If you have serious psychological symptoms, you may hurt yourself or someone else. Medical detox can help you manage your withdrawal symptoms comfortably and in a safe place, lessening your chances of relapse. You can have physical and psychological symptoms when you stop using meth.
Immediate Side Effects Of Meth Use
When someone misuses meth by combining it with alcohol or other drugs, they can expect to experience side effects from each substance. Polysubstance use increases the risk of adverse long-term effects. Additionally, noticeable physical and psychological changes may also occur in someone with a methamphetamine addiction. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it may be time to seek treatment. If you are concerned that you or a loved one are addicted to meth, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is here to help you learn more about meth addiction treatment.
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Some people abuse this drug due to the wave of euphoria it can produce, which has been described as a feeling of well-being and intense happiness. It’s okay to feel uncertain about what to do next; that’s exactly why we’re here. At Illinois Recovery Center, our team of professionals can create personalized treatment programs that address the complex nature of meth addiction. For some, misusing methamphetamine is a way to cope with a mental health condition. Stimulants may temporarily make someone with depression feel happier and have more energy.
Crystal Meth FAQs
Meth puts immense stress on the heart by narrowing blood vessels, raising blood pressure, and significantly increasing heart rate. Left unchecked, this can lead to life-threatening emergencies like stroke and heart attack. One of the most terrifying effects of meth addiction is how it changes someone’s personality.
- CBT addresses the learning processes underlying drug addiction and other harmful behaviors.
- Because of this, meth users develop sores that don’t easily heal.
- If not treated immediately, an overdose can result in organ failure and possibly even death.
How to reduce your risk of relapse
In this article we will explore the symptoms and causes of meth addiction, how doctors diagnose and treat it, and when to speak with a healthcare professional. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for meth addiction professional medical care or legal consultation. Alcohol could potentially boost the effects of meth by heightening its euphoric effects.
- This means that you can pay a $100 fine or visit an addiction recovery center instead of spending time in jail.
- Treatment focuses on relieving withdrawal symptoms and behavioral therapies that help a person identify and manage situations and behaviors that may have led to them using meth.
- This is followed by an intense “crash”, where users can feel symptoms of withdrawal for several days.
- The AFP emphasized the significant economic and social damages caused by international drug trafficking networks.
- However, recreational use of meth is illegal because it is a highly addictive drug that impairs brain function and changes the person’s thoughts and actions.
Meth use can also increase your risk of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that can make it hard to control your movements. If you inject meth with a needle, you also have a higher risk of contracting bloodborne viruses like hepatitis C. Meth produces more reward chemicals than your brain can fully handle. It sends your brain’s dopamine levels into the stratosphere, so to speak.
When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.Regular drug use changes your brain chemistry, affecting how you experience pleasure. This can make it difficult to simply stop using the drug once you’ve started. Dependence refers to a physical state in which your body is dependent on the drug. With drug dependence, you need more and more of the substance to achieve the same effect (tolerance).
You may have to take more of the drug to get the same high, and you can overdose on meth. When someone has a meth addiction, it may seem like they will never be able to regain control over their life again. Fortunately, addiction treatment programs are available to help someone break their dependence on the drug. If you or a loved one needs help to stop misusing methamphetamine, contact a treatment provider today and learn about your rehab options. In fact, it is a man-made drug that was originally developed in the early 20th century for medical purposes and was used as a nasal decongestant in inhalers to treat respiratory conditions. One of the most striking effects of meth is the change in the physical appearance of meth users.