdose and risks from polysubstance use
When emergency care is needed
Call 911 for seizure, loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, dangerous overheating, breathing difficulty or other severe symptoms after methamphetamine use.
How addiction is medically assessed
A physician-led assessment can identify immediate medical concerns, the severity of stimulant use and the most appropriate treatment or referral pathway.
Treatment options
Opioid agonist medications are not presented as methamphetamine treatments. TSCP's role is medical assessment, physician evaluation and an appropriate treatment/referral plan based on verified services.
Treatment pathway
Looking for treatment rather than general information?
The treatment page focuses on how TSCP care works, how to start and what a clinician may consider.
Editorial transparency
Medical sources & review status
Prepared by the TSCP editorial team using Canadian public-health and clinical sources. A named medical reviewer is not displayed until TSCP confirms the reviewer and credentials.
Content updated: 2026-09-10