Meth is short for methamphetamine, an illegal drug that produces mind-altering effects on the user. It is a highly addictive substance that can wreak havoc on a person’s life and cause many negative side effects. One of the most serious side effects of using meth is called meth psychosis. This condition is a mental health disorder that can alter the way a person thinks and experiences the world.
According to research, about 40% of people who have used meth experience psychotic symptoms. When people experience meth psychosis, they are at higher risk of violence, self-harm, and many other dangerous consequences.
This guide to meth psychosis will help you understand what it is, how to recognize it and how to seek help.
What Is Meth Psychosis?
Methamphetamine causes a high because it affects brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. When a user takes meth, it prompts the brain to release a flood of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This causes an experience of warmth, relaxation, and euphoria.
The brain gets small doses of dopamine in everyday life experiences, such as exercising, eating chocolate, or talking to a friend. However, in these cases, only a very small amount of dopamine is released. Meth releases so much dopamine at once that it causes an intense high. The brain senses that dopamine levels are too high, and releases a neurotransmitter called GABA to regulate things. This brings the levels back down, causing the crash that users experience.
The prolonged use of meth causes the brain to use up all of its dopamine and GABA, so it isn’t able to produce anymore. Or, in some cases, the brain starts to become immune to these chemicals, so it makes it hard for anything to feel good anymore.
When the brain runs out of or can’t process these chemicals, it causes confusion. The quick highs and lows of meth use make it hard for the brain to interpret signals from the senses correctly. Basically, it causes a disconnect between the brain and the bodily senses. This disconnect is called meth psychosis.
The National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as a “loss of contact with reality.” It is a mental state that distorts thoughts and perceptions, so it’s hard to tell what is real or not. Many people in a psychotic state report seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, developing delusions, and an inability to relate to others.
Anyone who uses meth might experience meth psychosis, especially those who abuse it. And people who have a family history of psychosis are particularly prone to it. Anyone with a genetic vulnerability to psychosis or who has already been diagnosed with a disorder like schizophrenia is likely to have a psychotic episode on meth.
Experiencing meth psychosis makes meth abuse even more dangerous because people’s actions are much more unpredictable. It can interfere with one’s ability to work, interact with others, maintain relationships or even leave the house.
A person who abuses meth even occasionally is two to three times more likely to develop psychosis than those who have never taken the drug. If a person is using meth chronically, the risk of developing psychosis jumps up to 11 times as great as those who have never taken the drug.
People who are dependent on the substance, start taking it at a young age, use high doses, or have experienced childhood trauma are more likely to have psychotic symptoms. Sleep deprivation, which many meth users also experience, increases the risk factor, too.
However, it is important to remember that meth psychosis can happen to people who have never had a psychotic episode as well.
Symptoms of Meth Psychosis
Meth psychosis can be an incredibly terrifying experience. People often report hearing, seeing, and smelling things that aren’t really there. Before the psychotic experience develops, a person on meth might experience a pre-psychotic state.
This usually includes delusional moods and paranoia that common things they see and hear are messages sent only to them. Once they are in full-blown psychosis, they will experience complete delusions and hallucinations.
Some of the initial marks of meth psychosis include:
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Slurred or disordered speech
- Hostility
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Hypervigiliance
- Unpredictable behavior
- Jitteriness
People in psychosis often have crippling paranoia and will seem frightened when there is no threat in sight. They might talk loudly to people or objects that others can’t see. They might also have disorganized speech, speaking rapidly, and not making much sense. It’s common for them to cause arguments without any ostensible reason. Many will have strange, unrealistic, or completely false beliefs.
All the symptoms of meth psychosis are unpleasant, but perhaps the worst is the deep-rooted psychological turmoil a person experiences. Many will report an inner voice or whisper that tells them they are in danger, or that they are worthless.
Other voices tell people to do things, including commit violent acts against themselves and others. Some believe they are hearing many different voices and find it hard to hear their own thoughts.
Frequently, with psychotic paranoia, people will believe that others are out to get them. This applies even to people they love. They will do anything to protect themselves, even when there is no real threat. Paranoia can also prevent people from sharing their thoughts and beliefs with others for fear that it will lead to exposure or harm. They might not directly state what they are experiencing, but stay quiet, hypervigilant, and fail to make sense.
Another odd but common phenomenon is called meth mites. Also known as ice bugs, these are a terrifying kind of hallucination in which a person senses insects crawling all over their body or under their skin.
This is caused by a condition called delusional parasitosis. It can even make a person pick at their skin, leaving open wounds and potential skin infections, like staph and strep.
How Is Meth Psychosis Different From Other Psychoses?
Mental health conditions can also cause psychosis. Disorders like schizophrenia can trigger psychotic episodes, so it’s important for someone with these symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
The psychoses have many of the same qualities, but meth-related psychosis has subtle differences. People with schizophrenia usually have trouble with clear thinking, and might have trouble concentrating on one subject or experience. But people with meth-related psychosis are more likely to hallucinate, and will see, hear and feel things that aren’t there.
One thing that makes meth psychosis difficult is that the person experiencing it almost never recognizes it in themselves. The main feature is a disconnect from reality, so although a person may feel agitated and upset for irrational reasons, their experience feels very real to them.
How Long Does Meth Psychosis Last?
The length of meth psychosis episodes varies greatly depending on a number of different factors. For some, the psychosis lasts as long as the drug is still in the body. Once the body processes the drug and brain functioning returns to normal, the symptoms will disappear.
This can happen in just a few hours. However, many people will continue taking the drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms, which means they might be in a perpetual state of psychosis.
On average, however, a psychotic episode from meth can last up to a week. Unfortunately for some, it can also last for months or even years after a person stops taking the drug. Even if a person becomes sober, spontaneous psychotic episodes can be triggered by stress and other life events.
Meth psychosis can be a long-term consequence of meth use in some users. In these cases, it is linked to brain damage caused by the drug.
Overall, the length of psychosis depends on a person’s physical makeup, mental health and the length and severity of drug use.
Symptoms of Meth Addiction
Many people who experience meth psychosis struggle with an addiction to meth. Even people who have not experienced psychosis may still have an addiction they want to address. Only a professional can diagnose a substance use disorder, but there are some signs and symptoms of addiction.
They include:
- Strong cravings to use
- Trouble finishing jobs and tasks at work or school
- Inability to stop using
- Willingness to ignore negative consequences of using
- Lost interest in hobbies
- No longer spending time with friends or family
- Financial trouble due to drug use
- Reckless behavior
- Developing a tolerance to meth
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped
- Aggressive behavior
- Insomnia
- Fast, rambling speech
- Mood swings
- Weight loss
- Skin sores
Treatments for Meth Psychosis and Addiction
Meth psychosis is treated with some of the same measures as psychosis that occurs as a result of mental illnesses like schizophrenia. A lot of work has been done to figure out which brain receptors cause symptoms of psychosis, and some drugs exist that provide relief.
Two prescription anti-psychotics, olanzapine and haloperidol, were found to be effective in resolving psychotic symptoms in patients experiencing meth-related psychosis.
However, treating meth-induced psychosis is only the beginning of the journey. The real goal is to treat the underlying meth abuse or addiction that led to psychosis. There currently aren’t any medications that counteract the specific effects of methamphetamine or that have increased rates of abstinence in those addicted to stimulants. But researchers are still investigating pharmacological treatments for methamphetamine use disorder.
Researchers are also studying medical treatments that might help counter some of the known consequences of using methamphetamine. This includes things like central nervous system inflammation, cognitive problems, dopamine depletion, and disruption in GABA functioning. However, not all people sustain any lasting damage from their meth addiction.
The best treatment for meth addiction depends on the individual. Most people who are addicted will experience symptoms of withdrawal, so detox is the first step toward quitting. Stimulant withdrawal is extremely unpleasant but is not as dangerous as detoxing from alcohol and opiates. Still, it can cause seizures and suicidal ideation in some people, so it is best to be supervised by medical professionals.
Therapeutic Approaches for Meth Psychosis and Abuse
After withdrawal symptoms subside, a person can address other issues that come with addiction. Different forms of therapy can be very effective in treating meth dependency. Some behavioral therapy techniques include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: This treatment works to prevent relapse by making a person aware of high-risk situations and developing new coping skills. It also addresses harmful behaviors and helps with managing cravings.
- The Matrix Model: This is an approach that combines a number of different modalities and types of support. It often includes therapy, group therapy, education, 12-step meetings, drug testing, and positive reinforcement.
Treatment can take place in an inpatient treatment center where a person stays at a facility for a set amount of time, such as one or two months. In this type of setting, a person gets counseling, support, and other types of care full-time. With outpatient treatment, a person stays at home but attends appointments with a counselor and therapist, 12-step meetings and other support groups.
Addiction therapy helps people better understand their addiction and why they use drugs. It also helps people develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms. Therapy can also help individuals rebuild relationships with family and friends that may have been damaged during their addiction. Some approaches also educate people on other tools, like meditation.
Avoiding Meth Relapse
Relapse is a very common occurrence when a person is working to overcome addiction. It’s important to remember that relapse does not mean failure. It is a normal part of the recovery journey and the best thing to do is to keep trying.
One of the main causes of relapse is strong urges to use or partake in other behaviors that trigger cravings. Cravings are very common during withdrawal, but they can also come up in the months and even years after a person has gotten sober. Learning how to cope with cravings is one of the best ways to stay sober.
Another cause for relapse is the “just one won’t hurt” attitude. With addictive substances, using even one time could be a slippery slope to using regularly and experiencing psychosis again. It could even lead to overdose or death.
People with meth addictions can and do quit and take control of their lives. One of the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction is inpatient treatment at a reputable treatment facility like Zinnia Health.
Inpatient care at our treatment center helps you or your loved one address problematic substance abuse, as well as the underlying causes. We also help with developing new, healthy coping mechanisms that both improve your quality of life and make it feel possible to navigate life’s problems without returning to substance use. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options.
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