Meth
Addiction
What is meth?
Highly addictive, crystal meth is an illegal drug that produces a sense of euphoria in the drug user’s mind and body. Similar to cocaine, meth increases the amount of dopamine in your brain, which is in part why it can be so addictive. Dopamine contributes to our motor function, reward systems, and overall motivation.
Meth is made in illegal labs — from Mexican super labs to homegrown labs in the U.S. — that mix over-the-counter drugs with various harmful substances. One of these substances is pseudoephedrine a cold medicine ingredient that can help reduce congestion. For those that become addicted to meth, the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that users can experience speech problems, as well as impaired motor skills.
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What does meth look like?
Occasionally sold as large rock-like chunks, crystal meth is a powdery, crystallized substance that sometimes has shards that resemble glass. Sometimes the rocks are a blue and white in color, while other times they may be clear.
How is meth taken?
There are a variety of ways people consume meth. It can be smoked in pipes or snorted. Other ways to ingest meth include injecting it and swallowing it.
Why do people use meth?
Many young adults take meth at dance clubs and parties. It is a preferred drug of many, as its effects can last for up to 12 hours, which is longer than cocaine. For some people, meth use can lead to rapid weight loss. However, this weight usually returns once the drug is no longer used. Depressed people may also use meth for its euphoric effects. While it is only temporary, the dopamine surge can easily become a highly addictive antidepressant. Other reasons people may use meth include its ability to increase your sex drive, as well as the pleasure associated with sexual acts.
SLANG TERMS
- Chicken flipping
- Speed
- Crank
- Tweaking
- Hot rolling
- Cotton candy
- Rocket fuel
- Getting fried
History of
Meth
The original form of meth was first made by a Japanese chemist in 1893. Crystallized meth was later made in 1919 by combining iodine with red phosphorus. In the late 1800s, the drug was used as a treatment for things like asthma and narcolepsy. What many people don’t know about meth is that it was originally created to be an alternative to the ephedra plant, which is a type of shrub. For more than 5,000 years, the shrub’s extract was used in Chinese medicine. However, once a Japanese chemist discovered its active ingredient — a stimulant called ephedrine — the road to creating more accessible alternatives began.
During World War II, meth was used as an alternative to caffeine. Nazi leaders often distributed the drug in a tablet called Pervitin. This over-the-counter medication was often marketed as an antidepressant that also helped improve alertness. Once the war was over, use continued and even increased dramatically. In the 1960s, meth became available as an injectable.
What are the Symptoms of Meth Addiction?
Because meth affects both a user’s mind and body, symptoms of addiction are wide-ranging. To start, a person may suddenly lose interest in things they used to enjoy. This can include any pastimes, relationships, and career aspirations. While a meth user may initially try to hide their addiction, before long, its effects will be so prominent that it will be hard to keep the drug a secret. What may begin as a recreational activity can quickly become a meth user’s number one priority.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Hyperactivity
- Dilated pupils
- Skin sores
- Mood swings
- Rotting teeth
- Rapid eye movement
- Extreme weight loss
- Agitation
PARAPHERNALIA
- Glass pipes
- Burnt aluminum foil
- Needles
- Razor blades
- Burnt spoons
- Mirrors
- Broken light bulbs
- Tie-offs
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What Does a Meth Addict Look Like?
Meth addiction can affect you in a short period of time. Your body may start to depend on it after you start. What does a meth addict look like? At first, you or your loved one may start to experience withdrawal symptoms when you’ve stopped taking meth, as soon as a few hours after your last dose. Below are the common symptoms you or a loved one may have if continuing to take meth excessively.
Short-Term Effects of
Meth Addiction
- Hyperactivity
- Irregular heartbeat
- Feeling talkative
- Appetite suppression
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Feeling like there is no need to sleep
- Irritability
Long-Term Effects of
Meth Addiction
- Frustration
- Psychosis
- Insomnia
- Chronic liver damage
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Heart arrhythmias
- Heart failure
Meth
Addiction Statistics
2.6 million
number of Americans aged 12+ that tried meth in 2020.
23.837
number of people in the U.S. that died from meth in 2020.
$23.4 billion
is how much meth costs the U.S. in treatment annually
What Can Help with Meth Addiction Recovery ?
Meth addiction recovery can only be facilitated in rehabilitation facilities, such as Gratitude Lodge, that offer residential meth addiction treatment. It’s a safe, professionally staffed place where you’ll naturally get rid of the rest of the meth in your body, and you’ll be given medication to help withdrawal symptoms that may occur. After the physical addiction has gone away, mental addiction, which takes longer to treat, will be the next focus.
There are programs in rehab such as group therapy, individual counseling, and a 12-step program to help the mental addiction of meth. Meth addiction has to be treated in a medical environment because serious and fatal side effects could accompany withdrawal symptoms when there is a long-term addiction.
Common Drug Combinations with Meth
Meth is commonly paired with alcohol, which is a depressant. It’s also used with Xanax, a sedative and addictive benzo (benzodiazepine) that gets rid of anxiety that comes with using meth. Other drugs such as opioid painkillers or morphine are commonly mixed because it creates a greater high than each drug on their own. These should not be mixed because the mixture could end in a fatal overdose.
- Alcohol
- Morphine
- Xanax
- Suboxone
- Benzos
- Ecstasy
- Opioids
- Viagra
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