A point is 0.1 of a gram, or 100 milligrams. It’s one of the smallest standard units used to buy and sell illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine, MDMA, and heroin. If someone refers to “a point,” they’re describing a specific weight of a substance, not a dosage recommendation or a measure of potency.
How Much Is a Point?
One point equals one-tenth of a gram. To put that in perspective, a single paperclip weighs about one gram, so a point is roughly the weight of a small pinch of salt. Ten points make a full gram. The term comes from the decimal point in 0.1g, which is why it stuck as shorthand.
This measurement is used across several substances, but it’s most closely associated with methamphetamine and MDMA. In Australian drug culture, where the term is especially common, amphetamines and methamphetamine are routinely bought and sold by the point. Heroin and cocaine are more often sold in “caps” (small capsules or foil wraps), though the actual weight in a cap can vary and sometimes overlaps with a point.
Which Drugs Are Sold by the Point?
Methamphetamine is the drug most frequently measured this way. Data from Australia’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre shows that meth in all its forms, including base, crystal (ice), and powder, has historically been priced and sold per point. Street prices have ranged widely depending on form and purity, from as low as $25 for a point of standard amphetamine to $150 for a point of crystal meth (ice).
MDMA is another substance where a point represents a meaningful quantity. A typical MDMA tablet contains between 60 and 120 milligrams of the active compound. That means a single point of pure MDMA powder (100 milligrams) falls right in the middle of a standard dose, which is one reason the term is so common among MDMA users. A point of MDMA is often treated as a single serving.
Heroin is sometimes sold in point-sized quantities, though the terminology varies by region. In many markets, the smallest heroin purchase is called a “cap” rather than a point, and the actual weight inside can be inconsistent.
Why Purity Makes a Point Unpredictable
A point describes weight, not strength. The actual amount of active drug in any given point depends entirely on purity, and street drugs are almost never pure. A point of methamphetamine might contain anywhere from 10 to 80 milligrams of actual meth, with the rest made up of cutting agents, fillers, or other substances. The same is true for heroin, MDMA, and virtually every other powder or crystal sold at street level.
This variability is where the real danger lies. Two points from two different sources can look identical but contain wildly different amounts of active drug. Someone who tolerates a point from one batch may overdose on the same weight from a more potent batch.
Fentanyl contamination has made this problem far worse. As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl, roughly the size of a few grains of salt, can be fatal. A single point weighs 100 milligrams, meaning a point of any substance contaminated with even a tiny percentage of fentanyl can contain a lethal dose many times over. There is no way to judge fentanyl contamination by appearance, smell, or taste.
Points vs. Other Street Measurements
Drug markets use a loose hierarchy of weight-based terms:
- Point: 0.1 gram (100 mg), the smallest commonly sold unit for powders and crystals
- Half-g or half: 0.5 grams, or five points
- Gram: 1.0 gram, or ten points
- Eight ball: 3.5 grams (an eighth of an ounce), common for cocaine and meth
A “cap” is sometimes used interchangeably with a point, but not always. Caps refer to the physical packaging (a gelatin capsule or small wrap) rather than a precise weight, so the actual contents can vary. In some markets, a cap might hold less than a point or slightly more.
Why the Term Matters
Understanding what a point means is useful for anyone trying to make sense of conversations, news reports, or harm reduction materials related to drug use. It’s not a safe dose, a clinical measurement, or a recommendation. It’s simply the most common small unit of sale for several substances, and its meaning is consistent: one-tenth of a gram, every time. What’s actually inside that tenth of a gram is the part that’s never guaranteed.