Understanding Meth Addiction

Learn About Meth Addiction & Abuse

Methamphetamine, also known as meth, is a powerful and dangerous drug. Meth is a member of the stimulant family of drugs, so named because these substances increase the activity of, or stimulate, the central nervous system. The category of stimulants includes everyday substances such as caffeine, prescription medications such as Adderall and Ritalin, and illegal drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, meth, and MDMA (Ecstasy). Meth is typically ingested orally, snorted, smoked, or dissolved and injected. When taken, meth creates a “rush” or “flash” of pleasure for a user. This rush is a result of meth’s ability to increase the brain’s available supply of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with motivation and feelings of pleasure. This intense experience of pleasure can cause users to repeatedly abuse meth, potentially leading to a damaging addiction. Despite meth’s potential for addiction, however, there are treatment options available for those who have found themselves trapped by this powerful drug.

Statistics

Meth Abuse Statistics

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders estimates that about 0.2 percent of people aged 12 and older have abused an amphetamine-type stimulant within the last year. Intravenous use is approximately three or four times more common in men than in women, though this difference only occurs among users who inject the drug. Data from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) give a slightly higher estimate, indicating that approximately 0.4 percent of the population, or 1.2 million people, have used meth within the past year.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and Risk Factors for Meth Abuse

As with many mental health and substance use disorders, many different factors can influence one’s risk of developing a meth use disorder, such as:

Environmental: People who were exposed to meth before birth or during childhood are at a greater risk of abusing meth later in life. In addition, those who have been exposed to community violence, grew up in unstable homes, have mental health conditions, and who associate with meth dealers and users are more likely to develop meth use disorders.

Risk Factors:

Presence of co-occurring mental health disorders
Personal history of other substance use disorders
Family history of substance use disorders
Impulsive personality
Exposure to meth in the womb
Exposure to trauma
Experiencing community violence
Having an unstable home environment
Being around meth dealers or users

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Meth Abuse

People who are struggling with meth abuse may experience a number of signs and symptoms of abuse, such as:

Behavioral symptoms:

Continuing to use meth even though use is having a negative psychological or physical effect on the person
Using meth even in situations where use may be physically hazardous
Neglecting social, occupational, academic, or recreational activities or obligations in favor of using meth
Spending a great deal of time using meth, obtaining meth, or recovering from meth use
Being unsuccessful in attempts to reduce meth use
Using more meth, or over a longer period of time, than a person intends

Physical symptoms:

Abnormally slow or fast heart rate
Dilated pupils
Blood pressure fluctuations
Sweating or chills
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss
Abnormally slow or fast movement
Weakness
Slowed breathing
Seizures
Unconsciousness
Withdrawal, which a series of uncomfortable symptoms one experiences when attempting to discontinue meth use
Experiencing tolerance, wherein a person requires a larger dose of meth in order to achieve a high

Cognitive symptoms:

Confusion
Cravings for meth

Psychosocial symptoms:

Continuing to use meth despite experiencing significant interpersonal problems resulting from meth use

Effects

Effects of Meth Abuse

If a person’s meth use continues unchecked, he or she may experience a number of negative consequences such as:

Nasal irritation or bleeding
Respiratory problems
Puncture marks or “tracks”
Onset or worsening of mental health symptoms
Polysubstance use, addiction, or chemical dependency
Contracting HIV or other sexually-transmitted infection from sharing needles or engaging in risky sex while high
Malnutrition
Weight loss
Violent injury from associating with drug trafficking
Engaging in illegal or dangerous activities to earn money to buy more meth
Cognitive impairment
Gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth sores, known as “meth mouth”
Heart attack
Stroke
Seizures

Co-Occurring Disorders

Meth Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders

Unfortunately, people with meth use disorder may also meet criteria for other mental health disorders, such as:

Other substance use disorders
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Antisocial personality disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Gambling disorder

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Meth Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of meth withdrawal: If a person uses meth for an extended period of time and then attempts to discontinue use, he or she may experience a series of extremely uncomfortable symptoms as his or her body readjusts to functioning without the presence of meth. These symptoms may include:

Fatigue or tiredness
Oversleeping
Having trouble sleeping
Vivid unpleasant dreams
Increased appetite
Slowed movement
Slowed thought processes
Agitation

Effects of meth overdose: If a person takes more meth than his or her body can safely metabolize or excrete, he or she will experience an overdose. Meth overdoses are extremely dangerous and can be fatal. If someone who has been using meth is experiencing some of the following symptoms, he or she should receive medical attention immediately: