Blue Meth: Breaking Bad’s Fiction and a Dangerous Reality
Blue meth formed the core subject matter in the hit show Breaking Bad, but is it real? And is it as pure as the show portrayed it to be? Although users may find blue meth available on the street, there’s no study to suggest that it’s been manufactured to be purer than other forms of methamphetamine. Typically, producers simply dye their meth blue to capitalize on the popularity of the show; however, some manufacturers may add other ingredients to the meth to give it a blue color or some other unusual hue. There’s no guarantee that these ingredients are safe or will make the drug any stronger. There’s a strong likelihood that meth might be even more dangerous than other forms of the drug.
Fiction often glamorizes dangerous behaviors. Breaking Bad portrays the dark side of meth use, but it also, at times, glorifies its production; at times, the show’s meth makers seem downright heroic or certainly worthy of empathy, but that can be dangerous for some people, especially younger audience members, who may be drawn to the fictional world the show creates. The reality — the truth — is that any form of meth is dangerous and, possibly, lethal. It’s never wise to use blue meth, pink meth, or any meth.
Resurgence offers a complete lineup of rehab programs that can help people who are addicted to meth or other substances, including alcohol and prescription drugs. Meth is an illicit drug that can land people in legal jeopardy as well as health jeopardy. The only way to combat drug addiction successfully is to stop using the substance and develop effective strategies for preventing relapse. Resurgence can help. Our clinicians are experienced addiction specialists who can partner with you to develop the skills you need to end your chemical dependence and develop healthy life habits that support drug-free living. The glamor of blue meth is a myth; choose the reality of a healthy lifestyle and enroll for treatment at Resurgence.
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The Phenomenon of Blue Meth Inspired by Breaking Bad
Blue meth is only a phenomenon in Hollywood. On the street, blue meth is simply meth that’s been colored blue from dye or another ingredient — a potentially unsafe ingredient. Users should not expect to be treated to a better or more potent high simply because the meth they purchase is blue. Many drug manufacturers and dealers are hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Breaking Bad’s blue meth. Always concerned about profit, these makers are not interested in perfecting meth production like the show’s featured chemists. Instead, they want to make a fast profit in any way they can. As a result, there’s no phenomenon. It’s simply the same old story: unethical people looking to make money by hooking vulnerable people on drugs.
What Is Blue Meth? Separating Fact from Fiction
Blue meth, in reality, is simply meth that’s been dyed a blue hue in most cases. Using dye is a fast and inexpensive way for illicit drug manufacturers to produce meth that looks like the meth featured in the show Breaking Bad. Some manufacturers may experiment with different ingredients to produce meth with a blue color or some other color. These ingredients may or may not produce a stronger form of the drug. To date, the Drug Enforcement Agency has not found blue meth on the street to be the pure form of meth featured in the show. A stronger form of the drug can also increase accidental overdoses–and deaths–which makes blue meth a risky prospect for users.
The Pop Culture Influence: Breaking Bad and the Mystique of Blue Meth
Television shows and movies have free artistic license to depict any subject matter they wish, but there can be a cost when art impacts reality in negative ways. Impressionable viewers don’t always process the content of these mediums in ways that their producers and casts hope they will. Many people know full well that the makers of Breaking Bad do not want people to go out and use meth. However, some impressionable users will — and that’s the unfortunate side of Breaking Bad’s popularity. Influenced by the show, some users will search and buy blue meth despite the risks associated with it.
The Harsh Reality: Health Risks Associated with Blue Meth Use
All forms of meth are inundated with health risks. Blue meth on the street is particularly risky because unscrupulous drug producers could add highly unsafe ingredients to their drug in order to achieve the popular blue hue featured on Breaking Bad. Even blue meth that has been tinted by a harmless dye contains other ingredients that are risky to health.
Addressing the Myths: How Breaking Bad Glorifies Meth Use
Though the makers of Breaking Bad are sure to point out that its show’s meth makers face harsh consequences for their actions, they still wind up being sympathetic characters who often have audiences rooting for them to achieve their goals. This paradigm has a way of glorifying what the meth makers do, and that, in turn, can rub off on the meth itself. Impressionable individuals may walk away from the show feeling more curious about blue meth than horrified — and that can become a problem if that curiosity develops into the active pursuit of the drug.
The blue meth’s purity alleged by the show is also a myth. There’s no evidence that blue meth on the street is a purer form of the drug. It could be a more dangerous form of the drug or it could be a less potent form too. There’s no way for users to know precisely what they’re getting.
The Chemical Composition and Potency of Blue Meth
In most cases, blue meth shares the same typical chemical composition as other forms of meth. The chief difference is that blue meth contains a dye that turns it blue. Sometimes drug producers may change ingredients or add a new ingredient that makes the meth look blue, but these ingredients often make the drug more dangerous. The ingredients may not be more potent at all — just more toxic.
Addiction and Recovery: Treatment Options for Meth Abuse
Don’t put off getting treatment if you are currently abusing meth or believe you may have become addicted to this drug. The longer you abuse the drug, the deeper your addiction is likely to grow. Meth is among the most addictive illicit drugs on the street today and is associated with tremendously high relapse rates (more than 90%), and meth addiction in California remains a big issue. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can prevent your addiction — and health — from worsening. Resurgence offers inpatient and outpatient treatment programs as well as medical detox to deal with the meth withdrawal timeline. Our services can help you manage your addiction for good.
Demystifying Blue Meth and Promoting Safe Choices with Help from Resurgence
Don’t be fooled by blue meth. At best, it’s as dangerous as other forms of meth. At worst — it’s more deadly. There’s nothing glamorous about the ruin that meth can bring to your life and health. Contact Resurgence Behavioral Health today by calling 855-458-0050 and let us help you put your meth use in the past. Let us individualize an addiction treatment program just for you.
