Illicit stimulants can be tempting to try. Regardless of whether you’re taking them while partying with friends or to feel something new, the experience can quickly spiral into a pattern of addiction.
If you or someone you love has a relationship with illicit stimulants, knowing the properties of cocaine vs. meth is important. Both stimulants can have similar effects and can be taken the same way, but they don’t always look the same.
If you’ve taken cocaine or meth, you’re not alone. Over a million adults in California were estimated to have tried cocaine at some point in 2021. Over 400,000 adults were estimated to have taken meth at some point during the same period.
At Pacific Sands, we’re here to support you and your loved ones through the recovery process.
Differences In the Production of Meth and Cocaine
Although both substances are stimulants, the two substances are very different in the ways that they’re produced.
The Process of Producing Meth
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a synthetic substance produced in a lab, which means it’s not naturally occurring. Meth is relatively easy, although dangerous, to make because its main ingredients are easily accessible. Specifically, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which is commonly found in cold or allergy medication, is used to produce methamphetamine.
This cold medicine is then combined with other substances and chemicals, including items such as batteries, drain cleaner, and fertilizer. When these substances are “cooked” together to make meth, the gases they give off can be especially dangerous and even explosive. Despite the danger, meth is commonly produced throughout the United States.
The Process of Producing Cocaine
Cocaine is produced from the coca plant native to South America. Kerosene, an accelerant commonly used in lighter fluid, is used to strip the cocaine alkaloids from the coca leaves. The cocaine alkaloids are then mixed with acetone, sulfuric acid, and hydrochloric acid in a lab.
Since coca plants are not native to the continent, it is much more difficult to produce cocaine here. Because of that, most cocaine is produced in South America and smuggled into the United States. It often comes across our southern border, through Texas or Southern California.
Recognizing What Meth and Cocaine Look Like
Once they’re produced, both meth and cocaine often come in a white-ish powder form. To the naked, untrained eye, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. However, they do have a few key differences. Usually, meth has a cool tint to its coloring, and cocaine is more yellow in its coloring.
Both substances are associated with a strong chemical smell caused by the production process. If you’ve encountered a white powder and you don’t recognize it on site, do not sniff or taste it. You could accidentally ingest the substance and experience serious side effects.
Cocaine and meth also come in other forms. Crack cocaine takes the appearance of an opaque, off-white rock. Crystal meth, on the other hand, looks like semi-transparent, cloudy glass shards.
Understanding How Cocaine and Meth Are Consumed and What Tools Are Used
Cocaine and meth are often taken using similar methods. There are 4 primary ways that these substances are consumed:
- Snorting: Both powder cocaine and powder meth are commonly snorted. If you’ve been snorting either substance, you will notice some irritation in the nostrils or even bleeding.
- Injecting: Both meth and cocaine can be injected as well. Usually, the substance will be diluted using water to make it easier to inject using a syringe. Sometimes, crystal meth or crack cocaine will be melted down so it can be injected. Intravenous consumption of these substances is usually associated with visible marks on your skin and damage to your veins.
- Smoking: Crack cocaine and crystal meth are also often smoked. Typically, you heat the substance in a long pipe with a rounded head.
- Oral consumption: Oral consumption is also possible. Meth is often swallowed. However, you’re more likely to rub cocaine on your gums.
Each method for consumption utilizes different tools. Some of the common paraphernalia associated with meth and cocaine use include:
- Smooth surfaces, like a hand-held mirror, to snort the substance off of
- Items for snorting, like straws, rolled-up dollar bills, or hollowed-out pens
- A long glass pipe with a round bulb at one end to smoke crack or crystal
- Slightly burnt or tinfoil, which can also be used to smoke the substance
- Small balloons and baggies for carrying either substance
- Needles and syringes for injecting meth or cocaine directly into the vein
- Belts or rubber tourniquets are used to make veins easier to identify
Side Effects Caused by Meth and Cocaine: The Similarities and Differences
Most substances have both short-term and long-term side effects. This is true of both cocaine and meth. Short-term side effects occur when you actively have cocaine or meth in your system. Long-term side effects are caused by the continued presence of these substances in your body and can continue to impact you even when you stop taking your substance of choice.
The Short-Term Side Effects of Cocaine and Meth
Because both cocaine and meth are stimulants, they have similar short-term side effects. Common short-term side effects for both cocaine and meth include:
- Increased irritability
- Jitteriness
- Increased or irregular heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Increased energy
- Changes in appetite
- Euphoria
The major difference in the two substances’ short-term effects is the duration of their effects. The effects of cocaine are short-lived, and you’ll only feel the effects for less than an hour after your last dose. You’ll feel the effects of meth for as long as 12 hours after you take the substance.
The Long-Term Side Effects of Cocaine vs. Meth
One of the biggest differences between cocaine and meth is the way that the substances impact you psychologically in the long term. Both substances have the potential to cause delusions and other psychological issues in the short term. However, meth is associated with prolonged hallucinations. For example, “meth mites” is a phrase used to describe a common hallucination where people who regularly use meth experience the sensation of bugs crawling on their skin.
Mixing Meth and Cocaine: Recognizing Polysubstance Use
Polysubstance use occurs when you intentionally or unintentionally use two or more substances at the same time. Mixing meth and cocaine can have serious consequences.
Polysubstance use is always dangerous. Putting any substance in your body, whether it’s illegal or not, puts some level of strain on your body. When you combine two substances, that substantially increases the strain and puts you at greater risk for an overdose.
Your digestive tract and renal system are responsible for processing the food you consume and eliminating waste from your body. Your liver, which is a fundamental part of your renal system, can only handle so much waste at once. If you have more toxins in your body than your liver can purify at once, those toxins affect other important organs, including your brain. This is how an overdose happens.
Since both cocaine and meth are stimulants, they quickly compound each other’s effects and hit your body much harder than if you’d taken either one on its own. This means you reach your limit very quickly. Since both substances are produced illegally and are unregulated, it’s impossible to know how much of either substance you’re really taking.
Cocaine and Meth Rehab In Santa Ana, California
If you’re currently experiencing a substance use disorder, you don’t have to do it alone. A good program will equip you with the necessary tools to succeed. Compassionate support, a structured recovery plan, and evidence-based treatment will empower you to reclaim your life and find a healing path forward.
At Pacific Sands Recovery, we offer both meth rehab and cocaine detox. By limiting our program to six clients at a time, we create an intimate, supportive setting where we can ensure that each individual receives the undivided attention and personalized care they deserve. Our comprehensive approach to treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed care, all designed to get to the root cause of substance use and promote lasting recovery. Take the first step towards healing by calling us today at 949-426-7962.
