Meth use can alter the natural balance of brain chemicals responsible for controlling one’s mood and can contribute to depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health disorders. You might particularly notice that your loved one goes through very high-energy periods while they’re using meth, and then is deeply depressed when the high ends. Not only does meth use increase the risk for death, but meth addiction can trigger a long list of other serious problems that can compromise one’s overall livelihood.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to address substance use disorders. While no specific medication is yet approved for meth addiction, medications like Bupropion and Naltrexone have shown promise in reducing cravings and improving recovery rates. Learn more about our effective meth addiction treatment programs by reaching out to The Edge Treatment Center today. Now that you know about the signs, symptoms, long-term effects, and treatment options, you can take the steps to provide support for your loved one or start your own recovery journey. Drug detox is the initial step in treating meth addiction, where patients can rid their bodies of the drug’s toxins in a medically supervised environment. This process helps manage withdrawal symptoms, which can be intense and uncomfortable, and prepares patients for further treatment.
Repetitive Behavior
Meth use can lead to what’s known as “meth mouth,” and cause inflammation, gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. “Doctors are going to be reading about it and may prescribe the medications off-label to their patients,” Volkow says. This clinical trial was successful enough that the National Institute on Drug Addiction’s Volkow says she expects to move forward toward securing FDA approval. Meanwhile, she predicts some clinicians helping people in recovery will begin using the treatment immediately. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, and shows promise in treating addiction-related cravings.
Understanding Relapse Rates
- This process helps manage withdrawal symptoms, which can be intense and uncomfortable, and prepares patients for further treatment.
- People who enter treatment report using the drug in one of several ways, including smoking, snorting, swallowing, and injecting it.
- The drug’s ability to induce a state of heightened alertness and confidence can be enticing, especially for those looking for a quick escape from reality.
- The risk factors of meth addiction include early onset of use, peer pressure, mental health disorder, high-frequency usage, and co-occurring mental health disorders.
- At Reasons Behavioral Health, we believe in the potential for individuals to rebuild their lives and thrive post-addiction.
The duration may differ for you depending on how often you use meth. Researchers found that meth use between 2015 and 2019 increased by 43%. Rates of use continue to rise due in part to the drug’s availability and low cost. In 2023, 2.6 million Americans reported using meth in the past year.
Irritability is another psychological challenge faced by those withdrawing from meth. Mood swings, outbursts of anger, and frustration are typical symptoms that require patience and understanding from both the individual and their support system. Meth addiction contributes to a rise in crime, burdens on healthcare systems, disruptions in family structures, and economic challenges.
- However, if you believe you have a medical emergency, you should immediately call 911.
- Behavioral changes such as increased aggressiveness, paranoia, and social withdrawal are also red flags.
- The goal of any intervention is to get a person from a state of denial or resistance to a state of mind where they are motivated to quit meth.
- Your odds of harmful effects go up if you put meth into your vein with a needle.
When It’s a Non-Emergency (Support and Rest May Help):
It’s a pill approved to treat ADHD, but doctors don’t prescribe it very often. In the past, middle-aged white people used this cheap drug most often. But over the past decade, rates have gone up among Black people and younger folks aged 18-23. Almost 2.5 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older say they use meth every year. In general, people use it a little less often than other stimulants such as cocaine. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses.
The Recovery Journey
You can have physical and meth addiction signs and treatment psychological symptoms when you stop using meth. How you’ll feel off the drug depends largely on how often you use it and at what doses. Usually, people who use crystal meth smoke it with a small glass pipe, but they may also swallow it, snort it, or inject it into a vein. People say they have a quick rush of euphoria shortly after using crystal meth, but it’s dangerous. Meth use affects the portion of the brain that controls rational thinking and emotional response, so it can trigger imbalances that lead to paranoia. In addition to suffering high rates of HIV and AIDS, meth users are often at high risk for staph infection or MRSA, liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer.
What are the Meth Withdrawal Symptoms?
Relationships involving substance abuse often include enabling and other codependent dynamics. Kayla holds over 6 years of experience in the rehab space, including in-house content management at a leading treatment center. She believes addiction and mental health issues are universal human experiences that can serve as important entry points onto a path toward self-realization and well-being. In group therapy, individuals share experiences and support each other in the treatment of substance abuse disorders.
Meth addiction significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and hypertension. The stimulant properties of meth place immense strain on the heart, leading to potentially life-threatening conditions. The vasoconstrictive effects of meth narrow blood vessels, elevating blood pressure and straining the cardiovascular system. Over time, this constant stress can result in irreversible damage to the heart muscle and other vital organs.
Addressing the challenges posed by meth addiction requires a multi-faceted approach that involves community engagement, education, and access to treatment services. By fostering collaboration among local stakeholders, communities can develop proactive solutions to combat the negative effects of meth addiction on society. Meth addiction can also have devastating consequences on personal relationships and work life.
Secure Medications and Valuables
This type of drug abuse can be very dangerous and must be treated at a meth addiction treatment center Washington as soon as possible. Methamphetamine addiction, a serious substance use disorder, can cause a range of health problems within 24 hours of use. Meth abuse disrupts the central nervous system, leading to signs and symptoms like mood swings and erratic behavior. This damage can even extend to brain cells in areas responsible for decision-making and impulse control, increasing the risk of relapse.
The goal is to create conditions that allow space for recovery while protecting your family’s well-being. Many families find that once their loved one enters treatment and starts their recovery, these restrictions can gradually be relaxed as they rebuild trust. Crystal meth is a type of methamphetamine that looks like white rocks (sometimes with a blue tint) or shards of glass.
Chronic abuse also disrupts the brain’s dopamine system, affecting neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation and pleasure. The prolonged alteration of these pathways contributes to the development of addiction and behavioral changes over time. Long-term meth use can cause serious dental decay (“meth mouth”), skin sores, memory loss, cognitive decline, and heightened risk of cardiovascular events like strokes or heart attacks. It may also precipitate mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.