When smoked, meth enters the bloodstream through the lungs, taking effect almost immediately. But the fast euphoria is followed by a sharp crash, driving people to seek more of the drug to prolong the high and avoid withdrawals. While it once had some medical uses, meth’s addictive nature quickly led to its widespread use as a dangerously addictive drug. Also known as crank, crystal, glass, ice, speed, tweak, and trash, the vast majority of meth use is now illicit.

  • Yes, recovery from meth addiction is possible with the right treatment and support.
  • After the initial withdrawal phase, some individuals may encounter ongoing symptoms known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms, or ‘PAWS’,  which can last for weeks or even months.
  • Learn more about the differences between addiction and dependence.
  • While the parent drug for meth is amphetamine, there are some unique differences.

Physical Health Impacts

Many of the short and long-term signs of meth abuse can be fixed once the meth addiction is treated and the user is no longer abusing the drug. Unfortunately, some of the severe complications of meth use, such as depression and severe paranoia, do not go away quickly and are often lifelong effects of having used this dangerous drug. Behavioral therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational incentives are cited among the most effective therapies for meth addiction. Meth patients who are also diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders may be prescribed medications to manage and relieve their symptoms. By 1971, the United States meth addiction Drug Enforcement Administration (USDEA) classified all amphetamines as Schedule II controlled substances, citing the potential for abuse, dependence and addiction. The pure form of methamphetamine, Desoxyn, is rarely ever prescribed in the U.S.

  • Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com.
  • If the patient is still acutely intoxicated, they will undergo detoxification.
  • In the short term, meth gives a burst of energy and can temporarily make a person feel better.
  • Addiction impacts not only the individual but also their family, friends, and community.
  • When the drug is removed, dopamine drops below natural levels, and the resulting loss of enjoyment is distressing.

Meth Overdose Deaths in the U.S.

Your loved one might deny having a problem at all or refuse to seek help. If that happens, consider seeking out additional resources or find a support group for family members or friends of people living with addiction. In 2021, almost 1% of the U.S. population aged 12 or older said they’d used meth in the past year. In comparison, around 4.8 million people said they used cocaine in the same timeframe. The only legal meth product is a prescription medication approved to treat ADHD.

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This crawling feeling is due to an increased body temperature, leading to sweating and oily skin, combined with the fact that the body is dehydrated. Users of crystal meth report initially feeling euphoric, experiencing an intense, long-lasting rush after the first use. This is because methamphetamine floods the brain with dopamine, the feel-good chemical responsible for pleasure, reward and motivation.

  • Compared to cocaine and most other recreational drugs, meth remains in the brain longer and releases more dopamine.
  • People who use meth usually act anxious, depressed and unpredictable.
  • You may use meth to make sex more pleasurable or to lower your inhibitions.

You’ll typically pay less out-of-pocket if you go to “in-network” providers. A national survey on people aged 12 or older shows that 0.6% of the U.S. population, or about 1.6 million people, may have a methamphetamine use disorder. That means more than half of people who use meth go on to misuse the drug. Unlike medication regulated by the government, there’s no way to know what’s in drugs made in illegal labs.

Addiction Treatment

Since the liver and kidney are responsible for filtering and processing these chemicals as waste, a person who uses too much meth can cause these organs to permanently shut down and stop working. Common signs of meth addiction are organ failure — particularly of the liver, kidney, lungs, brain, and heart. Meth addicts may perform a series of repetitive behaviors due to the way this stimulant affects regions of the brain that control movement and memory. Repetitive behavior is also a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD — an anxiety disorder that affects nearly 25% of people addicted to meth. Meth use affects the portion of the brain that controls rational thinking and emotional response, and can trigger imbalances that lead to the onset of paranoia.

meth addiction symptoms

The person will experience euphoria, increased confidence, and heightened energy levels in the early stages. However, as dependency develops, these effects are replaced by negative psychological symptoms such as paranoia, anxiety, and hallucinations. The detrimental effects of methamphetamine addiction are well-documented, often evoking images of dental deterioration and skin lesions. However, the physiological and psychological consequences extend far beyond external appearance, profoundly impacting organ function and mental health. Many factors determine the length of withdrawal symptoms, including the amount of time the person has been addicted.

The three main portions of withdrawal are the crash, cravings and recovery. Methamphetamine withdrawal is a slow, difficult, but enormously valuable process that may last several days or weeks. Meth works by increasing the amount of dopamine — the neurotransmitter that controls feelings of pleasure — in the brain. When the drug is removed, dopamine drops below natural levels, and the resulting loss of enjoyment is distressing.