Meth Addiction Effects, Signs, & Symptoms

Learn about meth addiction

Methamphetamines (usually referred to simply as “meth”) are a group of highly addictive stimulants that can cause damage to every organ system in the body. Similar in structure to its parent drug, amphetamine, methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant classified as a Schedule II drug that is occasionally used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. The doses that are prescribed by a physician to treat these conditions are far lower than the doses used on the streets. Meth is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystallized powder that dissolves easily in water or alcohol. People abuse methamphetamines by oral consumption, intra-nasally, by smoking, or by dissolving and injecting with a needle. Smoking or injecting meth allows the drug to quickly pass through the blood-brain barrier, which increases the effects of the drug, as well as increasing negative health consequences and intensifying the drug’s potential for addiction. Like cocaine, many people abuse meth in a binge-crash pattern in which users take more of the drug to continue feeling intoxicated until they finally fall asleep several days later, exhausted.

Methamphetamines produce their effects by increasing the release and blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is involved with motivation, pleasurable sensations, reward, and motor function. The ability of meth to rapidly release dopamine allows for the rush, or euphoric feelings produced by the drug. Chronic usage of meth considerably changes the ways in which the brain works, leading to alterations in the structure and function of the brain, some of which may be permanent. Chronic methamphetamine abuse can lead to addiction, which is accompanied by chemical and molecular changes in the brain – some of which endure long after the meth habit has been broken.

Often called the “world’s most dangerous drug,” methamphetamine is a relatively cheap way to get high. One of the reasons meth is so readily available and widely abused is because it is easily produced using substances easily accessed, including pseudoephedrine, anhydrous ammonia, ether, red phosphorous, and lithium from batteries. Despite the risk for fires and explosions, people have taken to “cooking” meth in clandestine laboratories for personal use. For every pound of meth manufactured, over 5 pounds of toxic waste is created. Not only is meth bad for humans, it also contaminates water and endangers wildlife.

Meth addiction statistics

Per the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 1.2 million people (or 0.4% of the population in the United States) reported using methamphetamines in the past year, and 440,000 (or 0.2%) reported using meth in the past month. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported that in 2011, methamphetamine accounted for 103,000 visits to the emergency room in the United States. Meth was the fourth most commonly mentioned drug in these visits following cocaine, marijuana, and heroin.

Causes and risk factors for meth addiction

Addiction is not considered to be the result of a single factor; rather a number of factors work together to cause an addiction to methamphetamines. The most common causes for meth addiction can include:

Genetic: People who are born into families where addiction is prominent are more prone to develop addictions later in life. While this is not a definitive cause for addiction to meth, it does increase the likelihood for the development of addiction.

Brain Chemistry: It’s been postulated that many individuals who are born lacking proper amounts of dopamine in their brains may abuse meth in order to correct the deficiency.

Environmental: Those who are born into families where addiction is a part of daily life may come to see drug abuse as the appropriate way to solve problems, developing an addiction later in life. Additionally, using drugs at an early age increases the risk that an individual will develop an addiction.

Psychological: Individuals who are struggling with undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses may attempt to cope with the symptoms of their disorder by abusing drugs and alcohol. This can quickly turn into an addiction.

Signs and symptoms of meth addiction

The symptoms of meth abuse affect virtually all aspects of the life of a meth-head. Symptoms may vary based upon genetic makeup, frequency of use, length of usage, and amount abused, but one thing is very clear: methamphetamine touches everything in an addict’s life. Common symptoms of meth addiction include:

Mood symptoms:

• Euphoria
• “Rush” of pleasure
• Feelings of invincibility
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability

Behavioral symptoms:

• Legal problems
• Sudden need for money
• Stealing from loved ones
• Increased criminal activity
• Increased libido
• Unsafe sexual practices
• Increases in violent behavior

Physical symptoms:

• Meth mouth – or rotted teeth
• Brain damage
• Tachycardia
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Increased respiration
• Decreased need for sleep
• Malnutrition
• Open sores
• Stroke
• Seizures

Psychological symptoms:

• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Meth-induced psychosis
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Effects of meth addiction

The effects of chronic methamphetamine abuse will depend upon the length of time an individual has been abusing meth, the amount used, frequency of use, and individual genetic makeup. One thing is certain: chronic methamphetamine abuse causes significant damage to many individuals.

Common effects of meth abuse include:

• Addiction
• Tolerance
• Anhedonia – inability to feel pleasure
• Emaciation
• Loss of interpersonal relationships
• Financial ruin
• Social isolation
• Mounting legal problems
• Incarceration
• Brain damage
• Meth mouth
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Mood disturbances
• Extremely violent behaviors
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations – visual and auditory
• Delusions
• Psychotic tendencies
• Suicide

Withdrawal effects of meth addiction

The effects of withdrawal for someone who has chronically abused methamphetamines vary wildly among individuals. Symptoms may last for days to weeks depending upon the length of meth use. It’s important that individuals who are attempting to detox from meth do so under the supervision of trained medical personnel to avoid and treat any symptoms. Effects of methamphetamine withdrawal may include:

• Strong drug cravings
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Extreme sleeping
• Vivid dreams
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Hunger
• Suicidal ideation and behaviors

Meth addiction and co-occurring disorders

Methamphetamine abuse and addiction often occurs with other mental illnesses. The most common co-occurring mental illnesses include:

• Depressive disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Conduct disorders
• Alcoholism