Content
If you or a loved one struggles with meth, it is important to be aware of the drug’s potential for abuse and addiction and recognize the signs of meth abuse and meth overdose. Methamphetamine is the child of a drug class called amphetamines, both stimulants that can provide users with increased energy, intense desire to chat, and an overall sense of happiness. However, methamphetamines are different than amphetamines because much higher amounts of methamphetamines are able to reach the brain which increases the potency. Meth also gives users a longer and more sustained high which leads to damage to the central nervous system. When most people think of addiction treatment, they think of detoxification and rehabilitation programs that help people through the withdrawal process and teach them how to live drug-free.
Understanding how a meth addict thinks and feels can be valuable if you have a loved one dealing withmeth addiction. You might not necessarily understand what it feels like to be addicted https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to meth, but you can glean some insight into the nature of addiction. It can help you see that when the person lashes out, lies or steals, it’s not a personal attack against you.
Renewal Center for Ongoing Recovery
They may be driven by intense cravings for meth or want an escape from worry, stress or negative feelings. A high from meth can be very long-lasting compared to other stimulants. This rush is followed by a longer-lasting high that can persist forup to 16 hours. With sustained use, a meth user can develop a tolerance to it. The user may take increasingly higher doses of meth trying to catch that high she first experienced. For example a user may have started by taking a pill, but as she develops a tolerance she may begin injecting it.
These sores start with scabs or lesions that users will often pick at because they feel like something is crawling under their skin. Methamphetamine overdose occurs when a person abuses a large, or more potent than expected, amount of methamphetamines. An overdose of methamphetamine will occur at differing amounts for each individual based upon sensitivity to the drug. Odds are, your loved one didn’t wake up and intend to develop a meth addiction. The daily life of someone struggling with meth addiction is filled with constant and extreme ups and downs.
Types of Meth Addiction Treatment
“Whether you have a history of drug addiction or not, has not bearing on whether you get addicted to this drug,” Staley tells FRONTLINE. “It is Russian roulette, pure and simple. And for a large portion of those who try it, their lives get destroyed.” Get additional information on meth addiction treatment options. Skin sores and infections from picking, tooth decay and “meth mouth,” and increased meth addiction risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease are other common consequences of habitual Meth use. People who regularly inject the drug may also suffer from collapsed veins and are at a higher risk of contracting blood-borne pathogenic diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis due to shared needles. Methamphetamine is a Central Nervous System Stimulant made from Amphetamine and other chemicals.
Methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth, speed, or crack, is a powerful stimulant drug. Be on the lookout for your loved one to cycle between the extreme highs and lows mentioned above. If you’re noticing mood swings and extreme behaviors, it might be time to reach out and find help.