A drug with immense abuse potential, methamphetamine (known on the street as "speed", "meth", "crank", "crystal-meth", "ice", and "glass" amongst others) is a central nervous system stimulant of the amphetamine family. Like cocaine, it is a powerful "upper" that produces alertness, and elation, along with a variety of bad reactions. The effects of methamphetamine, however, are much longer lasting then the effects of cocaine, yet the cost is much the same. For that reason, methamphetamine is sometimes called the "poor man's cocaine."

As with many drugs, methamphetamine, if prescribed by a physician, is legally available for the treatment of attention deficit disorders and obesity. Unfortunately, much of the methamphetamine available on the street is illicit methamphetamine from clandestine labs.

Production originally concentrated in clandestine labs throughout the United States, but has spread worldwide. In addition to the underground laboratories, organized crime groups are now responsible for increased meth production.