During meth consumption, it causes the body to “speed up” which leads to feelings of high energy, jitteriness, euphoria, and irritability. At Charlotte Detox Center, an affiliate of Carolina Center for Recovery, we aim to provide readers with the most accurate and updated healthcare information possible. Methamphetamines interact with opioids, including heroin, in highly dangerous and potentially fatal ways by amplifying the effects of both substances. Meth meth abuse acts as a stimulant, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy, while opioids act as depressants, slowing respiratory and heart rates. Commonly referred to as “crystal,” “ice,” or “speed,” meth is smoked, snorted, injected, or ingested in pill form, making it widely accessible and highly addictive.
Long-Term Effects
Each of the methods of meth use will have a different effect on the user and the amount of time that the drug is active will differ slightly from one method of use to the next. High doses of meth elevate body temperature and can cause stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ problems from overheating. If you’re looking for treatment, please browse the site to reach out to treatment centers directly. Your loved one might deny having a problem at all or refuse to seek help. If that happens, consider seeking out additional resources or find a support group for family members or friends of people living with addiction. Meth is typically “cooked” or produced in makeshift home laboratories, often referred to as “meth labs“, located in abandoned or rural areas.
- Perhaps the most well-known side effect of the drug is “meth mouth.” Meth mouth involves severe tooth decay, tooth loss, tooth fracture, acid erosion and a number of other problems of the teeth and gums.
- This decline in mental flexibility is a major driver of meth addiction10 and relapse.
- Recognizing the signs of methamphetamine addiction early provides an opportunity to access life-saving resources such as counseling, medical detox, and behavioral therapy.
- Medications like Desoxyn, a prescription form of methamphetamine, are still used in rare cases to treat ADHD and obesity.
- Users may also experience headaches, joint pain, and irregular heartbeat.
What Are The Meth Withdrawal Symptoms?
Internationally, large-scale production occurs in countries like Mexico. It’s important to note that the production of meth is illegal and highly dangerous, posing risks of explosion, toxic fumes, and environmental hazards. It is critical to seek treatment as soon as you recognize the signs of meth abuse.
What is the Effectiveness of the Matrix Model in Treating Methamphetamine Addiction?
Tweaking is a critical phase in methamphetamine use disorder, marked by cognitive and emotional instability. There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development. CBT addresses the learning processes underlying drug addiction and other harmful behaviors. It involves Sober living house working with a therapist to develop a set of healthy coping strategies.
- Most people require comprehensive treatment to quit and ongoing treatment to avoid relapse.
- Individuals involved in the trafficking of crystal methamphetamine face even harsher penalties.
- If these signs are present, it’s essential to seek professional help immediately.
- At Archstone Behavioral Health our mission is to offer readers the most precise and up-to-date information on addiction and behavioral health as possible.
- Meth addiction produces many physical and psychological symptoms and side effects.
You experience mental and physical effects (withdrawal) if you stop taking the drug. During this period, the body is deprived of the dopamine that meth was previously supplying and causes extreme exhaustion. A crash can last anywhere from 1 to 3 days and is characterized by long periods of sleep, intense drug cravings, and depression. Your withdrawal symptoms will be strongest during the first 24 hours or so and typically last about 7-10 days. You can have physical and psychological symptoms when you stop using meth.
