Well, what is it? Is it a kind of amphetamine?
Methamphetamine. Users are called “tweakers”.
Its usually used to mean crystal meth. Its also used to describe going through withdrawl or a “tweak Mission” is to go and try to by crack.
Say, as long as we’re discussing drug slang and meth, why is meth known as “tina”?
Well, actually, to “tweak” is to continuously remain high for an extended period of time by taking a little bit of meth at short intervals.
Sounds like people I know.
IANATweaker, but possibly Crystal -> Chris -> Christina -> Tina
When I was a regular user “tweaking” meant being in that state where the lack of sleep brought on by crystal was starting to affect your brain.
I’ve never heard “Tina”, but we did used to refer to the drug as “Christine”, so I’ll go with xgxlx’s theory.
I remember a classic story from Gilbert Shelton’s Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comic – from the '80s – where Fat Freddy made himself a drug-war celebrity by putting together an organization to fight a completely imaginary drug called “squeak.”