Meth Addiction: Causes, Risks, and Treatment

However, consistently using meth damages the brain cells that produce dopamine, which can make it harder for the person to achieve the same high over time. As a result, the person has to take the drug more frequently, consume increasingly https://ecosoberhouse.com/ higher doses, or constantly change the way they take it, in order to achieve the same effect. Using meth triggers the release of large amounts of the chemical dopamine in the brain, resulting in feelings of extreme happiness and pleasure.

How many young students use methamphetamine?

Snorting produces a euphoric high, instead of an intense rush, within 3–5 minutes of ingestion. A person who takes methamphetamine orally can feel the effects within 15–20 minutes. Provides an overview of the latest scientific findings on methamphetamine, including short- and long-term health… You can have physical and 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. Prompt treatment could save their life, and it may also help reduce your risk of long-term or permanent damage.

How many people have a methamphetamine use disorder?

• They remind us of the human cost behind the headlines and provide invaluable insights for those seeking to help or hoping to avoid the same fate.
• Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety.
• According to MethProject.org, the meth addiction factor is extreme—it’s “one of the most addictive substances” out there today.
• You’ll typically pay less out-of-pocket if you go to “in-network” providers.
• Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill.

If you or a loved one are addicted to meth, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. There are evidence-based treatments that can help you live a drug-free life. 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.

How do people take meth?

Methamphetamine increases the levels of naturally occurring dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Methamphetamine belongs to the substituted phenethylamine and substituted amphetamine chemical classes. It is related to the other dimethylphenethylamines as a positional isomer of these compounds, which share the common chemical formula C10H15N. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. In 2021, almost 1% of the U.S. population aged 12 or older said they’d used meth in the past year. In comparison, around 4.8 million people said they used cocaine in the same timeframe.

For example, a person may feel compelled to gamble, despite harmful consequences, without ever using drugs or alcohol. Another medication for meth addiction, ibudilast, may reduce some of the pleasurable effects of meth. There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride (Desoxyn) is the only legal methamphetamine in the U.S. It’s a pill approved to treat ADHD, but doctors don’t prescribe it very often. Almost 2.5 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older say they use meth every year.

• A 2015 CDC report recorded injuries from 1,325 meth-related chemical incidents in five U.S. states from 2001–2012.
• Family therapy, counseling, and educational programs can all help to promote a lasting recovery as well.
• Nicknames include crystal, speed, zoom, go, crank, tweak, ice, glass, rock candy, shizzo, yaba, fire, uppers, poor man’s cocaine or shards.
• You can have physical and psychological symptoms when you stop using meth.
• NIDA reports that meth addiction can also possibly increase the risk for developing the nerve and movement disorder Parkinson’s disease.

In general, people use it a little less often than other stimulants such as cocaine. Meth contains chemicals that are similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Find out the differences between Adderall and methamphetamines, as well as amphetamines vs. methamphetamines. If you feel calmer when drinking alcohol, you might assume it’ll help you feel less restless or jittery when you take meth. The effects of meth can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how you take the drug and how often you use it. Scientists in the early 20th century developed it in an effort to improve the medication amphetamine.

Meth is often combined with other substances, like fentanyl, due to their similar appearance. Professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to determine if someone has a stimulant or methamphetamine use disorder. Someone who uses methamphetamines will likely experience a high with a rush of energy. Depending on how a person uses it, it may keep someone awake and alert for many hours. This program is ideal for educating patients and their families, school faculty and staff, behavioral and mental health professionals, and more. Behind overdose and accidents, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among those who use methamphetamine.

How to reduce your risk of relapse

Users often experience rapid weight loss, severe dental problems (known as “meth mouth”), and skin sores from obsessive picking. Cognitive functions deteriorate, leading to memory loss, confusion, and potential psychosis. If snorting the drug in crystal meth form, the high will come on in three to five minutes; if swallowing methamphetamine, it can take 15 to 20 minutes.

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• It also describes withdrawal from the drug, dependency treatment, and the extent of its use in the United States.
• Meth use can also increase your risk of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that can make it hard to control your movements.
• It’s a free online tool provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
• Aftercare may include community-based and family-based support systems, mutual-help groups, alumni events, and more.
• Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that can make you feel more awake and active.

They remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of second chances. Whether it’s family, friends, support groups, or a combination of these, having people to lean on during difficult times can make the difference between relapse and continued recovery. The progression from recreational meth addiction use to full-blown addiction can be frighteningly swift. Crystal meth addiction, in particular, can take hold after just a few uses due to its potency and the intensity of its effects. Users often describe feeling like they’ve lost control, unable to stop even as they watch their lives unravel.