Meth Addiction And Abuse

Overview:

Meth Addiction: Methamphetamine is an addictive and powerful drug that can cause serious harm to a person’s relationships and health.

Meth Addiction:

The highly addictive stimulant meth can lead to addiction after just one dose. The drug’s dopamine rush is the main reason.

Dopamine is a chemical responsible for pleasure feelings, motivation, memory retention, and reward processing.

Methamphetamine produces a rush of dopamine in the brain that is higher than what is naturally produced. This causes users to continue to use the drug to maintain those high-priced feelings.

Many people who use meth continue to be high for a number of days.

This can lead to tolerance, which means that after using the drug for a long time, a person will need higher doses in order to experience the same effects.

People can quickly become dependent on stimulant effects and the affordability of the drug.

When you stop using meth, it can be difficult to feel happy. Withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and depression may also occur.

Withdrawal can cause withdrawal symptoms that can lead to addiction and increase the likelihood of binging.

Once the reward system becomes dependent on meth, fear of withdrawal and cravings can often take control of a person’s daily life.

Understanding Meth:

Methamphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant, is made from amphetamines and other derivative chemicals.

Methamphetamine, originally prescribed for weight loss and decongestant purposes, was legalized in the U.S. once it was available in tablets and injectable forms.

However, these drugs were abused by a large number of people for their stimulant effects.

The FDA decided to regulate and restrict the drug in 1970 as a Schedule II controlled substance.

Desoxyn is the only prescription methamphetamine drug currently on the market. It is used to treat severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity.

Most people who are addicted to methamphetamine use it in its illegal forms, meth and crystal meth.

Methamphetamine is a crystal powder. It is usually white but it can also be pink, yellow, or brown. It has a bitter taste and is easily dissolved in liquid.

Most commonly, it’s consumed by injection, smoking, or snorting. It can also be taken orally by being compressed into a tablet.

Crystal meth can be either clear or blue and has the appearance of coarse crystals.

These crystals are often smoked. To sell meth for a lower price, many drug dealers will “cut” it with other substances in order to make a higher profit margin.

Sometimes, methamphetamine can be cut with prescription medication, which ranges from antidepressants and opioids.

Due to drug interactions, these additives can pose a danger and increase the chance of an overdose.

Despite the differences in the structure of crystal meth and meth, they are chemically identical.

Some street names for methamphetamine are:

• Glass
• Ice
• Crystal
• Crank
• Tweak
• Redneck cocaine
• Chalk

Most methamphetamine distributed today is illegally imported from both legal laboratories and other countries.

The meth is usually prepared in “home labs” and “stovetops”, where only a few individuals can produce small quantities.

Also, methamphetamine is produced in “super labs”, which are professional-grade facilities that produce higher quality and greater quantities of the drug.

Methamphetamine is the main ingredient in meth or pseudoephedrine. It is also found in common over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.

Meth labs can be dangerous because of the toxic gas and chemicals released during drug creation.

Meth Abuses and Effects:

Illicit use of methamphetamines is considered abuse.

Methamphetamines, which are similar to crack cocaine, produce a “rush” when smoked, injected, or both.

This is due to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters within the brain.

It is possible to feel a euphoric feeling when meth is snorted. However, this sensation does not create a rush. The strongest effects can last for up to 30 minutes.

People who use the drug feel a steady rush after the initial rush. This can last between 8 and 24 hours, depending on how they consume it.

Although injecting meth gives you a stronger high than smoking or snorting,  the effects fade more quickly.

Due to the stimulant effects and binge use, meth users have been known to stay awake for several days.

The most commonly experienced effects of meth are:

• Elation
• Hyperactivity
• Talkativeness
• Alertness
• Appetite loss
• Increased wakefulness
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Paranoia
• Confusion
• Unregular heartbeat
• Anxiety
• Aggression
• Insomnia
• Tremors
• Weight loss

Habitual Meth use can also cause skin sores, infections, and tooth decay. There is also a higher risk of developing a sexually transmitted infection.

Regular users of the drug could also experience collapsed veins.

They are more likely to contract blood-borne pathogens such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis from sharing needles.

Snorting meth can also cause damage to the sinus cavities and nasal passages. This can lead to chronic nosebleeds.

The meth effects on the heart, central nervous system, and brain can be overwhelming.

They can also cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, and possibly even death.

Mixing meth with other drugs like alcohol or cocaine can increase the risk of adverse reactions and overdose.

Long-term methamphetamine use can cause serious brain damage, including to dopamine cells and nerve cells containing serotonin.

Common drug combinations with meth:

Methamphetamine can be mixed with powerful substances. Some users mix or take additional drugs to get a stronger high.

The most popular drug combinations with meth are:

Alcohol:

The stimulant effects that meth can have on the brain can make it more difficult to drink Alcohol.

Concurrent drinking can cause high blood pressure, increased psychosis, hallucinations, chronic liver disease, cancer, and sudden deaths.

Morphine:

For the combination of opioids and meth, people often use “speedball” (a poly-drug combination).

Combining the two drugs can produce a much greater high than any one drug alone.

Speedball can often make it difficult to walk and suppress avoidance responses.

They are more likely to cause injury or harm to themselves and others.

Combining opioid drugs with meth can increase the risk of overdosing.

Xanax:

Anxiety is a common side effect of methamphetamine use. These negative feelings can be combated with Xanax, an antianxiety medication.

This addictive combination can lead to serious heart problems. The methamphetamines speed up the heartbeat, while the Xanax slows down it.

This can lead to heart arrhythmias which can cause potentially fatal heart failure.

Statistics on Meth Abuse:

1. Methamphetamine is a drug that costs the United States $550 Million annually in drug treatment programs.
2. The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 1.6 million people had used meth in the last year.
3. In 2017, an estimated 964,000 people 12 years old and older were diagnosed with a Meth use disorder.

Get help for meth addiction today:

Methamphetamine is an addictive and dangerous drug. It can seem as though someone with an addiction to meth will never be able to regain control of their life.

A Meth addiction treatment program is available to help meth addicts break the psychological and physical dependence they have on the drug.

Contact a specialist if you or someone you love is suffering from methamphetamine addiction. Learn about your rehabilitation options.

Ask your friends and loved ones for support.

If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…

Hope you find this article helpful enough to give motivation. Kindly read our more articles and subscribe to us for staying updated on our all-new articles.

You can also read more health-related articles by subscribing and liking us on Facebook and Instagram. Feel Free to leave comments below for any suggestions or your views on it.

 

Thanks!!!

Leave a Reply

---

---

FAQs