What You Need to Know About Meth Overdose
Methamphetamine is prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is a potent central nervous system stimulant that increases alertness, decreases appetite, and produces feelings of euphoria. Therefore, it’s commonly used recreationally for its stimulant effects. Meth increases dopamine levels in the brain, leading to feelings of joy, increased alertness, and increased energy.
Meth overdose occurs when someone takes too much of the drug. This can be intentional or accidental.
Zinnia Health provides a unique and effective approach to helping meth users overcome their addiction. Our philosophy is that everyone has the power to heal from drug abuse. Call our helpline 24/7 at (855) 430-9439 for support tailored to your needs and goals.
Can You Overdose on Meth?
Yes, you can overdose on meth. This highly addictive drug can have serious consequences, even in small doses.
What To Do in an Emergency
If you suspect someone close to you is overdosing on meth, call 911 immediately.
Please call 911 right away to get help and advice for a person who is overdosing.
What Are the Treatment Options for a Meth Overdose?
When you arrive at the emergency room for a methamphetamine overdose, the healthcare provider will assess the person’s vital signs and provide supportive care. Supportive care may include oxygen therapy, IV fluids, and medications to treat their symptoms.
In some cases, the person may need to be placed on a breathing machine. If the overdose was recent, the person might also be given activated charcoal and a laxative.
Is a Meth Overdose Dangerous?
A meth overdose can be life-threatening. In high doses, meth can cause the body to overheat to dangerous levels, leading to stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ failure, including kidney failure. Death can result from any of these complications.
How Much Meth Does It Take To Overdose?
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Everyone metabolizes meth differently, so everyone has different tolerance levels. What’s more, the toxicity of meth can vary depending on the manufacturing method and what impurities it contains. However, the most potent form of meth is crystal meth.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Meth Overdose?
The signs and symptoms of a meth overdose include:
- Cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure
- Neurological symptoms including seizures, tremors, and hallucinations
- Mental health symptoms like paranoia, delusions, and extreme agitation
Other Meth Side Effect Complications
Taking meth, even in small doses, can have harmful short-term effects such as:
- An increase in blood pressure
- High body temperature
- Faster breathing
- An irregular or rapid heart rate
- Lack of appetite
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Aggressive or violent behavior
Chronic meth use can lead to many damaging, long-term health effects, even when people stop taking meth. These health effects can include:
- Permanent damage to the heart and brain
- High blood pressure leading to heart attacks and strokes
- Liver and lung damage
- Anxiety and insomnia
- Psychosis
- Intense itching and skin abscesses
- Osteoporosis
- Serious dental problems
Some of these health effects can last for months or years after a person has stopped using meth.
In recent years, methamphetamine use has become increasingly prevalent. A recent study found that people who use methamphetamine were nearly twice as likely to have two or more chronic medical conditions. They were also more than three times as likely to have a mental illness and more than four times as likely to have a substance use disorder.
Zinnia Health can help meth users overcome addiction by providing them with a safe and stigma-free environment to recover in. Treatment programs include detox facilities and educational programs that help clients learn about the risks associated with drug use. For assistance, call our helpline 24/7 at (855) 430-9439 today.
What Increases the Risk of a Meth Overdose?
Many factors can increase the risk of a meth overdose.
- One of the most important is the purity of the drug. If meth is cut with other substances, it can be more difficult to control the dosage, increasing the likelihood of a drug overdose. Research in New York State (excluding New York City) shows a sharp increase in overdose deaths involving methamphetamine. The researchers found that the synthetic opioid fentanyl was listed on most of the death certificates. Fentanyl is much more powerful than methamphetamine and is very easy to overdose on.
- Another factor is how frequently someone uses meth. Those who use it more often build up a tolerance to the drug, meaning they need to take higher doses to get the same effect. This increases the risk of an overdose, as does taking meth in binge sessions.
- Pre-existing medical conditions can also make someone more vulnerable to the effects of meth and increase the risk of an overdose.
Why Does a Meth Overdose Occur?
Methamphetamine is a potent and dangerous drug that can lead to an overdose in several ways.
- Impurities in street meth can lead to dangerous side effects, including an increased risk of overdose.
- People who mix meth with other drugs or alcohol are at a higher risk of overdosing.
- With regular use, meth causes the brain to become less sensitive to dopamine. As a result, users need to take more and more meth to get the same high. This process is called tolerance. Tolerance can quickly lead to addiction and cause people to take lethal doses of meth without realizing it.
- Underlying medical conditions can also play a role in increasing the risk of overdosing on methamphetamine.
How To Tell If Someone Is on Meth
There are a number of ways to tell if someone is on meth. One of the most common signs is “tweaking,” a period of erratic behavior characterized by insomnia, paranoia, and anxiety. During this period, users may also experience hallucinations and delusions. Meth addicts may also exhibit obsessive behavior like compulsive cleaning or grooming.
Other signs of meth use include:
- Weight loss
- Tooth decay
- Skin sores
Why Would Someone Take Meth?
Meth is a popular drug for the following reasons:
- The effects of meth can appeal to those struggling with boredom or seeking an escape from their problems.
- It can also help people stay awake for long periods, which can be beneficial for students or workers who need to pull all-nighters.
- Meth is often used as a weight-loss tool, as it suppresses appetite.
How To Help Someone With a Meth Use Disorder
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that can cause serious long-term damage to the brain and body. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips on how to help someone with a meth use disorder:
- Encourage them to seek professional help. A trained addiction counselor can assess the severity of the addiction and create a customized treatment plan.
- Help them find a support group: Many recovery groups are available for people struggling with meth addiction.
- Make sure they stay away from triggers: This means avoiding places and people that remind them of using meth and keeping only supportive people in their life.
- Encourage healthy habits: Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep are all critical for recovery from meth addiction.
- Be there for them: Recovery from meth addiction is a long and challenging journey. The most important thing you can do is to be there for your loved one every step of the way.
Something that sets Zinnia Health apart from other organizations is its non-judgmental approach. The staff at Zinnia Health understands that substance abuse is a complex disease, and they provide inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment without judgment or stigma. Call our helpline 24/7 at (855) 430-9439 today.
Related Articles
- Methamphetamine Use Disorder Treatment
- Can You Snort, Smoke or Inject Meth?
- How Does Methamphetamine Affect Your Sleep?