Meth Addiction Warning Signs and Effects

Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is an increasingly abused and highly addictive drug recognized globally. The DEA, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, categorizes methamphetamine as a Schedule II drug. This substance can be ingested in several ways:

• Smoking
• Snorting
• Injecting
• Oral consumption

Recognizing the early signs of crystal meth and meth use is essential in preventing addiction and saving lives.

In the US, experts are comparing the high addiction and overdose rates of meth to heroin and other opioids. Law enforcement and addiction specialists are concerned about the growing problem. This issue is escalating into a critical public health crisis.

Apart from its addictive qualities, meth is popular due to its low cost and widespread availability. Methamphetamine can be produced in meth labs using legal ingredients. Other drugs need a complex supply chain and production process.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that 1.5 million people are diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder annually. Additionally, many people struggle with meth addiction without receiving a diagnosis or entering treatment programs.

What Is Meth?

Methamphetamine, often called meth or chalk, is a strong and addictive stimulant that comes in a powder. People can use it by smoking, snorting, injecting, or swallowing. Another type, called crystal meth or ice, is sold as hard crystals.

People who use meth often say that the first high feels good and makes them feel very happy. They also feel more awake, have more energy, and want to have sex more. Many people become addicted to meth after trying it once because of its strong and long-lasting effects.

Meth enters the brain fast and boosts dopamine levels, leading to a powerful sense of happiness. Dopamine is known as the “feel good” hormone because it brings feelings of happiness, reward, and motivation.

Using meth often can make the high less intense, so you may need to take more to feel any effects. Using meth to feel good at first leads to needing more and more to avoid feeling bad. This takes over a person’s life, thoughts, and health.

Warning Signs of Meth Addiction

Data from the NSDUH, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, indicate that meth overdose rates soared by 180% from 2015 to 2019, yet admissions of meth abuse rose only by 43%. This gap underscores the stigma and denial often associated with meth addiction.

The initial signs of meth use are not usually the most severe or obvious. As with all addictions, people frequently attempt to conceal their drug use until it becomes untenable.

Meth addiction develops more rapidly than other addictions, severely impacting both mental and physical health with clear indicators. Recognizing these signs and symptoms is crucial for helping a loved one acknowledge their issues and seek necessary assistance.

Physical Signs of Meth Addiction

Signs of meth addiction can be seen on the body from using the drug or using it often. The long-term physical changes caused by methamphetamine abuse are widely recognized.

This is largely because of anti-drug campaigns such as Faces of Meth. These campaigns highlight the drastic effects of methamphetamine abuse on a person’s appearance. Methamphetamine abuse can lead to severe and lasting changes in a person’s physical appearance.

Physical signs of meth abuse include:

• Twitching of the face
• Clenching and grinding of teeth
• Red or inflamed eyes
• Spasmodic movements
• Scratching or picking at one’s own skin
• Sores on the face
• Wounds that take a long time to heal
• Perspiration
• Burns on the hands and around the lips
• Marks from injections
• Tooth decay
• Droopy or slack skin
• Decreased hunger
• Significant weight loss
• Persistent cough
• Hair loss

Psychological Signs of Meth Addiction

Similar to the physical symptoms, the psychological signs of meth addiction are directly caused by the drug and the complications that arise from its repeated abuse.

Mental signs of methamphetamine use include:

• Feeling restless
• Being emotionally unstable
• Feeling suspicious and not trusting others
• Doing too many things, being overly active
• Acting in unpredictable and inconsistent ways
• Having changes in sleep patterns
• Engaging in risky sexual behavior
• Stealing
• Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
• Hurting oneself on purpose
• Forgetting things
• Feeling very sad for long periods
• Thinking about ending one’s own life

What Is Tweaking?

During the final phase of a methamphetamine binge, known as tweaking, users experience diminished effects from the drug after prolonged and continuous usage.

Meth abuse often follows a pattern called “binge and crash.” During this cycle, people use the drug for an extended period of time. Afterward, they go through withdrawal symptoms for a few days.

The worst effects of meth use show up during tweaking, even if you don’t know what to look for. Tweaking occurs towards the end of the binge phase, just before the crash.

During the end of a binge, people known as “tweakers” may stay awake for days. They feel anxious, unable to sleep, and constantly crave drugs. Despite this, they continue to use them. Many people in this state often use alcohol and other substances to feel good and ease withdrawal symptoms.

Tweaking symptoms include:

• Severe insomnia
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Tactile hallucinations, such as the false perception of bugs crawling on or beneath the skin
• Profound paranoia
• Disconnection from reality
• Aggressive conduct
• Deliberate self-injury
• Unintentional self-harm stemming from hallucinations

After quitting drugs, people often experience a crash. They may sleep for several days and feel extremely hungry and thirsty as their body works to recover. Eventually, the cravings for drugs resurface, and without receiving addiction treatment, the cycle will repeat.

Long-Term Effects of Meth Addiction

Long-term meth addiction and misuse can lead to significant changes in the brain’s chemical composition and result in enduring physical consequences.

The enduring health and psychological consequences of methamphetamine addiction include:

• “Meth mouth” characterized by decayed or absent teeth
• Respiratory complications
• Chronic memory impairment
• Malnutrition
• Digestive disorders
• Renal failure
• Challenges with fertility
• Impaired cognitive function
• Diminished motor abilities
• Depression
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Anhedonia, the incapacity to experience pleasure
• Cardiovascular ailments
• Elevated blood pressure

Many of these issues can be treated with proper medical care and time. However, individuals must first acknowledge their addiction. They also need to show commitment to getting better. Addiction facilities and healthcare experts can offer support and treatment guidance for those struggling with meth addiction.

Health Effects of Meth Addiction

Meth addiction carries numerous health hazards, including both physical and mental health changes, as well as secondary risks arising from associated behaviors and habits.

The health risks associated with methamphetamine addiction include:

• Contracting sexually transmitted infections
• Transmission of infectious diseases through needle and paraphernalia sharing
• Persistent infections
• Dental complications
• Cognitive decline
• Elevated likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease
• Heightened risk of strokes
• Elevated risk of heart attacks
• Atherosclerosis characterized by the narrowing and hardening of arteries

Meth withdrawal symptoms can also present health risks. Seeking professional assistance and addiction treatment is consistently the safest course of action. Physicians commonly advocate for treatment centers providing medical detox followed by inpatient care as the optimal approach to overcoming addiction.

Substance Abuse Treatment for Meth Addiction

If you or someone you care about is grappling with meth addiction and substance abuse, assistance is within reach. You can recover from meth.

At White Oak Recovery Center, we provide a caring environment for people to beat addiction and start a new life in recovery. Our facility provides medical detox with around-the-clock supervision. We also offer medication-assisted treatment to help you withdraw safely and comfortably. This will help you feel confident as you progress through your treatment.

Our team of licensed and empathetic professionals is committed to crafting personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs. We want to help you break free from addiction by giving you coping skills and tools that will last.

WORC is ready to lead you on a journey of lifelong recovery. Reach out to one of our compassionate treatment specialists today to take the first step.