Methamphetamine: Effects, Risks, Addiction & Treatment

Understanding Methamphetamine

What Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a powerful drug in the class of amphetamines. 

It acts as a powerful stimulant on the body’s central nervous system (CNS), causing an intense rush of energy, dopamine, and much more. However, while amphetamines have seen use in dedicated medical settings, such as to address attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), illicit methamphetamine can be incredibly dangerous.

Use of methamphetamine can carry adverse effects to a person’s physical and mental health. While some meth is used in a controlled setting, most meth users instead find themselves with access to illicit methamphetamine, which can be cut with any number of dangerous and unknown substances.

This can lead to substance use disorder, addiction, and a myriad of additional challenges. However, despite meth’s intense effects, there is always help available, with dedicated treatment programs to address meth use and promote a healthy life.

What Is Crystal Meth?

Crystal meth, or methamphetamine hydrochloride or crystal methamphetamine, is a specific form of illicit methamphetamine, getting its name from its clear or translucent rock-like appearance. 

Methamphetamine users may smoke crystal meth, dissolve it in solution and inject, or crush and snort the drug, all of which can come with additional risks. Other names for crystal meth include crank, ice, or glass, or may have locally-specific names in individual communities.

How Is Methamphetamine Made?

Illicit methamphetamine is created through a highly dangerous and unstable process in often makeshift labs, altering over-the-counter medications like cold medicine for chemicals like pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, lithium, solvents, and more, with industrial solvents. 

Because of this process, no two batches of meth are the same, and many include an array of additional additives throughout the process. Acids and other drugs, to chemicals like caffeine to create “yaba,” heavy metals, and more, can all be found in these products. Likewise, those using meth may be using an array of other drugs without their knowledge due to variable creation methods and contaminants, leading to risks such as the increased prevalence of fentanyl, red phosphorus, and much more.

Creating methamphetamine is incredibly dangerous and can be prone to fires, the creation of toxic gases, or even explosions throughout the process, with meth presenting dangers to individuals, communities, and public health from the creation process to its use.

Is Methamphetamine a Stimulant?

Yes, methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant on the central nervous system, leading to a rush of energy alongside compromised decision-making skills, with an array of risks to a person’s physical health as well as increased risk-taking behaviors. 

Is Methamphetamine Illegal?

While some prescription formulations of methamphetamine have seen use in dedicated medical settings, most methamphetamine use is tied to illicit methamphetamine, which is highly illegal. 

What Does Methamphetamine Look Like?

Meth can come in a variety of different forms, including:

• A white, crystalline, or rock-like substance called “crystal meth”
• Fine white or off-white powder
• Capsules

However, the exact color can change depending on where it was made, other substances that were cut into it during creation, and additional contaminants or adulterants throughout the process.

What Schedule Drug Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Schedule II drug, making it highly regulated and illegal to possess without a prescription due to the high potential for substance abuse. 

Prescriptions for meth are only administered in very narrow and specialized cases. Other Schedule II drugs include cocaine, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

Effects of Methamphetamine

What Are the Short-Term Health Effects of Methamphetamine?

Meth can affect an individual very quickly after use, bringing a rush of intense effects and symptoms, including:

• Rush of energy
• Euphoria
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Increased body temperature
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Insomnia
• Rushing thoughts and risky behaviors
• Violent behavior or outbursts
• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

What Are the Long-Term Health Effects of Methamphetamine?

Meth can continue to impact daily life long after the immediate effects of the drug have worn off. This includes:

• Addiction
• Weight loss
• Cognitive decline and memory problems
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Anxiety
• Depression

Long-term drug use can also lead to compromised emotional regulation, making it difficult to manage emotions and increasing mood swings, decreasing emotional resilience, and a compromised dopamine reward system that makes it difficult to find joy in things outside of drug use, facilitating further use and addiction.

How Does Methamphetamine Use Affect the Body?

Meth use can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, heightened blood pressure, dry mouth, dehydration, increased risk of heart attack, malnutrition and appetite suppression, sores and scabs on skin, tooth decay and gum disease, difficulty healing scrapes, punctures, or wounds, and increased risk of infection and difficulty fighting disease.

How Does Meth Use Affect the Brain?

Methamphetamine can carry equally profound effects on the brain, causing a rush of dopamine and hijacking the neurotransmitter associated with the chemical, which can continue to impact daily life due to:

• Intense cravings 
• Impaired decision-making skills and impulse control
• Difficulty forming and recalling memories
• Challenges focusing
• Emotional dysregulation or lowered emotional resilience

Signs & Symptoms of Use

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Use?

Noticing the signs and symptoms of meth use in a loved one can be a crucial part of beginning the healing process and working with a loved one, a health care professional, or an addiction specialist to start the healing journey, including:

• Extreme bursts of energy
• Rapid speech
• Agitation
• Reduced appetite
• Significant weight loss
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Repetitive movements or behaviors
• Paranoia
• Mood swings

What Are Some Physical Signs of Meth Use?

Meth use and meth addiction also affect the physical body, with both lasting and short-term effects, such as:

• Tremors and shaking
• Excessive sweating
• Dilated pupils
• Neglect of personal hygiene routines 
• Picking at skin or sores leading to persistent scabs
• Intense or sudden weight loss

Meth can also lead to devastating effects on a person’s dental health, with tooth decay, loss of teeth, and gum disease all being common, creating what is known as “meth mouth.”

What Behavioral Signs Suggest Methamphetamine Abuse?

There are also behavioral signs that can indicate a developing or existing addiction to methamphetamine, and you do not have to overly observe a loved one using meth to notice signs of addiction or abuse, including:

• Sudden secretive behavior, such as locking doors
• Changes in energy levels
• Insomnia, followed by a “crash” of excessive sleeping
• Sudden financial challenges despite no external changes in income
• Mood swings or violent outbursts
• Neglect of personal responsibilities or professional obligations
• Tending to repetitive tasks

Developing Meth Addiction

Is Methamphetamine Addictive?

Yes, methamphetamine in any of its forms is highly addictive, and even those who recognize the need for help may find it difficult to quit on their own. 

Talking to a health care provider or professional detox and addiction treatment program can help you understand how to begin your healing journey.

How Common Is Meth Addiction?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in a study conducted between 2015 and 2018, approximately 1.6 million adults had used methamphetamine within the past year, and over half of those met the criteria for addiction.

However, these already staggering numbers do not account for those who are continuing to use in secret, or children and adolescents who may have been exposed to the drug before adulthood.

How Do Cravings and Tolerance Develop With Methamphetamine Use?

As more meth is used over time, the body and brain develop a “tolerance” to it, meaning it will require more of the substance than before to achieve the same effects. 

Tolerance causes an individual to use meth either at increasing doses or more frequently to achieve these similar effects. This can also be coupled with cravings. Cravings are an intense urge to use meth, and can be either triggered by a specific stressor or appear over time.

These occur as the body and brain become accustomed to using meth regularly, and feel it is “necessary” for daily life and functioning, causing these intense feelings and even causing an individual to act against their own better judgment to use meth again.

What Withdrawal Symptoms Occur With Meth Use?

Withdrawal symptoms can set in quickly after a person’s last use of meth, and can be difficult to address without proper, educated support, including symptoms such as:

• Extreme fatigue and exhaustion
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Depression
• Intense irritability and mood swings
• Severe dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Increased appetite
• Intense urges and cravings for more methamphetamine

However, each situation is unique, and it can be impossible to predict exactly how withdrawal may impact a person. Dedicated medical detox programs, professional support, and harm reduction programs are essential for navigating these challenges and beginning the journey to a drug-free life.

Risks & Overdose

What Are Some Risks When Using Meth?

There is no “safe” level of meth use, and even those who have used amphetamine or methamphetamine before can still be at risk for new challenges, symptoms, and risks with each use, including:

• Addiction
• Overdose
• Malnutrition
• Physical dehydration
• Damage to skin, nose, gums, teeth, and more, depending on the method of ingestion
• Transmission of disease
• Injury and risk-taking behaviors leading to danger and life-threatening situations

These risks are present with each use, with increasing risks of addiction, overdose, or other challenges related to higher doses, binge use, or each use of meth due to variability in how it is created, leading to inconsistent intensity, ingredients, and effects.

What Are the Acute Cardiovascular and Neurological Risks?

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack are all possible, along with arrhythmia and increased risk of stroke. 

Meth can also lead to profound neurological risks, including the risk of seizure, confusion, panic, paranoia, delusions, psychosis, and an increase in aggressive or violent outbursts.

How Does Polysubstance Use Increase Overdose and Health Risks?

Using multiple substances at once, known as polysubstance use, can greatly increase the risk associated with methamphetamine use and addiction. 

Combining meth with inhalant drugs, fentanyl, benzodiazepines, opioids, or even alcohol can all increase the risk of overdose, heart complications, breathing patterns, and place extreme strain on the body’s natural processes, heart, and central nervous system.

Mixing substances can also have unexpected and drastic effects, heightening the impact and effects of all substances involved and causing unexpected and intense reactions, leading to dangerous and even life-threatening situations.

Can You OD on Methamphetamine?

Absolutely, overdosing on methamphetamine is always possible and can even be common depending on various factors, from how the meth is made, unknown substances like fentanyl cut into the drug, or using meth alongside other substances, all creating intense effects and leading to potentially life-threatening overdose. 

Finding Treatment

What Behavioral Therapies Treat Methamphetamine Use Disorder?

Addressing meth addiction is complicated, but behavioral therapies can help you or your loved one explore not just the effects of meth, but the lifestyles, stresses, and factors that led to drug use in the first place.

Professional treatment programs, individual and group therapy, and personalized treatment programs at Wellbridge can all help you explore your best path to change, some of which are the most proven and effective behavioral therapies, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Motivational interviewing
• Individual and group counseling
• Relapse-prevention strategies

These are often accompanied by holistic healing opportunities and programs, empowering those in recovery to build an entirely new, drug-free life from the ground up.

When Is Medical Detox Recommended?

Medical detox is a powerful and important first step toward healing and change. While detox is just the first step in a healing journey, knowing when it may be time to take this step or help a loved one begin their healing is crucial. 

Medical detox is recommended when:

• Withdrawal symptoms are present
• Past attempts to cut down or stop meth use have failed
• Polysubstance use or underlying mental health conditions complicate daily life
• Meth use interferes with daily life, relationships, professional responsibilities, and more
• An individual has experienced increasing meth use over time, either in bingeing, increased frequency, or higher doses of meth

This first step into detox is crucial, and having the best support available can make all the difference when navigating this difficult time.

How Does Detox Help With Withdrawal Symptoms?

Dedicated medical detox can not just provide professional support, education, and care when navigating difficult withdrawal symptoms, but also hydration and nutrition services, monitoring breathing and heart rate, mental health support, and medication as necessary to address specific withdrawal symptoms, empowering each person to make the most of this time and navigate these effects. 

Detox programs are also essential in preparing an individual to transition to further levels of care, including residential treatment, with Wellbridge available to support this transition as you reach this important milestone.

Following Treatment: Care and Management

How Should Aftercare and Relapse-Prevention Plans Be Structured Following Treatment?

These programs include regular check-ups and in-person meetings, group therapy and experiential programs, and regular updates to coping skills to make adjustments to skills, treatment plan, and overcome new stresses as they arise without falling back into previous self-destructive routines. 

They should also include education for family members and crisis plans, healthy lifestyle routines and changes, communication, stress-management skills, and a personalized tool kit for navigating the stresses of daily life in outpatient care or as an alumnus.

How Are Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions Managed During Long-Term Recovery?

Addressing meth use alongside mental health conditions is paramount, with depression, anxiety, panic, paranoia, PTSD, and more all being common challenges to overcome. 

Understanding not just the role of meth, but also how these underlying disorders influence the use of drugs in the first place, is crucial to a robust and comprehensive approach to sustainable change. Ongoing outpatient therapy, medication management if necessary, and ongoing personalized and integrated outpatient programs are all part of a fulfilling and sustainable healing journey.

What Role Do Outpatient Programs and Peer Support Play in Sustaining Recovery?

Outpatient care empowers an individual to tend to personal responsibilities at home or in their professional life without returning to drug use, navigating the stresses and challenges therein. 

Peers provide practical strategies and a feeling of camaraderie and belonging that allow an individual to distance themselves from previously destructive social circles and feel accepted and supported.

Healing is an ongoing journey, and constantly making updates, adjustments, and building on skills alongside professionals and peers can provide the best support to navigate new stresses and reach new milestones in recovery.

FAQs

How Long Does Methamphetamine Stay in Your System?

Meth can stay detectable for varying amounts of time depending on how it is tested. 

While the immediate effects of meth can subside quickly, there are still lasting traces left in the body detectable from hours to days and even months after use, and further depending on the frequency and dosage of meth use.

Is Adderall Methamphetamine?

No, Adderall is an amphetamine and stimulant, but not the same as methamphetamine. 

How Does Methamphetamine Use Relate to HIV and Hepatitis Transmission?

Meth use has been tied to the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis, primarily through contaminated paraphernalia, such as sharing used needles. 

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance, affecting not just physical and mental health, but also entire families and communities. However, there is always help available, and we at Wellbridge are here to provide you with a community and structure to begin your healing journey today.