Expert: Jacqui - 7/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: OK - this is a question that most people cannot answer, nor have I found anyone who has experienced this:

I have done crystal meth 3 times in my life - all 3 times I have smoked it.  Quite a bit of it.

Now, I usually sweat a lot.  But what I am about to describe has NEVER occurred with any other drug, except for meth:

The drug sweats out of me, and for about 3 days, I stink.  I mean, I literally STINK!  The meth sweats out through the pores of my skin, and produce a very foul smell:  everything I touch turns into that horrid smell, including soap when I try to shower it off me.  Have you ever heard of this side effect from crystal meth use, and why does this happen with me, and not with others?  I no longer experiment with any drugs, as I am older now, but have always been curious about this, as I have never spoken with anyone who has had this happen after using meth.  Might you be able to explain why this happens, and if I am the only one you have ever heard of that this has happened to?  I would very much appreciate it!

Again, I have used meth only 3 times in my life, and this has happened ALL 3 times!




ANSWER: Hi JC,

There are two possibilities that immediately come to mind.  I am going to be pretty up front, so I hope the second one isn't too confronting!

The first one, is that yes, your body could indeed be sweating out toxins.  As methamphetamine is a Central Nervous System stimulant, you may sweat (your heart will beat faster, breathing faster, etc).  If you are taking huge amounts, I don't see why this wouldn't last for a few days.

The second, and perhaps more challening option, is that you have smoked so much meth, that you are experiencing some kind of olfactory hallucination.  This is not super common in meth use, as hallucinations are much more likely to be auditory and delusions are usually focused on paranoia.  However, you may be sweating from the meth, but the smell may be part of a mild psychosis.  Whilst I am a provisionally registered psychologist (details in my CV on the site if you are interested), I am not a psychiatrist, so this is only a suggestion.  I by no means think that this is a full blown mental health problem or speed psychosis, but it is possible that you are having some mild affects, especially if you have taken loads and loads of meth and haven't slept.  An olfactory hallucination is when people smell thing that aren't there.  I wouldn't panic, but if you do want to use again, perhaps don't do so much, or space it out, so that you get some sleep in between.  Also, it is important to get enough water and have something to eat before hand.

I found an article about amphetamine in sweat, which you might find interesting:
http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/54/1/172

There were also quite a few references to olfactory hallucinations and amphetamine on Google, so you might want to try doing a search.

I hope this helps ...

Take it easy and whatever you do, do it safely,

Jacqui

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jacqui:

I appreciate your honesty.  OK - but this is the thing:

It's not just me who smells the "stench" that I smell when I have smoked meth.  It is everyone around me who smells it.  And it's a horrid smell.  No one can be around me due to the smell that comes out of my pores from sweating out meth.

The olfactory hallucination theory is quite an interesting one, as I have never heard of that before, however, I do not think this is the case in this instance.

Could this smell be some kind of chemical reaction in my system when the meth combines with the chemical makeup of some of the daily prescription meds I take.  For instance, I take a blood pressure med, acid reflux med, cholesterol med, and folic acid and iron supplements due to iron deficient anemia.  

I know you are not a medical doctor, but, since I have not been able to find answers to this question on my own, maybe, you can do some research for me?  I would so much appreciate it.

And I laughed when you said in your last e-mail that whatever I do, do it safe.  Jacqui - there is no such thing (I don't think) as doing illegal drugs safely, is there?  That is why I hardly ever do them anymore.

And, I am just thinking, why do I have this reaction with meth, and not with coke, crack, or any other drug?  I mean, people do have hallucinations and paranoia with these drugs as well, right?

I look forward to hearing fom you again very soon.  

Most Sincerely,

Jack

Answer
Hey Jack,

Firstly, well there are ways of taking illegal drugs in a way that is safer ... just like there is a way of taking alcohol more safely (i.e.: not doing drinking 18 beers and getting behind the wheel of your new WRX!)  There are many things that humans do that is dangerous, and most illegal drugs aren't illegal because they are dangerous ... just because of things like racism (chinese, mexican racism that lead to the illegality of marijuna and heroin/opium).  I don't know if you have heard of harm reduction - but you might be interested in checking out a couple of web sites that provide info about it -

http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm

http://www.ihra.net/

http://www.drugsense.org/html/

Ethan Nadelmann's page (the first one), is especially good.  

Anyway, as for the smell, I really am not sure.  With all of the medication you are taking, you are taking a risk by binging on amphetamines.  So, this is where the 'safer' bit comes in.  Like I think I said last time, if you are going to use, try not to do so with such gusto!  I am a bit worried about the combination of blood pressure medication, high cholesterol and loads of speed as the effect of all of them could counter each other ... Speed raised blood pressure and heart rate.  At the risk of countering what I said above ... there is a safER way for you to take amphetamines but it still won't be SAFE altogether given your medical situation.  

Sorry I couldn't find anything about your specific request ... but I do think that you have a cocktail of medications in your body, and it sounds like also a host of medical issues.

If you have any other questions I will give them a shot ... I must admit that this is the first time I have actually had to say "I don't know"!!!

Take it each Jack,

Jacqui