Signs, Effects & Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Learn about meth and substance abuse

Derived from the stimulant substance, amphetamine, methamphetamine is an illicit narcotic substance that can be snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked. More commonly referred to simply as meth, this dangerous drug provides those who use it with an almost instantaneous high that elicits profound feelings of euphoria. By causing the brain to release excessive amounts of dopamine, which is the brain chemical responsible for controlling an individual’s feeling of pleasure and overall sense of wellbeing, meth not only evokes euphoric feelings, but it also hinders the brain’s ability to experience pain. With a high that has been known to last for upwards of 12 hours, methamphetamine is highly addictive and, once that addiction has developed, havoc can rapidly ensue in seemingly all areas of a person’s life. Fortunately, there are treatment options available that can help individuals who are battling an addiction to meth overcome their devastating habit.

Meth addiction statistics

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health provided reports showing that nearly 1.2 million people had admitted to using meth at some point within the year prior to the conduction of the survey. Additional studies have estimated that approximately 600,000 people in the United States use methamphetamine every week. In regards to adolescents, the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey showed that 1% of students between the eighth and twelfth grades were using meth. In the Midwestern part of the U.S. alone, an astounding 90% of all drug cases are said to center on meth abuse.

Causes and risk factors for meth addiction

When attempting to determine the root cause for why some individuals are more susceptible to developing an addiction to methamphetamine than other individuals are, addiction experts and professionals in the field of mental health agree that a combination of factors work together to enhance a person’s susceptibility. Potential causes and risk factors that can eventually lead to the onset of an addiction to meth are described briefly in the following:

Genetic: Extensive research on the topic has demonstrated that addiction itself is something that can be inherited from one’s family members. The presence of variations in the composition of certain genes are said to play a role in enhancing or decreasing a person’s level of resistance to developing an addiction. When individuals have first-degree, biological family members who are struggling with an addiction to any type of substance, including meth, they are at a much higher risk for struggling with addiction at some point in their lives as well.

Environmental: Certain environmental influences can be a prominent factor in whether or not a person chooses to experiment with using, and ultimately developing an addiction to, methamphetamines. Individuals who are surrounded by drug use on a consistent basis are more likely to view such behaviors as being acceptable and will therefore begin to use as well. Additionally, individuals who have been subjected to abuse and/or neglect are at a heightened risk of using and abusing substances, such as meth, in an attempt to dull or numb the inner pain that they feel as a result of their traumatic experiences.

Risk Factors:

• Presence of a preexisting mental illness
• Family history of substance abuse and addiction
• Family history of mental health conditions
• Exposure to crime and/or violence
• Repeated exposure to drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Lack of parental involvement
• Peer pressure
• Being the victim of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and/or neglect
• Living in an area where one has easy access to obtaining the drug

Signs and symptoms of meth addiction

The signs and symptoms that may be exhibited by an individual who is abusing methamphetamine will vary depending upon the frequency of one’s use, the length of time during which one has been using, and the amount that is used at any given time. Examples of various signs that may be indicative of the fact that someone has a problem with abusing meth can include:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Chaotic / unorganized / erratic behaviors
• Sudden, sporadic bursts of hyperactivity alternating with prolonged periods of extreme lethargy
• Stealing
• Lying
• Engaging in criminal behaviors
• Frequent absences from school or work
• Change in one’s group of friends
• Alienating family members and loved ones
• No longer engaging in activities that were once enjoyed
• Unprovoked aggressive outbursts
• Rapid, excessive speech or, conversely, not speaking at all

Physical symptoms:

• Significant weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Lacking appropriate hygiene
• Foul body odor
• Decaying of one’s teeth
• Excessive acne
• Facial tics
• Muscle spasms / uncontrollable twitching
• Increase in body temperature
• Development of skin sores
• Increased blood pressure
• Accelerated heart rate

Cognitive symptoms:

• Hallucinations and delusions
• Psychosis
• Paranoia
• Memory loss
• Disorientation
• Confusion
• Decreased ability to use reason and sound judgment

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Prolonged episodes of depression, alternating with prolonged periods of hypomania
• Unwarranted and irrational feelings of fear
• Excessive irritability and agitation
• Emotional dysregulation
• Declined interest in things one was once interested in
• Lowered feelings of self-worth
• Suicidal ideation

Effects of meth addiction

The toll that an addiction to methamphetamine can have on a person’s life can be monumental, causing devastation on not only the user’s life, but on the lives of those around him or her as well. The effects that meth abuse will inevitably elicit will vary from person to person, but may include some of the following:

• Significant family strife
• Marital discord
• Disturbances within other significant interpersonal relationships
• Diminished sense of self-worth
• Ongoing paranoia
• Suicidal ideation
• Irreversible cognitive impairment
• Deteriorated physical appearance
• Academic or occupational failure
• Chronic unemployment
• Financial strain
• Legal problems / incarceration
• Homelessness
• Deterioration of one’s overall physical and mental health
• Permanent damage to vital organs
• Weakening of one’s immune system
• Contraction of viruses like hepatitis or HIV/AIDS
• Overdose
• Death

Meth addiction and co-occurring disorders

It is not uncommon for individuals who are struggling with an addiction to methamphetamine to be suffering from another mental illness simultaneously. Some of the most commonly cited mental health conditions known to co-occur alongside meth abuse include:

• Depressive disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Additional substance use disorders

Effects of meth withdrawal and overdose

Effects of meth withdrawal: The sudden cessation of meth use after prolonged usage can leave individuals going through the uncomfortable, painful, and potentially life-threatening symptoms of withdrawal. Such withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Rapid weight gain
• All-consuming cravings for the drug
• Psychomotor tics
• Hot and cold sweats
• Symptoms similar to that of the common flu
• Extreme fatigue
• Lacking the ability to experience pleasure

Effects of meth overdose: When an individual consumes such an excessive amount of methamphetamine that his or her body is incapable of metabolizing it, he or she will experience an overdose. Overdosing on any substance, including meth, should be viewed as a medical emergency and treatment should be sought immediately in order to prevent a fatal outcome. Signs that someone has overdosed on methamphetamine can include:

• Severe chest pain
• Breathing disturbances
• Kidney failure
• Heart attack
• Falling into a coma
• Stroke
• Seizures