Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, poses a clear and present danger to users as it has a remarkably high rate of addiction. Its abuse is on the rise, and the damage it does is, in many cases, irreversible. Initially created for medical use and military application, the meth that is illegally synthesized for street sale is what most people can access. Because it is relatively easy to make out of common ingredients, people set up labs in their kitchens, basements, or even vans. Both the potency and risks of meth are high. Meth addiction treatment is the best plan for recovery and a return to health and well-being.
To learn about the psychological and physical effects of meth use and about the meth addiction treatment at Insight Recovery Center, reach out to us today. We can answer your questions and offer you hope for a better future. Call 828.826.1376 today to speak to our compassionate, professional staff.
The Short-Term Effects of Meth Use
The side effects of meth use start quickly. The drug is relatively unforgiving despite the euphoric high that users chase. Meth use almost always involves binging, which is sustained use over days until a crash. In the short term, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Nasal damage and decay (among snorters)
- Track marks (among IV users)
- Bald patches resulting from pulling at hair and scratching the scalp
- Meth mouth, referring to decaying and broken teeth (most common among those who smoke meth)
- Violent outbursts
- Mood swings
- Sores and abscesses on the skin caused by compulsive scratching or picking
- Extreme weight loss
- Paranoid delusions
- Hallucinations
The most recognizable side effect of meth abuse is called tweaking. After a meth binge, the body needs rest from bombardment by the drug. During this time, your brain cannot feel the effects of the drug for a time, and yet you crave it and experience the beginnings of withdrawal.
What Is Tweaking?
Tweaking also occurs when someone suddenly has no access to meth.
Tweaking involves symptoms such as:
- The sensation of bugs on the skin
- Suicidal ideation
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Inability to sleep despite desperate exhaustion
There is little that can end the binge/withdrawal cycle of meth addiction aside from focused, professional rehab. Long-term use of meth can lead to some even more serious long-term side effects that can be permanent.
The Long-Term Effects of Meth Use
Some of the most severe damage done by meth include:
- Changes to the brain’s structure – Essentially, brain damage can result, particularly in areas related to emotional regulation and memory. Memory loss and the inability to form new memories can alter the course of a life. An inability to feel appropriate emotions or control outsized emotions can lead to psychological instability and low quality of life.
- Loss of impulse control – Violence becomes a symptom of chronic meth addiction because the brain cannot make quick decisions, gauge potential outcomes, or manage emotional highs and lows. Without the normal internal checks and balances, that violence can be turned on the self or others.
- Premature aging – On a cellular level, people with a meth addiction age more rapidly than others. The ceramides produced by the body are linked to aging. Long-term meth abusers produce too many ceramides, which leads to physical signs of age, such as loss of muscle tone and the depletion of fat in the face and body, leading to sagging and an outward appearance of age. Exhaustion and weakness that do not match chronological age are also a sign of early aging in those who chronically misuse meth.
The side effects of meth use are severe in the short and long term. Meth addiction treatment can provide evidence-based therapies and the support of trained staff as well as peers with experiences in common with you.
Contact Insight Recovery Center Today for Meth Addiction Treatment
Don’t risk letting the long-term effects of meth dominate your life. At Insight Recovery Center, we can help you learn life skills that will help you return to mental health and well-being.
Let us help you navigate the steps you can take to begin recovery. Call us at 828.826.1376 or contact us online.