Q: Does meth recrystallize in your lungs if you hold in your hit?
A: Yes, but not in the way you are probably thinking. Meth, like nearly every salt, is soluable in water. The lungs are an extremely damp environment with bronchi and bronchioles which are the pathways decreasing in diameter until they reach the alveoli which only microscopic particles can enter. Methamphetamine vapor enters the lungs and quickly decreases in temperature below the vaporization point (170C or 338F). At this point the meth returns to a liquid and then solid very quickly in much the same way cooled meth condenses and frosts the inside of a glass pipe. This process is technically recrystallization of meth so it does recrystallize in the lungs, but the particles are very small and are instantly absorbed into the mucus covered epithelium in the lungs via sedimentation, diffusion, and impaction. This is how the vast majority of the inhaled meth enters the bloodstream as the particles are much larger than the air and carbon dioxide molecules exchanged in the alveoli. The bronchial pathways are intentionally curved and mazelike to trap particles before they enter the alveoli where they could potentially inhibit the absorption of air. Meth vapor is no risk to that exchange since it readily dissolves into the mucus coated epithelium or lining of the lungs and does not remain particulate. Once dissolved the meth is readily passed to the bloodstream through subepitheleal tissue.
Q: Will I get higher if I hold in my hit or use a balloon or similar to reinhale the vapor?
Yes. As explained above, meth returns to a solid form below 170C or 338F. In the lungs the solid particles are immediately dissolved in the mucus covering the epithelium which is a thin layer of tissue covering all of the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Once dissolved, the meth is absorbed into the bloodstream via subepitheleal tissue. The longer you hold in your hit, the more meth that can condense and dissolve into the mucus lining of the lungs (which is 97% water-meth is water soluable), where it can then pass into the bloodstream.
Q: Is holding in my hit bad for me?
A: Yes and no. If the desire is to get as much meth into your bloodstream as possible, then no. But meth is generally stepped on (cut) significantly and many of those cuts enter the bloodstream via the same mechanism described in the question above. Since the cuts are not known, it is unknown how much harm there is in absorbing them, however MSM (the most common cut) is sold in health stores as an oral supplement. So unless the MSM releases different gases when heated to vaporization temps, MSM absorption into the bloodstream should have no more effect than a supplement. It is worth noting that the lining of the lungs can become irritated and inflamed by some gases and compounds or when the chemicals of inhaled solids dissolve in the mucus covered epithelium. This irritation could invoke an immune response in the lungs whereby the lungs release additional mucus into the lungs in an effort to flush the contaminants out. The extra mucus is carried up to the throat via ciliary function and coughing where it is usually swallowed. If the lungs are sufficiently agitated it can lead to inflammation of the bronchial pathways resulting in bronchitis or pneumonia. The latter occurs when the lungs increase the production of mucus, which in tandem with the inflammation of the bronchial passages can result in the lungs being unable to absorb enough air to support cardiovascular function - often leading to death. If your lungs become irritated while inhaling vapor or after a session, give them sufficient time to rest and heal. If the pain or cough worsens and is unresponsive to over the counter cold meds, seek medical advice. Pneumonia is no joke. And if it’s bacterial or viral in origin, it’s also highly contagious.
Q: Is meth dangerous to smoke?
A: Yes, but how dangerous depends on a number of factors. Ingesting meth isn’t good for your body in recreational doses via any method of administration, but the harm can be largely mitigated through proper self care: proper hydration, regular periods of sleep, and other harm reduction practices. If the meth is very pure, the risk of harm hasn’t been shown to be any greater than other routes of administration. HOWEVER, what we are inhaling when we inhale vapor is typically not pure meth, there are almost always cuts or byproducts that increase the potential for harm. The harm from inhalation of cuts can vary dramatically depending on the cut. Meth itself can release harmful vapors if heated past its boiling point (212C or 413.6F). Between the boiling temperature (212C or 413.6F) and pyrolysis temp (315C or 600F) the molecular structure of meth begins to change resulting in the release of nitrogen oxides, Allylbenzene, and other potentially harmful compounds. A normal bic lighter burns in the approximately 800-900C (1472F-1652F) range, a torch style lighter by comparison burns at about 1150C (2102F). The Tg (Glass Transition Point or the point where glass becomes rubbery) for a typical glass bowl (non borosilicate/Pyrex) is around 550C (1022F) and liquifies at approximately 1000C (1830F). Pyrex has a softening point of 820C (1510F) and a melting point of around 1250C (2282F)
Q: Does vaporizing meth burn off the cut when the shards are first melted?
A: To some extent, and it depends on the cut. MSM, the most common cut, has a vaporization far below that of meth (109C or 228.2F) but has a boiling temp higher than meth at 238C or 460.4F. Depending on the concentration of MSM cut, you would expect the MSM to vaporize before the temp reaches meth’s melting point, but that is unlikely to vaporize the cut out with a single light of the bowl. Since the boiling point where MSM would be more quickly burned off can’t be reached without also exceeding the boiling point of meth, it would vaporize out at a steady rate, but it would most likely take several puddle/crackback cycles to vaporize most of it out of the meth. A more effective method would be to heat a toaster oven or oven to 250-275F and place your finely crushed shards in for 20-30 minutes on a pyrex pan or aluminum foil covered baking dish. The temperature is hot enough that MSM will vaporize until it cools to 228.2F or touches a surface colder than 228.2F but your meth is still at a temperature where it remains solid. After the 20-30 minutes, remove your meth and allow to cool and you should have a product with nearly all MSM removed.
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