Any type of controlled substance ingested without a doctor’s supervision can be a huge risk to one’s health. However, some drugs are more destructive than others including the highly addictive, illicit drug, methamphetamine.
What makes meth so dangerous? How does it contribute to the country’s growing health crisis? Let’s dive deeper into the alarming effects of meth use and the reasons behind its addictive nature.
What is meth?
Methamphetamine is also referred to as meth, crack, crystal, or speed. It’s a powerful stimulant that directly affects the central nervous system. While some substances like depressant drugs slow down the body, meth speeds up our bodily functions triggering a burst of energy and an intense rush of euphoria. It increases alertness and physical activity and creates a general sense of elevated mood.
It’s a white, odorless, and bitter-tasting powder, easily dissolved in water or alcohol. It can be taken orally, snorted, injected, or smoked. Crystal meth is the most potent form of meth, resembling shiny rocks or fragments of glass of varying sizes.
The substance originated from amphetamine in Japan, initially introduced to the US as a bronchial inhaler and a nasal decongestant. Nowadays, prescription methamphetamine is indicated to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obesity.
Why is meth so dangerous?
Meth can rapidly alter brain chemistry, and it’s becoming a serious health crisis. Here are some of the biggest dangers of meth use disorder:
Highly Addictive
Methamphetamine produces more reward chemicals than the brain can handle. It essentially sends the brain’s dopamine levels into the stratosphere. The dramatic changes to the brain structure can happen in a very short time. Thus, it can be easily and highly addictive. For some, it only takes one use to become addicted. The effects of crystal meth can last for about 6-12 hours, making the ‘high’ way longer than that of other stimulants like cocaine.
However, like any other illicit drugs, meth builds tolerance with repeated use. The sense of euphoria gets less intense along with the other desired effects like improvements in libido and concentration. This may cause the individual to use more meth to get the same high they once got with a lower dose. Some people even do a “run”, where they use meth continuously for hours or even days, often without eating or sleeping.
Intense High and Low
Meth has two sides– the euphoric high and the extremely miserable low. People like the intensity of its high, but once it comes crashing down, people often find themselves in a dark place. Other effects one might experience when meth wears off include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a sharply decreased appetite. Some people also suffer from intense itching sensations; they scratch their skin so hard that they create painful sores all over their bodies. When they crash, they might sleep all day and all night since they hardly get a shuteye during the high.
This crash can be so overwhelming that users may be tempted to use more meth to escape the discomfort, leading to a cycle of bingeing and crashing.
Deadly Side Effects
Since meth is a stimulant, it increases the body’s temperature, the blood pressure, as well as your breathing. This makes your heart race, and if you have a heart problem, this can cause a fatal heart attack or stroke. The chances of overdose also make it highly dangerous. Other side effects can also be detrimental to one’s health including:
- addiction
- changes in brain structure and function
- anxiety
- confusion
- deficits in thinking and motor skills
- sleep disorders
- extreme weight loss
- mood disturbances
- memory loss
- violent or aggressive behavior
- paranoia
- visual and auditory hallucinations
- delusions
Psychotic symptoms like paranoia can result in thoughts of suicide, and these symptoms can last for months or even years after discontinuing methamphetamine use. When taken in higher doses, other more serious effects can take place such as bleeding in the brain, skeletal muscle breakdown, and seizures. There’s also that added risk of contracting life-threatening diseases due to sharing needles.
Short-term and Long-term Effects
One should realize the full picture of how meth can impact their life and those around them. Meth causes a variety of short-term effects as well as long-term or permanent damage.
Short-term effects
The short-term physical effects of using meth include:
- chest pains
- increased or irregular heart rate (palpitations)
- breathing faster or irregularly
- high blood pressure
- loss of appetite
- increased perspiration
- dilated pupils
- sleeplessness
- feeling restless or shaky
- teeth grinding or jaw clenching
- headaches
- pale complexion
- dizziness
- elevated body temperature
- nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Long-term effects
Long-term physical effects of meth include:
- Stroke
- weakened immune system
- lung disease
- heart infection
- poor dental health (‘meth mouth’)
- kidney and liver damage
- restless sleep
- poor dietary intake and extreme weight loss
- regular colds and flu
- skin lesions and infections.
- muscle stiffness
Permanent Damage
Some of the effects of meth can be irreversible. Besides risks of heart attack and stroke, meth can severely damage your kidneys and liver. Your brain’s dopamine system may also be altered for good along with life-long impairment of memory, coordination, emotional state, and even ability to speak.
Brain scans of long-term meth users reveal lower levels of dopamine receptors, making it harder for them to feel pleasure or motivation naturally. This can lead to an inability to experience pleasure or joy and increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.
So Hard to Quit
Meth withdrawal symptoms can be some of the most difficult, inducing intense cravings, anxiety, fatigue, depression, and even psychosis. The heightened state of anxiety can make everyday situations feel unbearable, pushing individuals toward relapse as a means of coping. The brain’s altered chemistry just makes it hard for dependents to function normally.
Overdose
If a large or strong batch of meth is taken, an overdose may occur. Signs of meth overdose include:
- increased agitation or paranoia
- Seizures
- racing heart
- passing out
- difficulty breathing
- high fever
- severe stomach or chest pain
- stroke
- cardiac arrest, or a stopped heartbeat
- heart attack
- kidney damage
- coma
Meth is one of the top illicit drugs involved in emergency room visits. Between 2007 and 2017, overdose deaths linked to methamphetamine surged by 7.5 times. Today, methamphetamine accounts for 15 percent of all overdose fatalities.
A person is more likely to overdose on meth if it’s mixed with other drugs like fentanyl, which is a cheaper drug often added to meth without users even knowing, making it even more dangerous. Alcohol and meth also don’t go well together. Alcohol could only boost the effects of meth, making you feel even more agitated. With meth in your system, you won’t feel alcohol’s effects as you typically would, leading you to drink more alcohol than your body can process.
Combining a stimulant like meth with depressants like opioids, alcohol, or benzodiazepines can create that tug-of-war sensation in your body. This can put a strain on your bodily functions to the point where emergency medical attention is required.
Emotional and Relationship Health Issues
Meth users eventually experience changes in mood and personality including aggressive and violent behavior . They may also exhibit extreme irritability and paranoia, which can all put a strain on relationships with friends and family members. They begin to act unpredictably or lash out over small issues. This constant tension can make it incredibly difficult for families to maintain a sense of normalcy and connection. Not to mention the delusions or hallucinations that could lead to many dangerous situations. Addressing these issues requires not only treatment for the individual but also resources for families to navigate the complexities of meth use disorder together.
Recognizing the Signs of Meth Use Disorder
Dealing with Meth Use Disorder can be incredibly hard, especially when it involves someone you care deeply about. Initially, the changes may be subtle like your loved one becoming more irritable, less engaged, or spending more time alone. Eventually, the signs intensify which can be heartbreaking to confront.
Signs of meth use disorder include:
- Neglecting academic, professional, or personal responsibilities
- Social or interpersonal problems
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using meth or attempting to quit
- Requiring more and more meth to get the same high (tolerance)
- Experiencing physical or psychological problems due to meth use
- Giving up activities in an effort to use or obtain meth
- Experiencing strong drug craving
Recognizing meth use disorder is just the beginning of a long and challenging journey. It requires patience, resilience, and a willingness to face the uncomfortable. Your support can make a world of difference.
Get Professional Help Today
It’s incredibly tough for someone struggling with methamphetamine use disorder, especially when they try to quit on their own. The cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be so overwhelming that it feels nearly impossible to break free from the cycle. Methamphetamine impacts the brain’s dopamine system, creating a rush of pleasure while using, but also leading to a profound sense of emptiness afterward. This can bring on intense depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms, which fuel the desire to use again.
At Positive Sobriety Institute, we focus on creating an individualized plan to meet every patient’s specific needs. It’s hard to break the cycle of meth use disorder without proper treatment. After quitting the drug, it’s still possible to have the brain return to a normal state after a significant period of sobriety. There’s hope, and help is always within reach.
It’s never too late or too early to seek support. Get in touch today!
