Learn more about the risks and side effects of substance use disorders, including the signs of intoxication or overdose. But substance use treatment with medical detox and behavioral therapies for addiction can help you recover from meth use disorder. Usually, people who use crystal meth smoke it with a small glass pipe, but they may also swallow it, snort it, or inject it into a vein. People say they have a quick rush of euphoria shortly after using crystal meth, but it’s dangerous.
Get Professional Help
Meth is found in an odorless white powder or crystal rock form and is extremely addictive. The powder can be snorted or smoked, while the rock can be liquefied and injected into the veins. As soon as this substance is consumed, the individual is met with a rush, which is caused by a surge of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. When the high eventually wears off, the individual experiences a crash. Someone who is addicted to meth will continue to abuse this drug in this binge/crash pattern. Methamphetamines, or meth, are potent and highly addictive stimulants that work by affecting the central nervous system of the body, creating a powerful sense of energy and well-being.
Meth Addiction Causes, Signs, & Symptoms
Behavioral signs often involve erratic actions, risky decision-making, and disrupted sleep patterns. Emotional symptoms, such as paranoia, anxiety, and mood swings, may also appear. If these signs are present, it’s essential to seek professional help immediately. At Hazelden Betty Ford addiction treatment centers, evidence-based approaches to drug addiction treatment are utilized by a licensed and accredited multidisciplinary care team.
- These facilities offer the assistance and care required for long-term rehabilitation from addiction and trauma.
- Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant known for its quick and intense effects on the brain and body.
- The stimulant can also bring about a severe crash when the inebriating effects wear off, causing the user to sleep for days afterward.
- These additives can enhance or alter the effect of the drug on a person’s system.
- Organ damage caused by an overdose may be irreversible, and most people in recovery from meth addiction are always at risk for relapse.
- It is not indicative of a character defect or moral shortcoming and a person cannot manage the condition through sheer willpower.
How Long Does Methamphetamine Stay in Your Body?
Methamphetamine releases a large amount of dopamine in brain cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, meaning it sends messages of pleasure and reinforcement, so when someone takes meth, they feel good and try to seek those pleasurable feelings again. Not all of the side effects of meth can be easily managed without ceasing meth consumption. Many of the effects will go away on their own once meth is out of your system. Oral ingestion varies but can lead to damage to your gums as well as tooth decay.
Meth Abuse Causes, Addiction Signs, Symptoms & Side Effects
Studies funded by NIDA have found that some types of brain damage caused by meth heal within two years of abstinence. However, some areas of the brain didn’t recover after 14 months of abstinence, which suggests some effects of the drug are long-lasting. A 2010 study published in the journal Addiction concluded that depressive and psychotic symptoms caused by meth went away within one week of sobriety. However, strong cravings persisted for the entire five-week study period.
Health Conditions
It’s helpful to keep calm when talking to your loved one, but you don’t have to refrain from showing any emotion. Openness and honesty in both your words and feelings can show them just how important they are and how much you care about them. But keeping their substance use a total secret could pose a risk to them down the road, so it’s best to hold off meth addiction on making firm promises. You also don’t want to break their trust by making a promise you can’t keep. If you’re worrying about whether a loved one is using crystal meth, your best bet is to have an open conversation with them. Talking to your loved one lets them know you want to support them through whatever’s causing these symptoms.
Medical Detox
Meth abuse can cause severe and long-lasting brain damage, affecting memory, cognition, and emotional regulation. Addiction has a ripple effect, not only devastating the individual but also straining families and communities. The social consequences, such as job loss, damaged relationships, and increased criminal activity, make comprehensive treatment essential. Methamphetamine use has severe psychological implications that worsen over time.
- There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development.
- Meth addiction comes with a host of health risks,11 many of which can be life-threatening.
- The voucher’s monetary value increases the longer you go without using meth.
Methamphetamine Overdose
Methamphetamine causes a more intense high than most other recreational drugs. The effects of meth are accompanied by side effects that can ruin a person’s life. The earlier someone seeks treatment for meth addiction, the better their chances of recovery. Overcoming fear or stigma can be challenging, but support is available. Taking the first step toward treatment can save lives and prevent long-term damage.