Meth Overdose Symptoms and Signs
to Look For
Meth is a highly addictive stimulant associated with a serious risk of fatal overdose. Some symptoms associated with a methamphetamine overdose include a rapid heart rate, breathing changes, and body temperature fluctuation. Acute effects of a meth overdose include organ damage and increased likelihood of stroke, heart attack, or cardiac arrest.
Key Points
- Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that brings intense euphoria.
- Meth is highly addictive and often abused, leading to addiction and overdose.
- Mixing meth with other substances carries an increased risk of toxicity or fatal overdose.
- Some of the signs of meth overdose include a rapid increase in heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. This can lead to organ damage, stroke, heart attack, or cardiac arrest.
- Immediate medical intervention offers the best chance of reversing a meth overdose.
Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug that increases the activity of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, which is important for rewarding behaviors.[1] Meth brings an intense euphoria shortly after use, but it’s short-lived. Trying to maintain that high often causes users to take it again and again, leading to addiction or overdose.
Like other drugs, taking too much meth or using it with other substances carries an increased risk of toxicity or fatal overdose. In 2021, almost 33,000 people died of methamphetamine overdose.[2] The deaths from an overdose of methamphetamine have more than tripled since 2015, revealing a dangerous trend.
What Is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine – or meth – is a Schedule II drug, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).[3] This is because of its high risk of dependence and addiction.
Though meth has limited medical use as Desoxyn for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity, most meth is produced, distributed, and used illicitly. It’s derived from amphetamine and produces euphoria and stimulant effects that are similar to cocaine and other stimulants.
Meth is often snorted or smoked, but it may be injected. It’s available on the street in powder form, crystal form (crystal meth), or liquid form. Part of the risk of meth is not just the meth itself but the synthetic chemicals, industrial cleaners, solvents, and other harmful additives that are used to produce it in illicit labs.
Methamphetamine Overdose Symptoms
The symptoms of a methamphetamine overdose can vary by the individual but can include:[5]
- Chest pains
- Kidney problems
- Confusion
- Rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
- Altered mental status
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Circulatory collapse
- Death
Keep in mind that meth taken with other substances, such as opioids, can mask the symptoms of overdose.
How to Handle a Meth Overdose
If you suspect that someone is experiencing an overdose, err on the side of caution and contact emergency services. It could be the difference between life and death.
Here’s what you should do for a meth overdose:
- Call 911.
- Try to keep the person awake.
- Turn the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Wait until help arrives.
It’s important to act quickly if you suspect the symptoms of a meth overdose. Some overdoses can be reversed with prompt medical attention. Naloxone can help if meth is taken with an opioid or laced with one, such as fentanyl. Emergency services will provide medication and supportive care on the way to a healthcare facility.
Meth Addiction and Treatment
Meth is a highly addictive stimulant. Though not everyone becomes addicted to meth, the intense, fast-acting high it creates can start a cycle of repeated use to maintain that euphoria, leading to addiction.
With chronic use, people who use meth often experience withdrawal symptoms. While these withdrawal symptoms are usually not life-threatening, they can be extremely uncomfortable and may prompt relapse.
Because of this, medical detox is often the first step in treatment for methamphetamine use disorder – the term for meth addiction. Medical detox helps manage the symptoms of withdrawal while the drug clears the system.
After detox, meth addiction treatment can take place in a variety of settings. Inpatient programs are often preferred for severe addiction because they offer 24/7 supervision and care.
Every treatment program takes an individualized and holistic approach to meet your unique needs. Therapy interventions may include individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, and behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Overdose on Methamphetamine?
Yes, methamphetamine is an extremely potent stimulant drug that causes an intense high and repeated use. The risk of overdosing increases with repeated use of meth.
How Much Meth Does It Take to OD?
The amount of methamphetamine needed to cause an overdose can vary by several factors, including the person’s weight, general health, natural immunities, and tolerance to meth. The purity of the meth can also factor into overdose.
What Happens When You Overdose on Methamphetamine?
When someone smokes, injects, or snorts meth, they stimulate their central nervous system and may experience a rapid increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. Meth overdoses can cause cardiac arrest, seizure, stroke, or a hypertensive crisis, which is when the blood pressure gets so high it damages organs.
What Are the Signs of Methamphetamine Overdose?
The signs of a methamphetamine overdose include agitation or aggressive behavior, paranoia or delusions, chest pain, rapid heart rate or palpitations, breathing problems, and elevated body temperature.
Is a Crystal Methamphetamine Overdose Different Than a Meth Overdose?
Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine. Both meth and crystal meth can lead to an overdose, but crystal meth, being a high-purity form, may carry a greater risk of overdose.
Can You Die from Methamphetamine?
Yes. Methamphetamine use can lead to fatal overdose. Long-term meth use can cause significant brain changes, severe dental disease and tooth loss, malnutrition, weight loss, and an increased risk of stroke.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, March 3). Methamphetamine drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine on 2023, June 24.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 11). U.S. overdose deaths in 2021 increased half as much as in 2020 – but are still up 15%. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/202205.htm on 2023, June 24.
Methamphetamine. (2022, December). Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division, Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section. Retrieved from https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/meth.pdf on 2023, June 24.
Methamphetamine overdose: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007480.htm on 2024, June 21.
Methamphetamine toxicity – statpearls – NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.-b). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430895/ on 2023, June 24.