Author: Alex Thompson

Meth Addiction: Symptoms, Getting Help, Detox, Treatment, and More

In everyday language, that means most of the meth will leave your system before the day is done. Some folks may do a “run,” which involves taking meth continuously for several hours or days, often without sleeping or eating. That said, meth can have a range of effects beyond euphoria. Healthline does not endorse the use of any illegal substances, and we recognize abstaining from them is always the safest approach.

1. It’s important to remember that ongoing drug use changes the brain’s structure and chemistry.
2. These negative feelings may equal the intensity of your high but in the opposite way.
3. When you have an addiction, you can’t stop using a drug, regardless of any negative consequences.
4. Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that can make you feel more awake and active.
5. Substance use disorders and addiction aren’t choices you make — they’re mental health conditions that can have long-term effects on your health and well-being.

But over the past decade, rates have gone up among Black people and younger folks aged 18-23. Crystal meth is often made with a common cold medicine ingredient called pseudoephedrine, which helps ease congestion. Because it’s used to make meth, the federal government closely regulates products with pseudoephedrine.

How to recognize addiction in others

Someone addicted to meth or other drugs will not only lie and mislead people, but they may manipulate them. Someone who was once loving and caring may start to manipulate the people closest to them to facilitate their continued drug use. They’ll feed on the concern and love of their family members. They may even beg and try to plead with loved ones and make promises they have no intention of keeping.

When someone is high on meth, there are physical and physiological changes that occur. Many of the changes that happen regarding how the person feels and behaves result from how the drug impacts the brain and the nervous system. Call your health insurer to find out if you need to go to a specific doctor or place for addiction treatment. You’ll typically pay less out-of-pocket if you go to “in-network” providers. By law, private insurers have to cover some of the costs of substance use treatment, and most drug rehab centers accept private and public health insurance.

In general, you may feel the effects of meth for around 2-6 hours if you smoke it or 6-8 hours if you inject it. The high may linger a little longer if you snort or swallow the drug, lasting up to 12 hours or longer. The duration may differ for you depending on how often you use meth. Unless you use an approved methamphetamine medication under the direction of a doctor, there’s no recommended dose for meth. The least risky (and slowest) way to use meth is to swallow it.

If you know someone who can’t control their drug use, ask for professional help. You may have similar symptoms, but they’re usually less intense and chaotic. Scars can form in your veins when you put drugs into them with needles. You may also get bruises around the injection sites or have trouble with blood flow through injured veins. If you’d like to stop using meth, you have options for confidential support and treatment.

For example, you may have problems with coordination or learning. Your chances of getting Parkinson’s disease (a movement disorder) may go up. After the high wears off, you may start to feel bad physically and emotionally.

Physical effects

Meth can become not just a way to get high, but a way to escape from worry, stress, and negative feelings. When people take meth, they may initially experience euphoria because meth stimulates the brain’s reward system. It’s that stimulation of reward centers that motivates people to continue using meth.

If you feel calmer when drinking alcohol, you might assume it’ll help you feel less restless or jittery when you take meth. The effects of meth can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how you take the drug and how often you use it. CBT addresses the learning processes underlying drug addiction and other harmful behaviors. It involves working with a therapist to develop a set of healthy coping strategies. Studies have found that CBT is effective at reducing meth use, even after only a few sessions.

Explanatory notes

So, the cognitive abilities that don’t rely much on dopamine will likely recover first. Mental health symptoms like paranoia and delusions may take longer to disappear. And some effects, like memory loss, are usually permanent. Although treatment outcomes are comparable to that of other chronic conditions, recovery is an ongoing process that can take time. There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development. Before you begin detox, you’ll undergo an initial assessment and screening tests for other medical conditions.

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. This change in behavior is known as meth addiction, or methamphetamine use disorder.

When you have an addiction, you can’t stop using a drug, regardless of any negative consequences. Addiction can occur with or without physical dependence on the drug. However, physical dependence is a common feature of addiction. Methamphetamine is an addictive drug that has energizing (stimulant) effects.

Scientists in the early 20th century developed it in an effort to improve the medication amphetamine. But their creation turned out stronger than they expected — too strong for most people to use safely without the risk of overdose or addiction. If you — or your loved one — are ready to get treatment, you may find it helpful to bring a supportive friend or family member into the fold. The first step is to recognize any misconceptions you might have about substance use and addiction. It’s important to remember that ongoing drug use changes the brain’s structure and chemistry. This makes it more and more difficult to simply stop taking the drug.