Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a powerful and highly addictive substance that can have devastating effects on individuals and their families. Recognizing the symptoms of meth addiction is very important for seeking help early and potentially saving lives.
Imagine someone you know starting to change in ways that don’t make sense – they’re not sleeping much, seem super energetic at odd times, or are losing weight rapidly without trying. These could be signs of many things, but when put together with mood swings or aggressive behavior, it might point towards something more serious like meth use and mental illness.
Understanding these can be the first step in reaching out for help or supporting Americans who need it. So let’s explore together what these symptoms look like in real life, beyond just a list of medical terms.
What is Meth?
Meth, short for methamphetamine, is a powerful and highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Methamphetamines, categorized as Schedule II substances, come under a highly potent class of amphetamine drugs that are commonly used to manage ADHD and narcolepsy.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, In 2019, more than 41 million individuals have used methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime, with approximately 1.9 million people reporting recent use within the previous month. (1)
Using meth boosts the brain’s dopamine levels which gives the user an intense feeling of euphoria and heightened alertness. (2) This drug substance is available in various forms, including pills, powders, and crystalline chunks often referred to as “ice.” or ‘‘crystal meth’’.
Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous illicit drugs because its components are so caustic, and its effects on the user’s well-being are incredibly harsh. The drug affects numerous bodily systems, including the skin, teeth, cardiovascular system, and kidneys.
Methamphetamine addiction is also difficult to hide because the drug use will eat away at the user’s teeth and cause open skin sores, which can create their own unique set of health problems.
Common Symptoms of Meth Addiction
Meth is a highly addictive substance and creates an intense, short-lived high. Because methamphetamine interacts with the powerful brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, it gives the user a euphoric and robust rush, and users will continue to use the drug to keep from coming down from the euphoria.
Unlike other drugs such as cocaine and heroin, methamphetamine cravings are much more intense. Users sometimes go on what’s called a “run,” where they continually ingest the drug for long periods until they run out of supplies, crash, or overdose.
Below are the early signs and symptoms of methamphetamine addiction:
- No sleep for long periods
- Appear unusually active
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid weight loss or gaunt appearance
- Sweating despite the temperature or lack of physical exertion
- Nervous or anxious behavior
- Using meth even though it negatively affects the mental health of a user
Methamphetamine can be snorted, injected, eaten, or smoked. Users may leave behind small bags of white powder or pieces of foil or syringes. Disassembled ball-point pens may be left behind since the hollowed-out shafts can be used to snort methamphetamine.
When smoked, methamphetamine will give off a pungent odor, like the smell of burnt plastic or cleaning chemicals. The user’s pupils will appear dilated when under the influence of methamphetamine.
What Are the Signs of a Meth Overdose?
Methamphetamine is a powerful and dangerous drug and comes with a risk of overdose. Signs include:
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Confusion and agitation
- Sweating and overheating
- Stomach pains
- Chest pain
- Kidney failure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Methamphetamine can cause dangerous overheating and induce a heart attack, convulsions, stroke, and death. (3)
The long-term effects of methamphetamine are horrible for the user. (4) They may experience chronic depression, anxiety, memory problems, and psychosis. (5) Methamphetamine is made of harsh and caustic chemicals, and the effects on the body are hard, aging many users well beyond their years.
Why Does Meth Cause Itchy Skin?
Chronic meth use causes the user to experience extreme paranoia and, in some cases, hallucinations. Also, long-term meth users report experiencing tactile sensations or the feeling of “bugs crawling beneath the skin.” With these sensations, coupled with paranoia and faulty thinking, users will compulsively pick and scratch at their skin.
Substance abuse causes users to stop taking care of themselves. Often, the picking and scratching lead to open sores, which become infected. Users will not seek treatment for these sores, and many active meth users will present with numerous scabs and open wounds on their faces, arms, and legs.
Open, infected skin sores can cause other adverse health consequences, such as staph infections and, in more severe cases, MRSA or septicemia.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Meth Addiction?
Methamphetamine addiction is deadly and can cause long-term, adverse health effects on the recovered addict. The sooner a person seeks treatment, the less likely they are to experience life-long problems related to meth use.
In a rehabilitation facility, users can detox in a safe environment under the supervision of medical staff. Since methamphetamine cessation can cause depression and psychosis, users are not recommended to attempt detox at home. In a medical facility, doctors can prescribe safe, legal drugs to lessen the effects of methamphetamine withdrawal, lowering the risks of relapse.
After detox, patients can receive the care they need from trained counselors to live a life free from the dangers of methamphetamine addiction. In therapy, counselors help individuals cope with life stressors and adverse events with emotional resilience, positive thinking, and positive reinforcement.
Once equipped with these new skills, people in recovery are less likely to relapse. They can move on with their lives once a methamphetamine addiction is broken.
What Are the Warning Signs of Meth Addiction?
Methamphetamine addiction is a pernicious, stubborn substance use disorder. It is particularly hard to recognize when a person tries to hide their drug abuse. Fortunately for friends and family of the one affected, there are some revealing indications and early signs of methamphetamine addiction to look for.
While using meth, people often show these signs:
- Sleeplessness
- Disruptions with work or family relationships
- Disrupted school performance (or suddenly fanatical about studying)
- Paranoia or irritability
- Jaw clenching
- Increased physical activity
- Headaches
- Elevated body temperature
- Racing heart
- Dilated pupils
- Heavy sweating
- Sudden unexplainable loss of weight
- Unpredictable behavior
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Tremors
- Bad breath or extremely dry mouth
- Legal problems
If you or someone you care about is abusing meth, call us at (855) 430-9439. We want to craft a completely personalized addiction treatment program to help you or the one you care about to regain a life.
Signs of Meth Withdrawal
Methamphetamine is a highly potent drug substance, which is the reason for the rapid dependency among its users. For recreational users, meth withdrawal isn’t that painful and they may go through minor meth withdrawal symptoms for a few days.
However, users who are dependent on or addicted to Meth over a long period of time need it to function normally. That’s why their withdrawal symptoms are more severe and painful and may last for weeks. In most cases, users consume more drugs to prevent the unpleasant aftereffects of meth withdrawal which consequently starts a cycle of meth addiction all over again.
The process of meth withdrawal is rarely life-threatening but it can be extremely challenging, especially for people suffering from mental health issues.
Lookout for these common meth withdrawal symptoms:
- Loss of interest in interpersonal relationships
- Disturbance in sleeping patterns
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Frequent nightmares
- Mood swings/irritability
- Low energy state
- Weight gain
- Mind fog
- Intense meth cravings
- Feeling extreme hunger
What to do If a Loved One is a Meth Addict?
Seeing your loved one losing their life to meth addiction is hard. If you know someone battling meth addiction, here are some ways to start them on meth addiction treatment:
- Try to be empathetic and approach the topic with an open mind. Try not to blame them or judge them for their choices because that can have a negative impact on the person battling the addiction.
- Offer them unconditional support and let them know that they are not alone and you are always there if they need any kind of support on the road to recovery.
- It’s always important to educate yourself about meth addiction signs and effects because that can help you tackle the situation skillfully.
- While being supportive, it’s vital to stay firm and not offer any type of monetary support or resources to enable their addiction.
- If the situation gets worse and your loved ones are at serious health risk, try to seek professional help. You can contact an interventionist or addiction specialist to get them all the help they need.
Long-Term Side Effects and Complications of Meth Addiction
Meth abuse is essentially a dangerous undertaking. Since meth is an illegal drug, often a user doesn’t realize what dose they are using. A person can just as easily overdose, regardless of how they use the drug.
Complications of methamphetamine abuse are many and varied. Sometimes, it depends on how a person consumes the drug. Complications such as “meth mouth,” nosebleeds, lung infections, and difficulties swallowing may occur in some people who smoke meth.
Long-term use of meth abuse can cause the brain to depend on its effects to function normally. This dependency leads to meth addiction which is the most dangerous long-term side effect of meth abuse.
Meth abuse can be grouped into 2 categories: Physical and Psychological
Psychological Side effects of Meth abuse:
- Loss of memory
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Depression
- Anhedonia
- Psychosis
Physical Side Effects of Meth Abuse are:
- Malnutrition
- Liver Failure
- Teeth decay
- Seizures
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiovascular diseases
- High BP
- Kidney failure
- Birth defects
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C for those injecting
Start Your Journey to Meth-Free Life with Zinnia Health Today
Methamphetamine addiction poses significant risks to individuals and communities alike. Treatment options, including supervised detox and therapy, offer a pathway to recovery. If you are supporting a loved one in their battle against meth, it’s crucial to be understanding, compassionate and empathetic.
Zinnia Health’s clinically supervised meth detox center and drug rehab can help you regain a meth-free life. Since our highly trained intake experts are available at all hours, there’s no excuse not to call (855) 430-9439.
Rediscover yourself with Zinnia Health’s help and start a new journey of your best life.
Citations
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2019NSDUHFFR090120.htm
- https://www.samhsa.gov/meth
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007480.htm
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/methamphetamine-induced-psychosis
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