Meth is a powerful, highly addictive central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that negatively impacts normal brain activity, creating a ripple effect on how the body functions as a whole. Long-term meth use disrupts the brain’s dopamine system, can cause or exacerbate mental health issues, and increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, organ damage, and skin infections. Recovery from long-term meth addiction is challenging, but recovery is possible.
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.
Does meth cause memory loss?
Long-term meth use can cause multiple cognitive issues, including memory loss. Brain chemicals, specifically dopamine and serotonin, play critical roles in learning, decision-making, concentration, and memory.
Impacts on learning
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and reorganize itself based on new experiences and information. Long-term meth use decreases the brain’s ability to interpret and process new information.
Impacts on decision-making
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that controls judgment, planning, and impulse control. Long-term meth use damages this area of the brain, resulting in risk-taking behaviors, difficulty planning, and impulsive decision-making, which can all lead to negative outcomes, including continued meth use.
Impacts on concentration
With chronic meth use, the prefrontal cortex is repeatedly overstimulated, then depleted. This results in difficulty focusing on the task at hand, being prone to distraction, and feeling easily frustrated.
Impacts on memory
Long-term meth use also affects short-term memory by disrupting the prefrontal cortex. Daily impacts of short-term memory impairment can include forgetting conversations or where you put items like car keys or your wallet.
The hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory. Ongoing meth use can disrupt long-term memory by both impairing the ability to store and recall long-term memories.
The impacts of long-term meth use on learning, concentration, decision-making, and memory can persist for weeks, months, or even years after recovery, depending on individual factors.
Effects of meth on mental health
Long-term or heavy meth use can cause structural changes within the brain and disrupt the brain’s dopamine and serotonin systems. Many people struggling with long-term meth use may also have co-occurring mental health conditions, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
Meth use can trigger the onset of mental health issues or worsen the symptoms of existing ones. There is a strong link between substance use and mental health conditions, and each impacts the other. Dual diagnosis treatment is critical for individuals living with both meth use and mental health issues.
Meth psychosis
Meth psychosis is a mental health condition that results from prolonged meth use. The symptoms of meth psychosis can be severe and may include:
- Disorganized thinking and difficulty concentrating
- Visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t real)
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing things that aren’t real)
- Formication (tactile hallucinations, like feeling bugs crawling on or under the skin)
- Grandiose thinking (the belief that one has extraordinary powers or importance)
People experiencing meth psychosis often have extreme, unpredictable mood swings, including:
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Aggression
- Hyperactivity
- Restlessness
- Paranoia
The symptoms of meth psychosis can occur during active use or while in withdrawal from meth. In cases of extreme long-term meth use, some symptoms can be permanent. Still, the brain is incredibly malleable (able to fix itself), so, for most, the symptoms of meth psychosis can improve over time with treatment and sustained recovery.
Meth paranoia
Meth use overstimulates the flow of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Dopamine is the “reward” chemical that drives motivation and pleasure. Serotonin is the “happiness” chemical that manages mood stability. Dopamine is like the gas pedal (“Give me more”), and serotonin is like the brake (“Okay, that’s enough”).
When dopamine and serotonin levels are out of control, the natural “fight or flight” response is overstimulated, which can make people feel hypervigilant (constantly scanning their surroundings for potential threats).
“Meth paranoia” is a result of an overstimulated fight or flight response that can make people feel overly suspicious of everyone and everything. People experiencing “meth paranoia” may think:
- Others are “out to get them”
- They are being spied on
- People are plotting against them
- People are trying to steal their possessions
These beliefs may be accompanied by hallucinations that reinforce the paranoid thoughts. As a result, they may hide possessions, be reluctant to be in public, obsessively check on things, or be overly defensive or confrontational in the face of perceived threats. “Meth paranoia” is usually heightened during binges or periods of little sleep, and typically goes away during periods of abstinence.
Premature aging from meth use
Long-term meth use not only affects the brain and mental health but can also cause signs of premature aging, both internally and externally, including:
- Tooth decay
- Hair loss
- Dry, sagging, and wrinkled skin
- Chronic high blood pressure
- Increased risk of stroke
- Heart disease
- Chronic inflammation
- Suppressed immune system
The good news is that, through treatment and ongoing recovery, most people experience significant health improvements that can reverse many of the effects of premature aging. By returning to proper nutrition and hydration, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, exercising, and practicing overall self-care, it is possible to reverse many of the effects of premature aging.
Signs of meth abuse
With awareness, the signs of meth abuse can be easily spotted:
- Nasal damage and decay
- 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
- Extreme weight loss
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
Sleep disruptions are another significant sign of meth use, as it typically involves a pattern of bingeing, called a “run,” where meth is taken every few hours, often for several days. Following a “run,” there is typically a “crash,” during which people may sleep for an extended period.
Meth addiction treatment options
Because it is highly addictive, meth use can quickly spiral out of control and require professional interventions. Meth addiction treatment options can range from inpatient to outpatient care, depending on individual circumstances. Regardless of the level of care needed, meth addiction treatment should include several key components, including:
- Detox
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), when indicated
- Evidence-based therapy
- Dual diagnosis care
- Structured outpatient support
- Relapse prevention
- Aftercare services
Therapy and dual diagnosis care are essential to identify and address the root causes of meth addiction. Structured outpatient support, including relapse prevention and aftercare services, is critical to helping individuals maintain a solid support base, particularly in the early days of recovery.
Rehab for meth addiction in Asheville, NC
Meth rehab at Insight Recovery Center offers a highly structured partial hospitalization program (PHP) that provides an immersive, full-day treatment experience, along with intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for continued support.
Treatment may include trauma-informed, holistic, and experiential therapies that support whole-person healing. We provide integrated care that addresses both substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns.
If you or a loved one is struggling with meth use, Insight Recovery Center offers compassionate care near Asheville, North Carolina. Call 828.826.1376 or reach out online today to explore your treatment options.
FAQs on the effects of meth
Meth addiction can feel overwhelming and unpredictable, but help is available near Asheville, NC, at Insight Recovery Center. If you or a loved one struggles with meth addiction, the time to act is now.
What are the side effects of using meth?
Short-term effects of meth use can include rapid heart rate, paranoia, anxiety, loss of appetite, and disrupted sleep. Long-term effects of meth use can include stroke, heart disease, insomnia, significant weight loss, tooth decay, and more. The longer meth abuse continues, the greater the risk of long-term harm.
Does meth affect time perception?
Meth use overstimulates multiple areas of the brain, which can distort the perception of time, making it feel sped up or slowed down depending on factors such as dosage and timing. When bingeing on meth, it is possible to lose track of days at a time. The distorted sense of time is linked to the overall negative psychological and cognitive effects of meth use.
Can meth cause neurotoxicity?
Neurotoxicity refers to damage to the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain. Meth, especially with long-term use, alters normal activity within the brain, damaging cells and neurons that impact memory, mood, decision-making, and overall mental and physical well-being.