Methamphetamine (Meth) Addiction & Abuse
Methamphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that produces a rush and feelings of energy and pleasure. The relative ease of creating the drug is why it is one of the most well-known illicit substances in the United States. Despite a small drop in meth use in the early 2000s, its availability has increased as the drug is imported illegally.
Addiction to meth can be debilitating, but there is hope for recovery. After quitting the drug, there is evidence that the brain can return to a normal state after a significant period of sobriety.
Meth Addiction Statistics
Meth is a highly dangerous and addictive substance. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 1.6 million people in the United States reported using methamphetamine.
On average, people start methamphetamine for the first time around the age of 23.
Meth is one of the top illicit drugs involved in emergency room visits. Overdose deaths from methamphetamine increased by 7.5 times between 2007 and 2017. Fifteen percent of all overdose deaths involved methamphetamine.
What Is Meth?
Methamphetamine, or meth for short, is a stimulant medication. Originally taken as a decongestant, antidepressant and weight loss aid, methamphetamine was once widely and legally available in tablet and injectable forms.
After wide popularity in the 1960s, meth was classified as a schedule II substance under the Controlled Substance Act in 1971. Schedule II substances have a recognized medical use, but a high potential for addiction and abuse. Prescription meth (brand name Desoxyn) is indicated to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obesity.
Resurging in the 1980s, meth became popular as a street drug. Methamphetamine has remained popular in these same circumstances up to this day. Today, the vast majority of methamphetamine distribution comes from illegal laboratories and imports.
A key ingredient in meth production is the over-the-counter (OTC) drug pseudoephedrine. The product is “cooked” in a “laboratory” — commonly trailers or remotely located residential homes — and made into a consumable form. Meth labs are notoriously dangerous because the byproducts of the drug’s creation process are toxic and explosive.
The two most common names for methamphetamine — meth and crystal meth — correspond respectively with its two popular forms: powder and rock.
Meth is a crystalline powder. It is most commonly white, though it can also be yellow, pink or brown. It is odorless, bitter and can be dissolved in liquid. It’s most commonly consumed via smoking, snorting or injection. In some cases, it is compressed into a pill. Crystal meth is clear or blue and takes the shape of coarse crystals. These crystals are commonly said to resemble ice. The rock form of methamphetamine is usually smoked.
Many drug dealers “cut” methamphetamine with other substances to sell less of the actual drug for the same price and fetch a greater profit margin. These cutting substances may be common household powders such as salt, sugar and talcum powder.
In some cases, methamphetamine is cut with prescription medications, ranging from antidepressants to laxatives. These additives can enhance or alter the effect of the drug on a person’s system.
Signs & Symptoms of Meth Addiction
An addiction to meth can cause various side effects that depend on each person’s chemical makeup and the severity of the addiction. Meth addiction symptoms may include:
- Signs & symptoms of meth addiction:
- Anxiety
- Bad breath
- Craving
- Depression
- Dilated pupils
- Hallucinations
- Irregular breathing patterns
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Low appetite
- Low or no motivation
- Memory problems
- Paranoia
- Premature aging of the skin
- Restlessness
- Rotting teeth
- Sudden weight loss
- Suicidal thoughts
- Trouble sleeping
Common Drug Combinations
Methamphetamines are often cut with other powerful substances, and some people deliberately mix in additional drugs in order to elicit a particular physiological reaction. Methamphetamine interactions can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal. It’s common for meth to be mixed with:
The stimulant effects of methamphetamines can mask the sedative effects of alcohol and lead to someone drinking more than they typically would. Concurrent consumption can also lead to high blood pressure, increased psychosis and hallucinations, chronic liver damage, cancer and sudden death.
People often mix meth and opioids for a dangerous polydrug combination. Morphine is one of the most common opioids used for this combination. The combination produces a high far greater than either drug can generate on their own. This combination of drugs also increases the likelihood that an individual will overdose on opioids as the methamphetamine speeds up their circulatory system.
Xanax is a medication that treats anxiety and panic. People using meth may combine it with Xanax to prevent uncomfortable side effects of meth like tremor, restlessness and panic. This drug combination is more addictive than either drug alone.
Suboxone is an opioid that treats opioid dependence. When combined with meth, it reduces side effects and produces an effect similar to a combination of meth and opioids.
The generic for Klonopin is clonazepam, and it is in the same drug class as Xanax. Both drugs are benzodiazepines that can mask the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of meth.
Chemically similar to both a stimulant and a hallucinogen, ecstasy, also known as MDMA or “molly,” gives a person energy, pleasure and a distorted sense of place and time. When combined with meth, it can increase the likelihood of a person overheating. At a certain temperature, the body begins to shut down, which can be fatal.
Both Viagra and methamphetamines are associated with risky sexual behavior. The combination does not cause an interaction by itself, but Viagra allows for prolonged and dangerous intercourse sessions that may be desired by those taking methamphetamine. The combination is associated with increased HIV infection.
The Dangers of a Meth Addiction
Over time and heavy use of methamphetamine, the body reduces the number of dopamine receptors on the surface of cells. Once the body reduces receptors, even if dopamine returns to normal, brain cells cannot sense it. Therefore, they will be unable to feel normal levels of pleasure. Addiction develops at this stage when a person keeps taking meth to function and feel normal.
- Short-term side effects:
- Decreased appetite
- Energy and decreased tiredness
- Euphoria and rush
- Fast and irregular heartbeat
- Fast breathing
- High body temperature
- Increased attention
- Wakefulness and increased energy
- Weight loss
- Long-term side effects:
- Confusion
- Damage to the heart and blood vessels
- Delusions, or believing things that are not true
- Hallucinations, or seeing and hearing things that are not there
- Memory trouble
- “Meth mouth,” or tooth decay and mouth sores
- Skin infections from picking and scratching
Perhaps the most well-known side effect of the drug is “meth mouth.” Meth mouth involves severe tooth decay, tooth loss, tooth fracture, acid erosion and a number of other problems of the teeth and gums.
Other FAQs About Meth
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