Things You Should Know About Meth Addiction
Meth addiction is a very serious and dangerous disease. Learn about the side effects and treatment options.
Methamphetamine (meth) is an extremely addictive stimulant that works on your central nervous system. Meth is used in various ways, by various means, such as: injection, smoking, oral, or inhaled. The U.S. Controlled Substances Act has classified meth as a Schedule II drug. Reason being, meth has been considered to have an extreme probability for abusing it. Meth is accepted for medicinal use and its abuse has lead to extreme physical and psychological dependency. In crystal form, meth serves no medicinal purposes-- it is specifically used for recreational purposes. In a National Survey in 2015 by The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it was concluded that over 1.7 million people use meth. The survey also found that twice as many men use meth than woman.
Physicians have been known to use Pharmaceutical methamphetamines to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as, in rare cases, where it has been used for extreme obesity. Recreational use of meth effects can be powerful and lead to physical and psychological meth addiction. Meth users have said the drug makes them feel confident, extremely energetic, invincible, productive, and their sexual performance becomes quite enhanced. These feelings make the users quickly susceptible to meth addiction, but once the users euphoria wears off, they begin to experience serious and instant negative effects.
Meth Withdrawal
Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter in your body, which makes quitting the meth addiction incredibly difficult, mainly because by using meth, your body has escalated the release of dopamine for an extended time. Dopamine acts like a reward system to your brain and gives the feeling that good things are happening. When the user tries to stop the meth Addiction, the levels of dopamine drop, leaving the user in a dreadful state. Meth addicts are faced with the inability to feel things the way a non-user does. Things as simple as bringing a smile to someone's face is almost non-existent to a meth addict who is new to their recovery. It can take upwards of two years of being clean for the addict's dopamine functions to work like a normal person. The anhedonia state is what can cause recovering meth addicts to relapse; they find themselves extremely depressed with the feeling of not wanting to go on without the meth, so they can get back to that feeling of normalcy.
Meth withdrawal symptoms include sleeping for extended periods and eating more for approximately one to two weeks after stopping the meth. Most meth addicts have significant weight gain because during this period their metabolic system slows down and they tend to eat greater amounts of food. In time, these meth withdrawal symptoms do subside. Exercise tends to assist the meth addict in the early part of the recovery process with the additional caloric intake.
Side Effects of Meth
Meth has an instantaneous euphoric effect when used, accompanied by an increase of alertness and feeling highly energetic, these feelings can last upwards of 12 hours.
Making the following side effects of meth very desirable:
- Intense initial rush lasting 30 minutes
- Higher motivation to complete goals
- Feeling confident
- Intellectual improvement
- Problem solving abilities
Not surprisingly, the wanted side effects of meth quickly dissipate and then begin the unwanted side effects of the meth:
- Erratic behavior
- Violence
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Extreme mood swings
- Change in sleep patterns
- Tremors
- Convulsions
- Hyperthermia
- Elevated blood pressure
- Rapid heart beat
- Irregular heart rhythm
The steady use of meth has been known to also cause extreme anxiety, sleeplessness, paranoia, thoughts of suicide, and homicidal thoughts.
If you or a loved one is tired of suffering from meth addiction, there is no reason to experience this alone. Please call one of our professionals at 1-215-383-2668 for help finding treatment centers,
Sources:
https://www.drugs.com/csa-schedule.html