When it re-crystalizes, it will take longer if there is MSM mixed into the drug. When it is heated, as it melts, you will hear it making cracking and sizzling sounds. Users that smoke crystal meth can often tell if there is MSM cut into the drug because the process of heating the compound and then the compound re-solidifying is somewhat strange. So, if someone is crushing the meth to snort it, they should be able to tell if it has been cut with MSM because it will be more difficult to crush. MSM is stronger and harder to crush this way. Ice is not tough and can typically be crushed fairly easily just using your fingers. That said, there are some ways that users may be able to determine if there is MSM in their supply of meth. How to Tell If Ice Is Cut With MSMīecause MSM looks like meth and doesn’t smell, it can be hard to detect ice that is cut with it. As a result, meth that is cut with MSM usually seems to be uncut because once the meth and MSM are combined and the finish product cools, the MSM recrystallizes, looking like the pure crystal meth. MSM is also odorless, so it isn’t as detectable as some of the other cutting agents that are used. MSM is highly soluble and is typically added to the crystal meth during the last stages of production. First, it is a white, crystalline powder that can be easily combined with the drug without leaving a residue. MSM offers several advantages that make it the most common choice for dealers when cutting crystal meth. It is used as a cutting additive for meth because it is similar in appearance to meth and it isn’t dangerous. MSM is used to relieve muscle pain, reduce inflammation, and boost immunity. It’s often paired with other supplements, like chondroitin or glucosamine. It is often used legitimately as a supplement that helps alleviate certain medical conditions, like arthritis. MSM is a Sulphur-based compound that is found in both plants and animals. It’s usually smoked with a pipe, but it is also sometimes cooked and injected into the body intravenously. You may also hear crystal meth referred to as glass. It received this nickname because it resembles actual ice. Ice is a street name for crystal methamphetamine, which is an artificially formed drug that is made from methamphetamine. It looks similar to meth when processed and doesn’t have any serious side effects. It is a supplement that is most commonly used to strengthen cartilage in the body. One of the most common additives used for cutting meth is the chemical methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). It is typically cut with adulterants that have no additional effect on users, instead it just lowers the actual amount of methamphetamine in what’s sold. The meth that is sold on the streets isn’t cut in the same manner as other drugs like heroin and cocaine by the manufacturers. In other words, if they can by a kilogram of meth, cut it with a substance, and then sell one and a half kilograms, their profit is bigger. Dealers do this to increase the weight of the meth so they can make more money from selling it. At each step along the way, a dealer can alter the drug by “cutting” it, or mixing in additives. By the time meth is purchased by the person who intends to use it, it’s likely passed through many hands, starting with the actual manufacturer and then through various dealers. These additives, which can be anything from sugars to milk powders, to other drugs or substances – anything that looks like the methamphetamine. Please contact the specialists at Mission Harbor today to see what they can do to help your family during this painful time.The methamphetamine that is sold on the streets today isn’t just dangerous in itself, it frequently contains additives that can make it even more damaging to the body. The caring and dedicated drug addiction counselors and therapists at Mission Harbor Behavioral Health have helped hundreds of people overcome drug abuse and addiction. Methamphetamine abuse doesn’t just age a person on the outside, but significantly ages and damages a person internal systems and organs.Īre you concerned that a loved one is abusing methamphetamine? It’s critical that they receive treatment for addiction before damage from meth becomes irreversible. Studies have found that long-term meth abusers experience changes in the brain that are similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. People who recover from long term meth abuse often struggle with the ability to understand abstract thoughts, and will have trouble controlling mood swings for the rest of their lives without outside intervention. Meth can cause scarring, tooth and bone loss, organ failure, heart problems, and permanent memory loss. Methamphetamine abuse can cause a range of very serious health problems and irreversible physical and mental damage. Why is it so critical that meth abuse is caught early and treated?