The Truth About Meth Addiction

By Dr. Brian Wind Ph.D.

JourneyPure.com doctors follow rigorous sourcing guidelines and cite only trustworthy sources of information, including peer-reviewed journals, count records, academic organizations, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports and their own expertise with decades in the field and their own personal recovery.

Glasner-Edwards, S., & Mooney, L. J. (2014). Methamphetamine psychosis: epidemiology and management. CNS drugs, 28(12), 1115–1126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-014-0209-8
Jan, R. K., Kydd, R. R., & Russell, B. R. (2012). Functional and structural brain changes associated with methamphetamine abuse. Brain sciences, 2(4), 434–482. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci2040434
NIDA. 2021, April 13. What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse on 2021, August 26
NIDA. 2021, July 16. What is the scope of methamphetamine misuse in the United States?. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-misuse-in-united-states on 2021, August 26
NIDA. 2021, April 13. What treatments are effective for people who misuse methamphetamine?. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-treatments-are-effective-people-who-misuse-methamphetamine on 2021, August 26
Strategies to Support Parents with Methamphetamine Use Disorder and their Families. SAMHSA; National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. Retrieved 8/25/21, from https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/meth-tip-sheet-parent.pdf
What are the diagnostic criteria for methamphetamine-related mental health disorders? Flinders.Edu; Australian Government Department of Health. Retrieved 8/26/21, from https://nadk.flinders.edu.au/kb/methamphetamines/methamphetamine-and-health/what-are-the-diagnostic-criteria-for-methamphetamine-related-mental-health-disorders/
(2019, August). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018.pdf

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Crystal meth (also known as ice, tina or glass) is a dangerous stimulant notorious for gruesome side effects. Read the signs and symptoms, learn how to get help and ask our doctors your own meth questions.

What is Meth Addiction?

Meth addiction is considered a chronic brain disease.

Chronic – because there is risk of relapse after treatment.
Brain – because meth addiction reduces brain activity in areas that regulate bad decisions and increases brain activity in areas that form habits.
Disease – because brain tissues are impacted in a negative, which is the definition of a disease.

(See is addiction a disease or a choice article).

A Healthy Brain Scan

Normal activity in the stritum, an area important for memory & movement

1 Month After Meth Addiction

Meth misuse greatly reduces activities in this area of the brain

1 Year After Meth Addiction

With long-term sobriety, brain activity in this area can be restored

Meth addiction isn’t about how much or how often someone uses meth.

With meth periods of non-use are common following binges which can last for days. The latest DSM-5 criteria diagnoses meth addiction when patients use meth despite causing harm in their life like lack of job, family conflict or even legal issues.

Nearly half of meth users are addicted.Fact Check

What is meth addiction like?

Meth abuse gives intense highs followed by extremely low depression. Thinking about using meth, using meth and crashing becomes your life in meth addiction.

As soon as the initial rush of energy and invisibility wears off, feelings of irritability and anxiety creep in.
Daily life feels like a rollercoaster that you cannot get off.

Things that were once enjoyable are no longer rewarding because of brain chemistry changes.

Meth Addict Behavior

Meth Psychosis: When under the influence of meth, most people lose touch with reality. Meth addicts are often paranoid, feeling like someone is out to get them. Many people experience visual and tactile hallucinations, such as bugs crawling on their skin.
Meth Run: It’s common for people on meth binges to stay up for days at a time taking meth, followed by a dramatic crash.

Meth Addiction Symptoms

The most common symptom is depression, followed by fatigue, sleep problems and anxiety. Relapse is common when these symptoms aren’t addressed, so quitting cold-turkey is unlikely.

Meth Use Symptoms

Increased alertness
Excessive talking

Decreased appetite
Mood swings

Increased heart rate
Sleep issues

Meth Addiction Symptoms

Rotting Teeth
Anxiety / Paranoia

Facial Tics
Depression

Brain damage
Problems with coordination and movement

As well as social issues like:

Loneliness and isolation

Job loss and financial trouble

Legal issues

Dramatic Symptoms

Meth addiction can cause obvious changes to appearance quickly

Subtle Signs

Meth addiction also happens without physical signs like scabs

(See more Meth Before & After pictures)

How Addictive is Meth?

Meth is highly addictive, especially when snorted, smoked or injected. Almost half of meth users are addicted. The only other drug with a higher percentage of users addicted is heroin.

Over 2 million people in the U.S. used meth last year

Nearly 1 million Americans are addicted to meth right now

An astonishing 46% of meth users are addicted to meth

Why is meth so addictive?

When people first experience the energy that comes from meth, they usually want more. Wanting more and more of a drug is part of addiction.

Meth feels helpful at first
Unlike opioids or alcohol that slow down the body, meth stimulates energy. Early meth users may feel “productive” and happy. Plus, meth lasts longer than other stimulants like cocaine. Truck drivers, executives and students use meth to stay up long hours. People justify using more meth for these effects. The more you use any drug, the more likely addiction sets in.

Meth is available (and cheap)
Because meth is made out of household items like cold medicine, gasoline and ammonia, it’s produced by local home labs and drug cartels. A single hit of pure meth can cost just $5. Many people already addicted to drugs like cocaine switch to meth.

5.4% of Americans have tried meth.Fact Check

Meth changes the brain
Meth causes structural changes to the striatum, a part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making, particularly used for regulating bad decisions. Users can’t “just stop.” Meth also over-stimulates the brain, so without it life feels underwhelming.

Common Meth Co-Addictions

Meth can come mixed with other drugs or be deliberately taken with other drugs to enhance the high or counteract a negative effect of meth use.

Drug	Usage	Consequences
Xanax	To help anxiety caused by meth use	Leads to heart issues like arrhythmias or even heart failure
Alcohol	To be social or increase the high	Leads to high blood pressure, increased psychosis, chronic liver damage, cancer and sudden death
Opioids (Heroin, Morphine, etc.)	To get a greater high when used at the same time (known as speedball) or to be able to sleep after the meth high	Risk of overdose or drug-related injury is very high, increased risk of stroke or heart issues including heart failure

Meth Addiction Treatment

Unlike alcohol and heroin, there are no medications approved to help meth addiction and usually limited physical withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment for meth addiction involves behavioral therapies that challenge destructive thoughts and behavior patterns. (It’s not as boring as it sounds, I promise).

The Top Meth Treatment Centers in the U.S.

(Both locations are in-network with health insurance companies, which means any cost to you is a low as possible).

Tennessee

4.5 (149)

Rutherford County Meth Rehab

CARF Gold Seal – Earned by the top 20% of rehabs in the world
A+ BBB Rating – The highest rating from the U.S. Better Business Bureau
16 Published Journals – Innovative research on the cutting-edge of addiction medicine.

Kentucky

4.8 (172)

Kentucky Meth Rehab

CARF Gold Seal – Earned by the top 20% of rehabs in the world
A+ BBB Rating – The highest rating from the U.S. Better Business Bureau
500+ News Articles – Experts here are referenced by The New Your Times, Newsweek and write for WebMD.

Florida

4.5 (129)

Florida Alcohol & Drug Rehab

Access the best treatment program in the country overlooking the ocean.

Learn More Military Click Here

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What is Meth Addiction?

Meth addiction isn’t about how much or how often someone uses meth.

What is meth addiction like?

Meth Addict Behavior

Meth Addiction Symptoms

Meth Use Symptoms

Meth Addiction Symptoms

How Addictive is Meth?

Why is meth so addictive?

Common Meth Co-Addictions

Meth Addiction Treatment

The Top Meth Treatment Centers in the U.S.

The Top 5 Meth Addiction Articles

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