Social withdrawal is another common indicator, as those living with a methamphetamine use disorder often isolate themselves from family and friends. They also engage in risky behaviors, including unsafe sex, criminal activity, or financial irresponsibility, as a result of impaired judgment from meth use. Sleep disturbances, such as prolonged periods of wakefulness followed by excessive sleep, are also indicative of a methamphetamine use disorder. Alta Mira provides insight into substance use and dives deeper into topics thought to be well-known.
Trauma-Focused Therapy
- In outpatient meth addiction treatment, trained clinicians can offer you support in taking steps to prevent substance abuse.
- Unless you use an approved methamphetamine medication under the direction of a doctor, there’s no recommended dose for meth.
- The most common signs of meth use include noticeable physical, behavioral, and emotional changes.
- Meth patients who are also diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders may be prescribed medications to manage and relieve their symptoms.
- Shame and stigma can also have a negative effect on the post-meth experience for some people, notes Vivian Veronica, a methamphetamine specialist.
- Medical attention must be given to a person who reports suicidal thoughts.
- Unlike opioid overdoses, which typically suppress vital functions like breathing and heart rate, meth overdoses stimulate the body’s systems, often leading to overheating and heart failure.
The first step is to recognize any misconceptions you might have about substance use and addiction. It’s important to remember that ongoing drug use changes the brain’s structure and chemistry. This makes it more and more difficult to simply stop taking the drug. The only surefire way to avoid harm from drugs is to not use them. But if you choose to use meth, there are steps you can take to make your experience safer. There’s ongoing research into the health effects of secondhand meth smoke.
The Long-Term Effects of Meth Use
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. Contact AAC at to find out what treatments are available, payment options, insurance coverage, and more. Chronic use can lead to memory loss, difficulty focusing, and problems with decision-making. For someone with PTSD, these cognitive issues make it harder to deal with trauma and emotional pain. Meth use can also cause more severe mood swings and emotional instability.
Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment & Rehab Options
Get compassionate evidence-based behavioral health treatment in Arizona. Using meth can make your skin feel tight or itchy.6 People who use meth may frequently scratch, which can cause scrapes and sores. Dental decay can increase your risk of heart disease, infection, and make you more vulnerable to developing certain types of dementia.14, 15 Protecting your teeth is an essential part of staying healthy.
- Between 2019 and 2023, 24% of overdoses in Marin County were caused by methamphetamines.
- By understanding the withdrawal symptoms that can occur, both individuals and their loved ones can better prepare for the road to recovery and support each other through the ups and downs of this process.
- If crystal meth comes as more of a powder, it’ll have a bitter taste like other kinds of meth.
- Methamphetamine addiction, a serious substance use disorder, can cause a range of health problems within 24 hours.
Look Out For These 20 Meth Addiction Symptoms
- Users who binge on crystal meth can stay awake for as long as 10 days, often subsisting with very little food or drink.
- Physiologically, chronic methamphetamine use alters the body’s stress response, leading to heightened anxiety, paranoia, and sleep disturbances.
- Crystal meth is made through a chemical process that starts with pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold medications.
- The product is “cooked” in a “laboratory” — commonly trailers or remotely located residential homes — and made into a consumable form.
- We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and recovery.
One of the most important steps in the recovery journey is understanding the signs, symptoms and side effects of meth addiction. Detox from methamphetamine is generally not dangerous.2 However, because of the psychological discomfort and intense cravings, meth detox can be difficult to get through alone. Studies also show that the detox process alone is not enough to help people be successful in recovery.
Meth and PTSD: Risks, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Our team is here to provide the support and guidance you (or your loved one) need to take those first steps meth addiction toward recovery and a healthier, drug-free life. Treatment for methamphetamine addiction involves a variety of evidence-based approaches, each designed to address different aspects of the addiction and recovery process. Understanding the profound impact of methamphetamine and exploring the treatment options available is crucial for anyone on the path to recovery. Call to speak to a treatment specialist about nearby rehab centers. Our specialists can answer your questions about addiction and explore available treatments.
