Low-intensity meth abusers are not yet psychologically addicted but use methamphetamine casually. They seek extra stimulation, in the way that caffeine or nicotine is sometimes used to stay awake, gain more energy, or suppress the appetite. Meth users in this category include those who seem to function normally, holding jobs and raising families. A busy mother may take meth to keep up with overwhelming demands from job, family and household. Truck drivers may resort to meth to stay awake while driving. Other people may use meth to aid in losing weight. Low-intensity meth users usually swallow or snort it. Meth abusers in this stage are only one step from binge use – if they should smoke or inject crystal meth, they will be drawn in by the euphoric rush that they have not experienced in their low-intensity use pattern.

One of the dangerous characteristics of methamphetamine tweaking is that the user may appear normal, with clear eyes, concise speech, and brisk movements. However, looking more closely reveals that the crystal meth tweaker’s eyes are moving about 10 times faster than normal and may roll back. The tweaker’s voice is steady but quick and slightly quivering. Movements are quick and exaggerated. Thoughts are scattered and paranoid.

A crystal meth abuser who is tweaking can pose a serious danger to those around him or her, especially to police officers, who are perceived as a threat by the tweaker. Meth tweaking can produce extremely unpredictable, violent behavior. Confrontation increases the chances of a violent reaction, but even the sight of a police uniform can cause an agitated response. Crystal meth tweaking can produce hallucinations and paranoia, altering perception as if the crystal meth user is in a different world. The actions and words of those around the tweaker are subject to his or her altered reality. If the tweaker feels significantly threatened, they may take a hostage and physically assault the hostage, in extreme situations.

The dangers posed by a crystal meth tweaker are intensified with alcohol. Inhibitions are diminished and a tweaker becomes unconcerned about consequences of their actions. Reasoning with the tweaker is less effective. Identifying a tweaker becomes much more difficult, too. The effects of the crystal meth and alcohol counter each other, so the user’s actions and speech slow down but do not become as impaired as under the influence of alcohol alone, appearing almost normal. A meth tweaker who is on alcohol can sometimes be identified by odd eye movements – jerking their eyes back and forth, looking out of the corners of the eyes. If you smell alcohol but the person doesn’t seem to be drunk, be careful.

Withdrawal symptoms end as soon as crystal meth is used again, making it extremely difficult to break the cycle of meth use. Methamphetamine produces an extremely strong addiction. The success rate for traditional methods of methamphetamine rehabilitation is very low – only 7% escape the methamphetamine abuse cycle.

Those who continue to use crystal meth become high-intensity abusers, or speed freaks, pursuing the rush they felt the first time they smoked or injected crystal meth. Instead of finding it, they experience less euphoria with each rush, using more and more crystal meth. Each high is successively diminished, with more frequent binges on more methamphetamine.