Meth addiction: what you need to know

Meth addiction | Symptoms, consequences, and treatment

Written by Drew Redd. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.

Meth addiction is devastating the lives of many people in the U.S. and their families. It causes both short-term and longer-lasting negative changes in the brain and leads to severe physical and mental health problems.

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) found that 1.6 million Americans used methamphetamine in 2021, while one in every three overdose deaths involved meth. This translates to over 34,000 meth-related overdose deaths.

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What is meth?

Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. It is a synthetic drug that can be manufactured illegally using a combination of toxic chemicals and ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, acetone, anhydrous ammonia, lithium, and hydrochloric acid.

Meth can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally, depending on the form. It can come in several forms:

Crystal meth (Ice, Glass, Tina) is the most potent and pure form of meth, resembling clear or bluish-white crystals or shards.
Powder meth (Speed, Crank) is a white or off-white powder, often of lower purity compared to crystal meth.
Base meth (Paste, Wax) is an oily or waxy substance, often an intermediate product in the meth production process.
Meth pills (Yaba, Shabu) are methamphetamine pressed into pill form, often mixed with other substances such as caffeine.
Liquid meth is the liquid form of methamphetamine, sometimes found in the meth production process or used for injection.

Meth works by increasing the release and blocking the reuptake of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward. This creates an intense but short-lived euphoric “rush,” leaving users to crave more to maintain the high.

Once you build up a tolerance and develop a dependence, when you try to quit, you will most likely experience unpleasant drug withdrawal symptoms.

Medical professionals at Ardu’s meth detox facility can help you alleviate these symptoms and provide support throughout the recovery process.

How do people become addicted to methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine addiction is a complex brain disease. While anyone can become addicted, certain factors can increase someone’s vulnerability to developing methamphetamine use disorder.

Risk factors for meth addiction include:

Genetics: a family history of addiction can increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder.
Mental health disorders: conditions such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD can make some people more vulnerable to drug abuse and addiction.
Environmental factors: childhood trauma, neglect, or abuse, as well as easy access to drugs and peer pressure, can contribute.
Early use: people who begin using meth at a young age are more likely to develop an addiction later in life.

The process of becoming addicted to meth typically involves the following stages:

In the initial stage, you may be curious about trying meth, seeking its euphoric high, or pressured into it.
As you begin to use meth regularly, the brain adapts to its presence, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. This prompts you to consume more often and up the dosage.
As meth use becomes more regular, your body becomes dependent on the drug to function normally. When you abruptly stop using, you’re in for uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, and intense cravings.
Meth’s powerful effects on the brain’s reward system can lead to a strong psychological attachment. You start prioritizing meth use over other important aspects of your life, such as relationships, work, or personal health.
As the addiction progresses, you become engaged in compulsive drug-seeking behavior, completely disregarding the negative consequences of your dependence. You experience intense cravings and find it extremely difficult to quit, even if you want to.
Without treatment, meth addiction can become a chronic condition involving cycles of relapse and recovery. Your physical and mental health starts to suffer the consequences of long-term meth use.

It can be excruciatingly difficult—sometimes even dangerous—to quit meth addiction on your own. Our carefully devised treatment plans include a combination of therapies, medication-assisted detox, and support groups to help you safely navigate the challenges of recovery.

Contact Ardu and start your journey towards lasting recovery.

How to recognize meth addiction

The signs someone is addicted to meth can vary from person to person, but there are common physical and behavioral changes that may indicate a problem.

Physical signs of meth addiction are:

Rapid weight loss
Dental problems (“meth mouth”)
Skin sores or infections
Dilated pupils
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Irregular sleep patterns
Twitching or jerky movements

Behavioral signs of meth addiction include:

Increased energy and talkativeness
Mood swings and irritability
Paranoia and hallucinations
Aggressive or violent behavior
Isolation from friends and family
Neglecting responsibilities at work or school
Risky sexual behaviors
Legal or financial problems related to drug use
Lying or secretive behavior surrounding drug use
Inability to stop using meth despite negative consequences

It’s not always easy to recognize signs of addiction. If you notice these red flags in yourself or someone you love, don’t hesitate to reach out.

How does meth addiction affect health?

Meth use can cause significant damage primarily to the brain, altering its structure and function. It also causes severe physical and mental health problems. Lineberry and Bostwick maintain that people addicted to meth “experience emergent, acute, subacute, and chronic injuries to neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, dental, and other systems.”

According to a 2022 study published by a group of Harvard and Louisiana State University researchers, here are all the ways meth addiction can damage your health:

Dental problems (“meth mouth”). The corrosive nature of meth can cause severe tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. This happens because people who are addicted to meth typically have dry mouth and poor dental hygiene.
Rapid weight loss and malnutrition. Meth suppresses appetite, leading to extreme weight loss and malnutrition.
Skin sores and infections. Meth causes intense itching. Users pick at their skin, causing sores, abscesses, and infections.
Increased risk of infectious diseases. Many meth users share needles and engage in risky sexual behaviors while under the influence. As the addiction wrecks the immune system, meth users are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.
Cardiovascular problems. Meth strains the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular issues. Kevil, et. al. found that “the leading cause of death in methamphetamine users is cardiovascular disease, because of significant effects of methamphetamine on vasoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerotic plaque formation, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy.”

Respiratory issues: Smoking meth can irritate and damage the lungs, leading to chronic respiratory problems, including bronchitis and lung damage.
Kidney and liver damage. Meth toxicity causes long-term damage to the kidneys and liver, impairing their ability to filter waste and toxins from the body.
Hormonal imbalances and fertility issues. Meth use can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance, causing problems with menstruation, sexual function, and fertility. Despite the initial increase in sexual desire, long-term meth use can lead to difficulty achieving and maintaining arousal and erections.
Sleep disturbances. As a stimulant, meth causes severe sleep disturbances, leaving users exhausted and unable to maintain a healthy sleep schedule.
Cognitive impairments. Long-term meth use can damage the brain, leading to problems with memory, attention, and decision-making. According to Korean researchers, chronic meth use can also lead to neurodegeneration, the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain.
Mood disorders. Meth can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger the onset of new mood disorders. Rawson, Ph.D. reveals that “Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and psychosis are among the most commonly reported symptoms associated with MA dependence.” Chronic meth use can make some people lose touch with reality and become a danger to themselves and others.
Increased risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts. The combination of meth’s effects on the brain and the devastating consequences of addiction can lead to a higher risk of suicidal ideation and attempts.
Neurological damage. As meth cause long-lasting damage to the brain’s dopamine system, chronic meth abuse results in tremors, muscle rigidity, motor skill impairments, and Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
Gastrointestinal problems. Many drug users experience digestive issues, most notably constipation. Meth disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive system, causing painful and uncomfortable GI issues.
Muscular damage and breakdown. In severe cases, meth use can cause muscle tissue to break down rapidly (rhabdomyolysis), causing kidney failure and other life-threatening complications.
Premature aging and accelerated physical deterioration. The cumulative effects of meth on the body causes people addicted to meth to look and feel much older than their actual age.
Increased risk of accidents and injuries. Meth addiction damages the brain, impairing judgment and coordination. This leads to risky, impulsive behaviors and impaired motor skills, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

On top of these devastating physical effects, meth users often face difficult social, financial, and legal consequences. Relationships with family and friends can become strained or severed as the addiction takes priority over personal connections. Excessive spending on drugs and the inability to manage responsibilities often lead to financial instability.

Our comprehensive treatment programs help you repair and rebuild these essential aspects of your life. Through family therapy sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, fostering understanding, forgiveness, and support. Individual counseling and self-compassion therapy will guide you in developing a kinder, more accepting relationship with yourself to fix what your addiction broke with others.

Can you overdose on meth?

A meth overdose is easy to occur because the drug strongly stimulates the central nervous system, which can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. As users develop a tolerance, they may take increasingly higher doses to achieve the desired effects, increasing the risk of overdose. Overdose risk also increases when meth is combined with other substances, such as alcohol or opioids.

Here are the signs of a meth overdose:

Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Severe headache
Extreme agitation or panic
Seizures or convulsions
Profuse sweating
Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature)
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Rapid or irregular heartbeat

In some cases, the person overdosing on meth can experience a stroke or a heart attack. If you suspect someone is experiencing a meth overdose, call emergency medical services immediately. Prompt medical attention may prevent permanent damage or death.

Get the help you need with Ardu Recovery Center

Most people don’t realize the severity of their problem until they’re deeply entrenched in the cycle of addiction. Meth addiction requires professional support, guidance, and a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

When you take that courageous and difficult step and seek help for your addiction, our Provo, Utah rehab center is here for you.

Depending on your specific needs, we offer therapies and programs such as:

Alcohol rehab
Opiates treatment
Residential treatment programs
Addiction and depression dual diagnosis treatment
Addiction and bipolar disorder dual diagnosis treatment
VIbroacoustic therapy
Wellbriety therapy

…and many others that help you beat addiction and ease into a healthy and sober life.

The first step in getting you clean is the detox.

Our meth detox center

Ardu offers comprehensive drug detox services to help you safely detox from meth. Our medical detox program provides 24/7 care and effective medications that alleviate the often extremely challenging withdrawal symptoms. We use prescription drugs as needed to make the detox process safe and comfortable.

We often combine the traditional medical approach to treating addiction with holistic methods. At our holistic detox, we offer:

Nutritional therapy
Yoga therapy
IV amino acid therapy
Massage

These holistic approaches work together to help relax the nervous system, restore balance, and support your body and mind as you adjust to life without meth. With personalized medical oversight and holistic therapies tailored to your needs, our meth detox program helps you transition into an effective treatment plan with the best chance of long-term success.

Our meth rehab center

At our meth rehab center, we offer inpatient and outpatient treatment programs tailored to your needs. You can choose our intensive outpatient programs or partial hospitalization programs, and work with us to find an outpatient program that works best for you.

The inpatient treatment program provides round-the-clock structured support and intensive therapy daily. You have constant access to medical care and counseling and a structured daily schedule centered on healing.
The outpatient treatment allows you to maintain your personal life while getting help every week, on a bi-weekly basis, and even daily if needed. This modality offers more flexibility to continue working or caregiving responsibilities.

Therapies and treatments used in our rehab to help meth addicts overcome addiction include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with meth use and develops coping strategies to prevent relapse.
Motivational interviewing helps you explore and resolve ambivalence about change, fostering intrinsic motivation to overcome addiction.
12-step facilitation therapy introduces the principles and practices of 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) that give you a framework for ongoing peer support and recovery.
Individual counseling provides a safe, confidential space to work through personal issues, develop insight, and build coping skills for long-term recovery.
Group therapy offers peer support, shared learning, and the opportunity to practice social skills and build healthy relationships in a supervised setting.
Medication-assisted treatment uses medications such as bupropion or naltrexone to help manage cravings, reduce the risk of relapse, and support recovery.
Aftercare planning develops a comprehensive plan for ongoing support, including referrals to outpatient treatment, sober living, and community resources to maintain long-term recovery.

These evidence-based therapies work together to address the complex nature of meth addiction, teaching you how to build the skills, knowledge, and support system necessary for lasting recovery.

Anyone struggling with addiction is welcome at our rehab center. Our team will thoughtfully assess your needs and insurance coverage to determine which type of care will give you the best chance of success given your current situation.

If you’re ready to take the first step towards a brighter future, reach out to our admissions team today. To enroll in an Ardu program, contact us online or via phone (801-872-8480).

Drew Redd is the executive director of Ardu Recovery Center and is dedicated to empowering people on their journey to sobriety.

Meth addiction FAQ

What is crystal meth?

Crystal meth, also known as crystal methamphetamine, is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. It’s commonly found in the form of clear crystals resembling ice or glass and is often illegally manufactured and sold illicitly. Despite its intense euphoric effects, crystal meth use can lead to severe physical and psychological consequences, including addiction, paranoia, and damage to vital organs like the brain and heart.

What is the most prescribed stimulant?

The most prescribed stimulant is typically methylphenidate, which is commonly known by brand names such as Ritalin or Concerta. Methylphenidate is widely prescribed to manage conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. By increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, methylphenidate helps improve focus, attention, and impulse control in people with ADHD.

Do stimulants treat depression?

Stimulants are not typically used as primary treatments for depression, as they don’t address the underlying causes of the condition. While they can increase energy and alertness, they may actually exacerbate symptoms in some cases. Antidepressants, which work on different neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, are more commonly prescribed for depression.

How safe are stimulants?

The safety of stimulants varies depending on factors such as dosage, individual health conditions, and whether they’re used as prescribed. When taken as directed and under medical supervision, stimulants like methylphenidate can be safe and effective for managing conditions like ADHD. Misuse or abuse of stimulants can lead to serious health risks such as addiction, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric issues.

What are the 2 main groups of stimulants?

Stimulants are broadly classified into two main groups: amphetamines and methylphenidate-based medications. Amphetamines include drugs like Adderall and Dexedrine, while methylphenidate-based medications include Ritalin and Concerta. Both groups work by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, but they have slightly different mechanisms of action and potential side effects.

What is the addiction pathway?

The addiction pathway involves complex interactions between brain regions and neurotransmitter systems. It typically begins with the activation of the brain’s reward circuitry, including the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, in response to pleasurable stimuli like drugs or certain behaviors. Over time, repeated exposure to these stimuli can lead to neuroadaptations in the brain, resulting in tolerance, dependence, and ultimately, addiction.

What is the difference between a clean mind and an addict mind?

The difference lies in neurobiological and behavioral patterns. In a clean mind, the brain’s reward circuitry functions normally, responding to natural rewards such as food and social interactions. In contrast, an addicted mind experiences dysregulation in reward processing, with heightened sensitivity to drugs or addictive behaviors and reduced responsiveness to natural rewards. Cognitive and behavioral patterns in an addict’s mind often prioritize obtaining and using the addictive substance or engaging in addictive behaviors, despite negative consequences.

Resources

Lineberry TW, Bostwick JM. Methamphetamine abuse: a perfect storm of complications. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Jan;81(1):77-84. doi: 10.4065/81.1.77. PMID: 16438482.

Kevil, C. G., Goeders, N. E., Woolard, M. D., Bhuiyan, M. S., Dominic, P., Kolluru, G. K., Arnold, C. L., Traylor, J. G., & Orr, A. W. (2019, September). Methamphetamine Use and Cardiovascular Disease. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 39(9), 1739–1746. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.119.312461

Kim, B., Yun, J., & Park, B. (2020). Methamphetamine-Induced Neuronal Damage: Neurotoxicity and Neuroinflammation. Biomolecules & Therapeutics, 28(5), 381-388. https://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2020.044

Edinoff, A. N., Kaufman, S. E., Green, K. M., Provenzano, D. A., Lawson, J., Cornett, E. M., Murnane, K. S., Kaye, A. M., & Kaye, A. D. (2022). Methamphetamine Use: A Narrative Review of Adverse Effects and Related Toxicities. Health Psychology Research, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.38161

Rawson, R. A. (2013). Current research on the epidemiology, medical and psychiatric effects, and treatment of methamphetamine use. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 21(4), S77-S81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2013.09.039