A
tweaker is a person strung out from regularly using
Meth. They are unpredictable and dangerous. They
often behave or react violently. A tweaker craves
more Meth, and might attack you for money. The tweaker
may not have slept for 10 days, and is irritable
and paranoid. They might be so messed up and paranoid
that they hallucinate and think that you are going
to hurt them.
You might recognize them by grinding teeth and jerky
muscle movements, a voice with a slight quiver,
and eye movement ten times faster than normal. They
may be talking non-stop, and are often involved
in yelling at someone and fighting with someone.
When they become quiet, they are even more dangerous.
If you notice someone is tweaking, be careful how
you handle the situation.
Here are six safety tips from the Office of National
Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of
the President of the United States:
1. Keep your distance. Coming too close can be perceived
as threatening.
2. No bright lights. The tweaker is already paranoid
and, if blinded by a bright light, he or she is
likely to run or become violent.
3. Slow your speech and lower your voice. The tweaker
already hears sound at a fast pace and in a high
pitch.
4. Slow your movements. This will decrease the odds
that the tweaker will misinterpret your physical
actions.
5. Keep your hands visible. If you place your hands
where the tweaker cannot see them, he may feel threatened
and could become violent.
6. Keep the tweaker talking. A tweaker who falls
silent can be extremely dangerous. Silence often
means that his paranoid thoughts have taken over
reality, and anyone present can become part of the
tweaker’s paranoid delusions.
To get help call 911,
or call the ONDCP at 1.888.664.4673. |
