According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the intense rush caused by smoking or injecting methamphetamine can increase the risk for addiction. With repeated use, people are more likely to want to experience the drug’s effects again. It can cause euphoric effects that often lead people to repeatedly use the drug. Because meth has properties that alter brain chemistry, people who use it become more vulnerable to meth addiction.
What Does Meth Do to the Brain and the Body?
Anyone with a co-occurring disorder will benefit from treating both conditions simultaneously since an untreated condition can lead to relapse. Social consequences of long-term use include financial pressures, problems with work, and challenges with family relationships. The drug acts on parts of the brain involved in reward, which makes taking another dose tempting. Methamphetamine powder itself is odorless; however, the production of meth has a very distinct smell similar to ammonia or ether. It has been reported to smell like cat urine or rotten eggs. Others have described it https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as a paint thinner, varnish, or strong fuel smell.
Meth Treatment Can Alleviate Addiction
During this phase, individuals also experience excessive sleepiness and irritability as the body adjusts to the absence of the drug. The post-acute stage, which lasts weeks to months, involves lingering psychological symptoms such as depression, mood swings, and intermittent cravings due to long-term changes in brain chemistry. Because it builds dependence, you can also become tolerant of the substance’s effect. The danger here is that you may need to take higher doses more frequently through other administration routes (like injecting) to get high.
- Addiction is a health condition, not a lifestyle choice or weakness.
- If you or a loved one is addicted to meth, call us to learn about rehab options and start living the life you deserve.
- During this stage of meth recovery, individuals are particularly vulnerable to relapse.
- “Tweaking” occurs when the body and mind of the meth addict stop reacting to the drug, and the addict “enters a state that is almost psychotic,” according to Methamphetamine Addiction.
- Carolina Center for Recovery is lucky to have some of the most qualified and experienced addiction specialists in the country.
- Meth use is linked to a high number of crimes for this reason.
- People who use meth are also at an increased risk of infectious diseases due to risky behaviors like needle sharing and unprotected sex.
Increased Sex Drive
And meth makers commonly “cut” their products with strong chemicals or medications (such as fentanyl or other opioids) to save money. Some people swallow it in a pill form or smoke it by heating up crystals in a glass bowl or pipe meth abuse and breathing in the vapors. Most of the crystal meth and other meth products used in this country are made by transactional criminal organizations (TCOs)in Mexico. In addition to these Mexican “superlabs,” there are many small home labs in the U. S. Making meth is a dangerous process because of the chemicals involved.
- Sahil has utilized his experience by treating patients in both civilian and military settings.
- It can be grainy or more of a powder consistency similar to chalk.
- Methamphetamine, or meth, is an extremely addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
- When healthcare professionals prescribe methamphetamine legally, they typically prescribe dosages of 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, or 15 mg daily.
- These therapies, when combined with structured programs and support groups, form a comprehensive treatment approach for methamphetamine addiction.
Remember, meth addiction is a serious problem, but with the right support, recovery is possible. NIDA reports that meth addiction can also possibly increase the risk for developing the nerve and movement disorder Parkinson’s disease. Psychotic symptoms, memory problems, and cognitive and emotional issues can persist for several years after stopping meth use, NIDA further warns. While some of the damage to the brain may be reversible with long-term abstinence from meth, some of the changes may be permanent. More than 16 million people have tried the highly addictive stimulant, and 2.1 million people reported using meth within the past year.
However, there is quite a bit of individual variability that occurs in the recovery process, largely depending on the severity and duration of someone’s chronic methamphetamine use. Depression affects almost 48% of those who struggle with meth addiction. Meth use can alter the natural balance of brain chemicals responsible for controlling one’s mood, and can lead to depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health disorders. People in recovery might still feel the effects of past meth abuse. To treat tooth decay or gum disease caused by meth use, it is important to visit a dentist as soon as possible. If someone you love is abusing meth, and cannot or will not stop on their own, it may be time to seek professional help.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Also known as crank, crystal, glass, ice, speed, tweak, and trash, the vast majority of meth use is now illicit. Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from experts and treatment professionals. Dr. Paulus is an advisor to Spring Care, Inc., a behavioral health startup, he has received royalties for an article about methamphetamine in UpToDate. Potential long-term side effects of misuse can include heart problems and stroke, reduced cognitive function, and complete tooth decay. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is derived from amphetamine.
Other physical effects
This particular phase lasts an estimated two weeks after the initial 7 to 10 days of recovery. In the most severe cases, a person can die or become strongly handicapped because of the damage caused by meth. There are many negative consequences of methamphetamine use, and the list continues. It is important to remember that methamphetamine affects the body heavily, especially during an overdose. Meth or methamphetamine is a stimulant drug like cocaine, affecting the central nervous system (CNS). While the parent drug for meth is amphetamine, there are some unique differences.
The route of administration affects the intensity of the high a person experiences. Inhaling or injecting meth alcoholism symptoms can result in immediate, extreme pleasure. Swallowing or snorting meth can also produce a high, but the effects are not nearly as strong and take longer to occur. After these feelings subside, the body is depleted of energy.