Methamphetamine Meth Addiction & Abuse: Signs, Symptoms, & Dangers
Illegal or street methamphetamine is often produced in makeshift laboratories by using over-the-counter, readily-available inexpensive materials. Over-the-counter cold remedies are usually used as a base and are then combined with chemicals like battery acid, drain cleaner, ammonia, and antifreeze. These chemicals are particularly dangerous and many who manufacture methamphetamines are burned or killed during production. Methamphetamine has remained popular in these same circumstances up to this day. Today, the vast majority of methamphetamine distribution comes from illegal laboratories and imports.
Methamphetamines (more commonly known by their street name, “meth,” “crystal meth,” and “crank”) is a powerful and addictive stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, eaten, or injected. Due to the psychoactive properties, false confidence, and sense of happiness, people who try methamphetamine quickly develop a desire to continue using. Some users state that they were hooked on meth after they try it once.
Faces of Meth Recovery
Recognizing the signs of meth-induced psychosis and understanding how to treat it is critical for ensuring proper care and support for individuals struggling with meth addiction. A person addicted to meth will experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms upon quitting meth abruptly, or reducing use. Common meth withdrawal symptoms include night sweats, weight gain, fatigue, suicidal ideation, and drug cravings. The majority of meth withdrawal symptoms are psychological, and can be safely and effectively treated at a meth addiction treatment center.
What are the first signs of meth addiction?
But you may not think clearly when you’re high or make the same decisions as when you’re sober. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan for how you’ll avoid impulsive or risky sex before you use drugs. The odds of this happening to you are higher if you go on a multiday meth binge without sleeping. After the high wears off, you may start to feel bad physically and emotionally.
- Meth use can have both short- and long-term effects on people with PTSD.
- That’s why substance use, as a whole, can lead to an array of behavioral changes regardless of the substance of choice.
- If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it may be time to get help for meth addiction.
- A healthcare professional may wish to screen for psychiatric symptoms in order to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms.
What are the Treatment Methods for Crystal Meth Addiction?
- Meth addiction treatment options include medically supervised detox, inpatient addiction treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient rehab, and relapse prevention.
- The causes of crystal meth addiction are changes in brain chemistry and genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
- There is, however, a promising method called MIEDAR (Motivation Incentives for Enhancing Drug Abuse Recovery).
- It often involves talking about the traumatic event in a safe environment, so the person can begin to heal.
If you’re concerned about a loved one who’s showing some (or none) of these signs, it’s probably a good idea to have a conversation with them. Just make sure you’re keeping an open mind to other possibilities and not making assumptions.
People with PTSD, which is a mental health condition caused by trauma, may use meth as a meth addiction way to cope with their painful emotions. Understanding the connection between meth and PTSD is important for recognizing the risks and finding the right treatment. Getting professional help is important, and places like Harmony Ridge Recovery WV offer programs to help people with both PTSD and substance abuse. In this blog, we will talk about meth and PTSD, the risks involved, and the treatment options available to help those struggling with both conditions.
Currently, no drugs are available to fight the effects of methamphetamines or those caused by long-term abstinence. There is, however, a promising method called MIEDAR (Motivation Incentives for Enhancing Drug Abuse Recovery). It comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and uses incentives to promote cocaine and methamphetamine abstinence. When diagnosing an SUD, a doctor may physically examine someone and discuss their medical history with them. A healthcare professional may wish to screen for psychiatric symptoms in order to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms.
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- It gradually helps the person face the trauma in a controlled way, reducing its emotional power.
- Those who abuse meth are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke as a direct result of their drug abuse.
- If the home environment is a triggering space, particularly one in which meth was or is highly prevalent, it is not advisable to attempt detox at home.
- Call to speak to a treatment specialist about nearby rehab centers.
Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable even if a person has only used meth for a short time. Withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur based on how long and how much of the substance has been used. It usually does not matter whether the drug has been snorted, smoked or injected because of how profoundly meth affects the brain. If you’re ready to take the first step in the recovery process and find a rehab center, call our confidential, free helpline at to speak to a caring and knowledgeable admissions navigator. They can guide you through the admissions process, answer questions you have about paying for treatment, and explain your health insurance coverage for rehab. You can also submit your insurance information below to instantly verify your coverage at an American Addiction Centers facility.
Crystal methamphetamine is a synthetic psychostimulant drug that speeds up the inner working of the brain and affects the central nervous system, with long-lasting effects on the body. Nicknames include crystal, speed, zoom, go, crank, tweak, ice, glass, rock candy, shizzo, yaba, fire, uppers, poor man’s cocaine or shards. Some people call it Tina when out in public, because it sounds like they’re talking about a person rather than a drug. The drug has devastating effects on those who become addicted to it.