Ongoing meth use can lead to mild to severe withdrawal symptoms once you stop taking the drug. Talk to a doctor or other medical professional for a recommendation. You can also search for a treatment center close to where you live.
Meth Addiction And Abuse
They offer hope to those still struggling and inspiration to those supporting loved ones through addiction. Understanding the true impact of meth addiction requires more than cold, hard facts. It meth addiction demands that we listen to the voices of those who’ve walked this treacherous path. Their stories, raw and unfiltered, offer a window into the reality of addiction that no textbook can capture.
Symptoms, side effects and signs of meth addiction may include:
But their creation turned out stronger than they expected — too strong for most people to use safely without the risk of overdose or addiction. Take our free, 5-minute substance use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
Meth Addiction Stories: Real-Life Experiences and Paths to Recovery
- Using meth can also put the person at risk for a drug overdose, which is when the person consumes too much of a particular drug, resulting in a toxic reaction that causes severe symptoms or death.
- Getting a prescription also ensures you know what you’re getting.
- Stopping methamphetamine use suddenly does not cause a physical withdrawal, as with heroin.
- But what you’ll pay depends on where you get treatment, how long you stay, what services you need, and your health insurance coverage.
- Another medication for meth addiction, ibudilast, may reduce some of the pleasurable effects of meth.
With proper treatment, individuals can learn to manage the possible side effects of repeated use and disruption to the brain, and minimize instances of relapse for a healthy recovery. When someone is taking meth, they are alert and energized, and can stay awake for long periods of time. When meth wears off, however, a significant “crash” generally occurs, leaving individuals feeling fatigued, lethargic, hungry, depressed, and anxious. As https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a result, meth is commonly taken in a binge pattern, often called a “run,” where small amounts of meth are taken every few hours for a couple days to prolong the high. This pattern of use can more quickly lead to drug dependence and addiction. In addition to the mechanisms of physical dependence, there are also social, experiential, and environmental factors that may place a person at greater risk of developing crystal meth addiction.
It comes in powder, pill, and crystal forms and is typically used by smoking, snorting, or injecting. Potential long-term side effects of misuse can include heart problems and stroke, reduced cognitive function, and complete tooth decay. People or caregivers can find further support for methamphetamine addiction using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. A person who misuses methamphetamine may have less saliva in the mouth. This promotes bacterial growth, tooth decay, and oral tissue damage. Tolerance develops quickly, and psychological addiction can develop within a relatively short space of time.
Meth Withdrawal
- When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.Regular drug use changes your brain chemistry, affecting how you experience pleasure.
- Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including addiction.
- Alcohol could potentially boost the effects of meth by heightening its euphoric effects.