Meth Addiction Treatment
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a highly addictive stimulant that impacts the central nervous system by boosting neurotransmitter function. This improves physical and mental performance, providing heightened energy and alertness.
Methamphetamine has legitimate medical uses for ADHD and obesity but is often abused for its euphoric effects, leading to addiction.
Methamphetamine can be used in various ways, including smoking, injecting, taking pills, or snorting powder. This variety contributes to its misuse and associated health risks.
The Dangers of Meth Use
Methamphetamine, known as blue, speed, crystal, or ice, is a potent synthetic drug produced mainly in illicit labs. Its illegal production raises concerns about dangerous and unregulated use. Users often struggle to identify the drug’s dosage or purity, leading to serious health risks.
Producing methamphetamine involves hazardous chemicals that risk not only the manufacturers but also the surrounding environment. The facilities can be dangerous, with potential explosions or fires during production. Even after manufacturing ends, toxic residues can linger and harm nearby residents.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns about the dangers of methamphetamine, especially its mix with fentanyl by dealers to enhance its effects at a low cost. This significantly increases risks for users unaware of fentanyl in meth. NIDA’s research shows synthetic opioids, notably fentanyl, are the most common substances in overdose deaths in the United States.
In 2017, NIDA indicated that methamphetamine contributed to 15% of drug overdose deaths, while 50% also included opioids, with half of those cases associated with fentanyl. This relationship highlights the growing risks of mixing methamphetamine and opioids as overdose deaths continue to rise.
“We have had many patients come into our program that thought they were just using meth, but come to find out in their drug test, that they had been using meth laced with fentanyl. This causes quite a scare in clients as they had no idea they were using a potentially fatal drug, without their consent. The truth is you cannot trust drug dealers, nor can you trust any substance acquired on the streets today. There are high potency levels with the fentanyl on the streets along with varying types of production, making it extremely dangerous to use without consequences. The world has changed drastically when it comes to addiction and the lethality of it all. Please do not feel you have to fight this alone. Meth addiction can feel empowering and helpful at first, but the truth is it strips away someone’s soul, from the inside out. You do not have to continue on this path, please call our friendly admissions staff today. We are all waiting to help you and your loved one, and have personal experience with finding a path to recovery.”
-Taylor Brown, CRADC
How Does Meth Affect the Body and Brain?
Meth prompts the brain to release excess dopamine, a key messenger influencing pleasure, movement, and motivation. This dopamine surge creates euphoria, increases energy, and improves well-being.
Although this natural response can occur during enjoyable experiences, its intensity is significantly heightened with meth use. The drug generates such a powerful reward that it drives users to seek out the drug again to experience those intensified feelings.
With regular meth use, tolerance quickly develops, requiring larger doses of the drug to attain the same effects. Eventually, the brain can permanently adjust to the presence of meth, becoming incapable of producing feelings of pleasure without it.
Short-Term Effects of Methamphetamine
NIDA states that methamphetamine use can cause serious short-term effects, such as intense happiness, increased pleasure, enhanced focus, energy, alertness, and physiological changes like higher body temperature and blood pressure.
They may experience fatigue, appetite loss, rapid breathing, and irregular heartbeat. These effects pose health risks like stroke and hyperthermia, potentially damaging vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Using meth increases the risk of HIV and hepatitis, particularly with shared needles. These infections spread through contaminated fluids, emphasizing the need to understand the risks. Additionally, meth accelerates HIV/AIDS progression, leading to further health challenges.
Methamphetamine can impair judgment and decision-making, leading to risky behaviors like mixing it with alcohol or other drugs and having unprotected sex, which significantly increases health risks.
Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine
Long-term meth use leads to serious health issues. According to NIDA, prolonged use can result in extreme weight loss and malnutrition. Users typically develop a strong addiction, marked by compulsive behavior. Methamphetamine can also cause severe dental problems known as “meth mouth.”
Users may experience intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching. Psychological effects can include anxiety, brain function changes, confusion, and memory loss. Sleep disturbances and violent behavior may occur with paranoia, marked by extreme distrust. Users might also hallucinate—perceiving unreal sensations and images.
Brain changes may improve after a year of methamphetamine abstinence, but some can be permanent, leading to lasting emotional issues, learning deficits, and motor skill impairment. A study from Indiana University cited by NIDA found a link between meth use and Parkinson’s Disease, concluding former users are at higher risk for this movement and coordination disorder.
Methamphetamine can cause lasting physical damage to the body. This includes lung damage from smoking or infections, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, damaged nasal passages from snorting, liver damage, and severe harm to the cardiovascular system.
Meth Overdose
A methamphetamine overdose can be life-threatening. Common symptoms include high body temperature, high blood pressure, and a fast or irregular heartbeat. These can lead to serious emergencies like strokes or heart attacks, which need immediate medical help.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for treating a meth overdose, so it’s crucial to act quickly. Getting medical help right away can save lives! If you think someone is having an overdose, call 911 immediately.
Meth Addiction Treatment & Recovery
At Midwest Recovery Centers, we use a comprehensive approach to help individuals recovering from meth addiction. Our treatment is based on evidence-based therapies, expert medical care, clinical services and the 12-step principles, emphasizing personal responsibility, respect for others, and commitment to recovery.
Our skilled team provides personalized care to ensure clients get the support they need for a more effective recovery experience.
Support, Guidance, Recovery – One Call Can Change Everything
There is hope in recovering from meth addiction for either yourself or a loved one. Compassionate and comprehensive care to meet specific needs will be offered here at Midwest Recovery Centers.
Our comprehensive care is guided by medical standards, clinical expertise, evidence-based practices, 12-step principles and professional support leading individuals into long-term recovery. Call us today and take the first step toward healing and reclaiming your life. Let us help you find your path up the mountain of wellness.
FAQs:
What are the short-term effects of methamphetamine use?
Short-term effects include increased energy, euphoria, enhanced alertness, and physical changes like rapid breathing and elevated blood pressure. However, risks include stroke and hyperthermia.
What are the long-term effects of meth use?
Long-term use can cause severe health issues such as addiction, weight loss, “meth mouth,” psychological disorders, and permanent brain changes, including increased risk for Parkinson’s Disease.
How does meth impact the brain?
Methamphetamine floods the brain with dopamine, creating intense pleasure and motivation. Over time, this disrupts the brain’s ability to produce dopamine, leading to dependence naturally and reduced pleasure without the drug.
What should you do if someone is overdosing on meth?
Call 911 immediately. Symptoms of a meth overdose include high body temperature, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke or heart attack.
What treatments are available for meth addiction?
Midwest Recovery Centers offers personalized, 12-step-based treatment programs that emphasize respect, responsibility, and recovery. Professional support is tailored to meet individual needs.