More than 2 million people in the United States were using meth in 2019. Meth, also known as methamphetamine, is a very addictive and dangerous street drug. This drug has been responsible for many deaths over the years. It can also ruin a person's health and life. But what is so dangerous about meth? What are the early signs of meth addiction? What can you do to fight this problem? Keep reading and learn more about it from this addiction guide.

What You Need to Know About Meth

Meth is derived from amphetamine. Meth was created in the 20th century for medical purposes. Companies used this ingredient for nasal decongestants and inhalers. Meth worked for these purposes, but people quickly found that it was also highly addictive. It creates a high similar to amphetamine. It also causes similar symptoms. Meth is a stimulant. This means that it will "stimulate" the brain and body. People on meth are more talkative and energetic. Regular "rest and digest" functions in the body are suppressed by this drug.

This means this drug makes a person not hungry. Many people who use meth lose weight because of this. Meth also creates a very strong feeling of euphoria when consumed. This is because the drug highjacks the brain's hormones, specifically the feel-good hormones. This euphoria makes the drug very addictive. Once the high goes away, the person will experience a crash. This is similar to a coffee crash but much worse. The energy and euphoria from the meth give away to exhaustion and malaise. This makes the person want to use more meth. They can maintain the euphoric feeling this way. But it won't last long. Repeatedly using this drug will build up tolerance. The addict will then need to take higher doses to get the same euphoric feeling.

Habituation and Overdosing

Taking higher doses of meth is dangerous because the addict is more likely to overdose. Overdosing on meth is common and often fatal. When it isn't fatal, it may cause serious damage to the brain and body. Meth is a hard white or clear crystal substance. It also comes as a powder. Most addicts prefer to snort this powder to get high. Snorting the powder allows it to reach the lungs where it diffuses into the blood. It travels from the blood to the brain where it enacts its effects within seconds. Some people also smoke the vapor of this substance. This will also create a very powerful and addictive high. Some people prefer to inject the drug. This is done by melting down the powder. All of these methods are very dangerous and can lead to accidental deaths. This is because it is hard to measure how much of the drug a person is consuming. It is very easy to consume too much and die of an overdose. Meth is a long-lasting drug and many people use it on the street. Quitting this drug is also very difficult because the euphoria is so strong and addictive.

The Physical Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Meth addiction causes physical and mental symptoms. The physical symptoms are often what destroy a person's health. One of the early meth addiction symptoms is weight loss. This is because meth suppresses a person's appetite. If they are not hungry, they will not eat. They would instead use more meth in place of food. Many meth addicts are unusually thin. It may be difficult for them to gain weight. Other symptoms of addiction include dental problems.

Many meth addicts have something called "meth mouth." Meth addicts often have very poor dental health. They may have several cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and so on. They may also be missing teeth or have other issues like tooth infections. Stained, dead, and cracked teeth are also common. This happens because meth makes a person have a very dry mouth. Saliva is important for dislodging food particles and bacteria from the teeth. This keeps them relatively clean along with regular brushing. But a dry mouth forces bacteria and other particles to stick to the teeth. This allows the bacteria to eat away at the person's tooth enamel. Some addicts also consume meth orally. Meth is acidic and can further contribute to the decay of tooth enamel. Many meth addicts also don't brush their teeth. This is because they are too focused on using meth to brush their teeth. The stimulant properties of the drug may also cause the user to clench or grind their teeth. This may lead to cracked, missing, or broken teeth.

The Physical Dangers

Another physical symptom of meth addiction involves the heart. Meth causes the heart to race. Some addicts may not notice this, but it can be dangerous. Taking too much meth may cause heart palpitations or heart attacks. If the heart is racing all the time, it won't have a chance to relax. This wears out the heart muscles and can cause damage that will last. Older meth addicts are more likely to have weak hearts that have difficulty pumping blood. This makes it more likely to have blood clots, strokes, and so on. A weak heart may also cause fluid or blood to pool throughout the body. High blood pressure is another symptom to worry about. High blood pressure is often associated with heart attacks and strokes. These can be fatal. If they are not, they may permanently damage a person's brain. This can leave them paralyzed or otherwise handicapped. A more obvious physical symptom is extra energy. Since meth is a stimulant, it makes sense that addicts have more energy to do things. They may never stop moving. When sitting in a chair, they may bounce their leg or fiddle with their fingers. They may sometimes exhibit twitchy behavior. They may also become more twitchy if they haven't used meth in several hours. Meth addicts often have a hard time sleeping, but they also don't need much sleep to function. This can lead to cognitive impairment and fatigue whether or not they feel tired.

Behavioral and Mental Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Meth use will cause several changes in a person's behavior. These changes are what make it difficult for an addict to live a normal life. They are likely to lose their job or ruin their close relationships. They may turn to illegal behavior to have enough money to buy more meth. A common example is an addict stealing from their parents to get money to buy more meth. This behavior may be minor at first, but it may become something much more serious. If the addict can't get what they need, they may become violent. This is what often drives away people from the person's life. Violent behavior may become more consistent. They may get into fights more often and be more impulsive. They may get angry for no reason. Meth addicts may also involve themselves in many risky activities. They may drive too fast or engage in unprotected sex. The person's life may revolve around getting meth and getting high. The addict may forget about other hobbies that they once enjoyed. They may sacrifice everything to ensure that they have more meth. Meth can also create many changes in a person's mood and mental health. This is due to how meth changes the brain's natural chemistry. Meth addicts often experience feelings of anxiety. This is because of all the extra energy that this drug provides. Excess energy often correlates with anxiety and restlessness.

The Details

Anxiety can contribute to overthinking and racing thoughts. It may sometimes lead to paranoia. The addict might overthink things so much that they come to conclusions that aren't based on reality. The addict may also experience mood swings. The addict may be calm and content one moment and enraged the next. This is another factor that makes it difficult for an addict to live a normal life. These symptoms make them unable to keep a job. It also makes it difficult for loved ones to be around them. Meth can also make a person feel very powerful. This drug may give a person so much energy and vigor that the addict feels invincible. This is one of the reasons why addicts engage in so many risky behaviors. They may get into fights because they feel they cannot be hurt or killed. They may drive fast cars and act aggressively toward others because they feel that there are no consequences. Addicts can also experience depression during a meth crash. Meth euphoria lasts around 12 hours. If an addict doesn't consume more meth at that time, they will experience a crash. This can make a person feel severely depressed and suicidal. It can also make the person feel fatigued or sick as if they have the flu. Most addicts will prevent this crash by taking more meth beforehand. This ensures that they are always in a state of euphoria. Long-term meth use is very dangerous to a person's health and often fatal. What can a person do to kick this addiction?

How to Treat Meth Addiction

Professional inpatient therapy at a drug rehab center is your best bet. Some people try to quit their addiction on their own, but this is not recommended. Some people may stop using meth for several days or weeks. But they are likely to return to the drug whenever they feel sad or when something bad happens. This is because they lack coping skills and want to escape their problems with drugs. Going through withdrawals alone is also dangerous and often ineffective. Meth withdrawal symptoms are very strong, especially cravings. This compels the addict to seek out more meth to stop these symptoms. Going through withdrawals can also cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. These can include seizures and heart attacks. These happen more often in long-term drug users. Going to a drug rehab center is a much safer choice. This is because these centers are equipped with trained medical professionals and therapists. These professionals can help you get sober in a safe and comfortable environment. If anything dangerous happens during your withdrawals, they will be there to support you. Withdrawals may take several weeks. Long-term users may take more than a month to get the drug out of their system.

What You Need to Know

Withdrawal symptoms are harsh because the brain has to learn how to function without meth again. The symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, paranoia, mood swings, and chills. Therapy is a big part of drug treatment. Therapy will teach an addict how to cope with their problems without drugs. Therapy also shows the addict the root of their drug addiction. Many people abuse drugs to escape problems or feelings in their lives. They use drugs because they don't know any other way to cope. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help a person think differently. This helps a person think in a more positive light. It also teaches the person coping strategies. This helps the person stay on track when bad things happen to them. This makes it less likely that the person will return to addictive drugs.

All about Meth Addiction

Meth addiction is a serious problem that is hard to stop. It is a drug that produces strong euphoria and also changes a person's behavior. Quitting this drug is easier with the help of professional drug treatment. A drug rehab center is a great way to get an addict's life back on track. To learn more about professional drug treatment programs, check out our services.