Methamphetamine Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Resources
Meth is a highly addictive stimulant with powerful effects that is a popular illicit substance. Many may use it recreationally until they become dependent or addicted, often with devastating results.
Key Points
- Meth is an illegal Schedule II drug with a high potential for abuse and addiction.
- Side effects of meth use include decreased appetite, nausea, psychosis, panic, hallucinations, and a fast heart rate.
- Between 2015 and 2018, around 1.6 million people in the United States over 18 abused meth.
- Long-term meth use can lead to significant organ damage, particularly affecting the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys.
- Treatment for meth addiction includes medical detox, inpatient programs, holistic therapies, group therapy, and alumni programs.
What Is Methamphetamine?
Meth is a common recreational drug sold illegally on the streets. It is a Schedule II drug, according to the DEA. NIH data from 2021 indicates that around 2.5 million people over the age of 12 used meth at least once in the prior 12 months.[1] Meth goes by many names, including crank, crystal, black beauties, and yaba.
Side Effects of Methamphetamine
The most common side effects of methamphetamine include decreased appetite, increased respiration, increased blood pressure, hyperthermia and rapid heart rate.[2] As a stimulant, meth stimulates the central nervous system (CNS).
How are Methamphetamines Taken?
Meth is a crystalline or powder substance. It is commonly smoked, though sometimes injected, taken orally, or snorted to enact its effects instantly. This creates a powerful euphoria which often causes addiction and dependence.
Methamphetamine Quick Reference
Drug Category
Stimulant
Commercial & Street Names
Crank, black beauties, uppers, speed
DEA Schedule
Schedule II
Administration
Oral, snorting, smoking, injecting
Statistics on Methamphetamine Use, Misuse, and Addiction
Between 2015 and 2018, around 1.6 million people in the United States over 18 abused meth.[3] It is a more commonly misused recreational drug because it is inexpensive to acquire and has powerful stimulant properties.
Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse
As a stimulant, meth increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Many users suffer panic attacks, psychosis, and hallucinations. Some may become violent, while others may engage in strange behavior. Its stimulant effects are so powerful that some users may have heart attacks.
Can You Overdose on Methamphetamines?
Yes, thousands overdose on this drug every year.[4] An overdose can occur when someone takes too much of the drug at once or mixes it with other substances. This can cause your heart to stop, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Overdose
Common signs of meth overdose include heart attack, hypertensive crisis, seizures, and stroke. The person may be confused, psychotic, and sweating excessively.
What to do if you suspect someone is overdosing on Meth:
Acting fast is key for the survival of anyone who has overdosed. Call 911 and stay with the person until paramedics take over. If the person isn’t breathing, perform CPR.
Dangers of Long-Term Methamphetamine Use
Those who use meth short-term experience strong feelings of euphoria. But after a while, that euphoria fades, and studies show that it might be difficult to experience pleasure naturally.[5] This may cause anxiety and depression. Meth also causes organ damage, especially to the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys.
Methamphetamine Addiction and Abuse
Many people don’t realize they’re addicted to meth until it’s too late. They may use it recreationally until they find they can’t live without it. It is difficult to stop meth use due to the effects on the brain’s pleasure centers. As massive amounts of dopamine are released, the brain experiences intense euphoria, which increases the desire and cravings for more meth.
Signs of Addiction to Meth
Someone addicted to meth may develop unexplained money troubles or steal money from friends and loved ones to buy drugs. Others may become violent or display unusual behavior. Others may close themselves off and not talk to their loved ones for long periods. Physical indicators of meth addiction include poor dental hygiene and severe dental problems, often referred to as ‘meth mouth.’
Meth Addiction and Mental Health
Meth can take a serious toll on one’s mental health because of how it affects the brain. It stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers and disrupts the brain’s ability to produce its natural pleasure chemicals. A decreased ability to experience pleasure, known as anhedonia, often follows long-term meth use.
Over time, this chemical alteration causes memory impairment, affects learning abilities, disrupts information processing, and negatively impacts emotional functions.
Certain mental disorders may also spur meth addiction, such as anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and impulse control disorders.
Meth Addiction Treatment
Meth addiction treatment often takes several months. It involves therapy and support to restore balance and build healthy lifestyle habits. The cost will depend on the treatment program and insurance coverage. Every program is unique to the individual. Choosing a treatment program tailored to your needs will give you the resources to recover from your addiction.
Medical Detox
Medical detox involves medical monitoring as you evacuate the substance from your body. This level of care reduces withdrawal symptoms and makes the detox process safer. Medical detox is also supervised by medical professionals to ensure that you are safe.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment allows you to sleep at the facility and receive treatment during the day. However, balancing work and other duties while receiving inpatient treatment may be challenging.
Therapies Used in Meth
Addiction Treatment
Co-Occurring Disorders
Dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders apply when both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition coexist. Some mental health concerns may make it more likely for people to abuse meth.
- Depression: Depressive thoughts may cause a person to seek out meth’s euphoria.
- Anxiety: Anxious thoughts are overwhelming and may temporarily be calmed with unhealthy drug use.
Meth Detox and Withdrawal Management
Meth detox may take from a few days to several weeks as you navigate withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sweating. Medication-assisted treatment may be available to alleviate symptoms and help you focus on recovery during the withdrawal timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Uses Meth?
Many people use meth for recreational purposes. Some may also use meth as an alternative to other stimulants like cocaine. It is an inexpensive substance and is, therefore, more common among disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
Why Is Meth Addictive?
Meth targets the brain’s pleasure centers, causing a euphoric high shortly after taking it. With long-term use, the brain’s ability to produce pleasure hormones naturally is severely reduced. This often leads to increasing doses and more frequent use.
What Is Meth Cut With?
Meth is often cut with dangerous substances like lithium, rat poison, and other harmful chemicals. Each substance is dangerous to ingest on its own, but the harmful effects can be magnified when cut with meth.
NIDA. 2023, December 14. What is the scope of methamphetamine use in the United States?. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-misuse-in-united-states on 2024, July 8
What are the immediate (short-term) effects of methamphetamine misuse? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, April 13). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-immediate-short-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse on 2024, June 7.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, March 26). Patterns and characteristics of methamphetamine use among adults – United States, 2015–2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912a1.htm on July 4, 2023
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, July 10). Drug overdose death rates. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates on July 4, 2023
NIDA. 2022, January 12. What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse on July 4, 2023