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Meth Rehab Program in NJ
Meth Addiction: Signs, Symptoms & Causes
- Written By: Amanda Stevens, B.S.
- Reviewed By: Dr. Po-Chang Hsu, M.D., M.S.
- Updated:
- Published:
- Reading Time: 9 minutes
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Crystal Meth Addiction & Recovery
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Table of Contents
Methamphetamine (meth) is a powerful stimulant that speeds up the central nervous system. It consists of crystals or fine, white powder. It is a popular street drug that causes serious addiction and health issues.
Key Points
- Meth is a powerful stimulant drug that speeds up the nervous system.
- There are short- and long-term effects when using meth, including headaches and vomiting, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, and brain.
- Treatment options for meth addiction include detoxification and medication-assisted therapy, outpatient counseling, and residential treatment.
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understanding crystal meth
What are Methamphetamines?
Methamphetamines are synthetic drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. They increase the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to pleasure, body movement, and reward in the brain. This leads to intense feelings of euphoria and increased energy, but also to dangerous side effects such as increased heart rate, reduced appetite, and heightened aggression.
Methamphetamines come in several forms, and can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked. Its most potent form, typically smoked, is known as crystal meth. Crystal meth is usually made in clandestine laboratories or “meth labs” from inexpensive and readily available ingredients.
Around 0.6% of the population has a meth use disorder.[1] Meth is commonly called crystal, glass, and crank.
Meth Addiction: Signs, Effects, Dangers & More
Meth can be addictive even the first time you try it. Due to the impact on the central nervous system and the rush of dopamine for pleasure receptors, meth is highly addictive. Many users achieve a sense of euphoria and keep taking meth to maintain this high until tolerance builds up. As increasing doses are needed, a dangerous overdose is more likely.
Extensive meth use will build a tolerance. This requires a person to take more of the drug for the same euphoria. It also increases the risk of overdose, which can be fatal. Using meth can damage internal organs. It may cause cognitive decline, dental problems, and skin problems. Injecting meth also increases a person’s risk of developing hepatitis and HIV.
Methamphetamine use induces a brief euphoria followed by a crash or dysphoria. The side effects of meth include headaches, vomiting, sweating, and dizziness. Some may have difficulty speaking and remembering information. Some people pass out and remain unconscious for many hours.
The dysphoria makes a person feel so sick that they may not leave the house for days. This can make it difficult to keep a job or maintain relationships. Some may have serious side effects, such as seizures, strokes, and coma. Severe side effects can be fatal or cause permanent physical damage. Despite these unpleasant effects, quitting meth can be difficult due to its addictive nature.
If meth is consumed for several years or more, users may experience liver, brain, and kidney damage. Some people are left with psychotic symptoms that persist for years, even after the drug use has stopped.[3]
Someone who is dependent on methamphetamines may exhibit the following signs:
- Cravings
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Irritability and mood changes
- Excessive energy
- Euphoria
Temporary euphoria is followed by unpleasant side effects that can be residual.
Between 2015 and 2018, around 1.6 million people in the United States used meth.[2] This drug stimulates the brain’s pleasure pathways to an extreme degree. Its euphoria is so powerful that it becomes difficult for the brain to produce feel-good hormones naturally. The brain then relies on the presence of meth to give a person pleasure.
can I overdose on crystal meth?
The Signs of a Meth Overdose & What to Do When an Overdose Happens
Yes, it is possible to overdose on meth, and many overdoses are fatal. Those that aren’t may permanently damage a person’s brain or internal organs.
Signs & Symptoms of a Meth Overdose
A person who overdoses on meth may enter a state of psychosis before falling unconscious. Psychosis involves hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Some may become violent and lash out.
While unconscious, a person’s heart or respiration may stop. This can cause brain damage and death. If the person is still conscious, they may experience intense stomach pain, nausea, and confusion.
If an overdosed person doesn’t get treatment, they could die. Call for an ambulance and stay with the person until the paramedics get there. If the person is still conscious, keep them calm. Once medical services arrive, it may be possible to reverse the overdose.
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How is Meth Taken?
Most people snort meth while some dissolve the powder in liquid before injecting it. Both of these methods create an immediate high and can lead to accidental overdoses or death. It is also possible to smoke meth in its crystal form.
Mixing Crystal Meth with Other Drugs
Combining meth with alcohol can cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and death. Since meth is a stimulant, it is a bad idea to mix it with other stimulants. This can cause the heart to beat too fast and lead to a heart attack.
Is Meth Cut With Other Drugs?
On the street, meth is often mixed with fillers to dilute the product. Fillers include cat litter, iodine, sulfuric acid, and lithium. Some of these substances can lead to severe side effects when consumed with meth.
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What to Expect at Our Meth Addiction Treatment Center in New Jersey
Meth recovery can be a long and complex process, depending on the severity of your disorder. Intensive Outpatient care is often the next step after detox placement. Therapy is an important component of substance use disorder treatment and can help you identify negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to substance use. Understanding your unique cycle of addiction can make it easier to avoid relapsing.
Detox is often the first step of treating an addiction to methamphetamine. It allows you to eliminate addictive drugs from your system in a safe and medically supervised environment. You are slowly weaned off harmful substances and may be given medication to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Detox with medical monitoring ensures the process is as safe as possible. Navigating this time with support is also more effective than attempting it alone.
Many people abuse drugs because of past trauma. Trauma-informed care aims to help people deal with their trauma in healthier ways. Support and treatment resources for trauma and substance abuse help build a strong foundation for a healthy life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has long been the go-to option for addiction treatment. It helps you think more positively and productively. It teaches you how to deal with your problems healthily rather than turning to drugs. It can also help relieve certain mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is similar to cognitive behavioral therapy. It helps you become more aware of your thoughts, especially contradictory and emotional ones. If you perceive things differently than how they really are, DBT can help.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy focuses on enhancing relationships. Many who are addicted to meth have a hard time forming and maintaining relationships. They may also have worries and obstacles that make this difficult. Interpersonal therapy tackles these issues. This allows a person to interact with others and form healthy relationships more freely.
Meth use can lead to many troubling mental health issues. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors are commonly associated with meth use. A mental health disorder combined with a methamphetamine addiction is known as a co-occurring disorder. More severe cases may cause psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, violent behavior, and paranoia. These symptoms can intensify drug-seeking behavior and lead to overdose.
Many people who abuse meth may also have mental health conditions like anxiety, PTSD, or depression. Treating addiction and mental illnesses simultaneously is an effective solution for lasting recovery. You will be more equipped to manage substance use disorders when your mental health is being addressed.
It takes most people a few weeks to get through the withdrawal process, followed by intensive treatment and therapy. Symptoms include fatigue, chills, insomnia, cravings, irritability, and anxiety. Professional support can help you safely manage early withdrawal and restore balance in life.
For some patients, medication-assisted treatment may be available to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms of meth withdrawal. Naltrexone and bupropion are often used for this process. These drugs can reduce cravings and overall discomfort during withdrawal. Common drugs like Tylenol® and Advil® also bring down fevers and reduce muscle pain.
Answers to Common Questions About Crystal Meth
Methamphetamine FAQs
Marginalized populations often use meth, but it is considered a cheap drug and is readily available in many areas.
Meth is addictive because it stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers. Once your brain gets used to this drug, it will struggle to produce pleasurable hormones naturally. This leads to a severe cycle of addiction with increasing doses.
Yes, a meth overdose can be fatal due to more serious effects, including heart attacks, strokes, and seizures.
No, AUD cannot be cured, but treatment can help people with AUD recover and overcome the disorder.
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Experience Lasting Recovery at Our Crystal Meth Treatment Center in NJ
Leave Meth Addiction in the Past
At Absolute Awakenings Treatment Center in New Jersey, we understand the grip that crystal meth addiction can have on your life and the lives of those you love. It’s a battle that seems insurmountable, but with the right support and treatment, recovery is within reach. Our dedicated team of experts is committed to providing compassionate, individualized care to help you break free from the chains of addiction and rehabilitate your life.
Recovery from crystal meth addiction starts with a single step — reaching out for help. If you or a loved one is struggling, we want you to know that hope is here. Absolute Awakenings Treatment Center is dedicated to helping you rediscover a life free from addiction. It’s a journey that requires courage, commitment, and support, and it begins today.
Contact us to learn more about our approach to crystal meth addiction treatment and how we can assist you in taking that first, crucial step towards recovery. Our compassionate team is ready to provide you with the information you need and answer any questions you may have.
- NIDA. 2023, February 13. What is the scope of methamphetamine use in the United States?. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-misuse-in-united-states on May 23, 2023.
- NIDA. 2022, January 12. What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse on May 23, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, March 26). Patterns and characteristics of methamphetamine use among adults – United States, 2015–2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912a1.htm on May 23, 2023.
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