Meth Addiction: Treatment, Signs, Symptoms, and Risks

Find Out if You Are Covered by Insurance

VERIFY INSURANCE

What you will learn

• Methamphetamine – meth – is a stimulant drug that’s highly addictive.
• Meth comes in powder, crystal, and pill forms.
• While meth use can include symptoms like agitation, scratching, and similar behaviors, these symptoms alone do not necessarily indicate addiction.
• Meth addiction, classified as a stimulant use disorder, is characterized by an inability to control meth use despite experiencing negative consequences.
• Meth addiction can have devastating long-term effects, but it can be treated effectively.

Known as “glass,” “ice,” or “crystal meth,” methamphetamine is a popular party drug that’s highly addictive. Though meth has been around for decades – and even has some pharmaceutical uses – it ballooned in popularity during the 1990s.

Meth use comes with an intense euphoria that hits rapidly and subsides, leading people to use more to capture that feeling again. With repeated use, they develop a tolerance and, later, an addiction.

What Is Meth?

Methamphetamine – otherwise known as meth – is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is used as a recreational drug.[1] Though rare, meth may be used as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity.

Crystal methamphetamine is a common form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny white rocks. Chemically, methamphetamine is similar to amphetamine. It may be consumed by smoking, swallowing it in pill form, inhaling it, or injecting it into the vein.

The euphoria from meth comes on quickly and fades just as fast, so people who use it tend to fall into a binge and crash pattern and take repeated doses.

Because meth carries a high potential for misuse and serious harm, it’s classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II substance. Though pharmaceutical meth is still produced, the street supply of meth is illicitly manufactured.

What Is In Meth?

Typically, meth is made from over-the-counter cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. These components are then cooked with other chemicals such as phosphorus, acetone, or freon. Once these chemicals have been cooked, water will be added and then a solvent such as acetone will be heated to extract the meth from the concoction.

Meth contains dangerous chemicals that can be hazardous and poisonous to your body. Some of these chemicals that are used to produce meth include:[2]

• Iodine Crystals
• Alcohol
• Battery Acid or Lithium from car batteries
• Acetone, derived from nail polish remover or paint thinner
• Chloroform or ether
• Benzene or gasoline
• Phosphorous, which is extracted from matches or flares
• Ammonia
• Toluene from brake fluid
• Freon from AC units
• Hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid from drain cleaners

What Does Meth Look Like?

Typically meth will appear to have an off-white, translucent, or white color to it. When other substances or drugs are added, it will naturally change colors. Some “cooks” of meth even started adding blue dye into their product to resemble the blue meth used in the hit TV show Breaking Bad.

Forms Of Meth

Methamphetamine comes in various forms, so the look of it will differ based on the form that is purchased. The different forms of meth can affect the way they are taken.

Crystal Meth

One of the most common forms of meth is crystal meth. Crystal meth will have the appearance of shiny glass fragments or look like rock salt. This form of meth is made by dissolving meth powder into a solvent such as acetone or denatured alcohol. After the alcohol evaporates, it will leave behind the crystals. These crystals can be white, blue, or translucent and will be chunky.

Powdered Meth

Another of the most common and popular forms of meth is powdered meth. This form of meth can resemble cocaine or chalk dust. The color of powdered meth will highly depend on what substances and materials were used when making it. It is typically an off-white, light brown, or white color but may come in a variety of colors like green, red, blue, yellow, or pink.

Liquid Meth

While liquid meth is not sold on the street, it has become a popular way to transport and smuggle the drug. The meth will be dissolved in water and then trafficked in liquid form. Its appearance is a brown or dark yellow, syrupy kind of liquid. Later the liquid will be converted into crystal meth or powdered meth.

Meth Pills and Tablets

As you have already learned, meth can be prescribed for certain conditions such as ADHD or to manage obesity. When meth is obtained with a prescription from a healthcare provider, it will usually go under the brand name Desoxyn (methamphetamine hydrochloride). Oftentimes this prescription drug will be sold illicitly and used to get high. They are often sold as small green or reddish-orange colored pills or tablets.

How Does Meth Work?

Meth works by releasing the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nerve endings.[3] The release of these neurotransmitters allows the euphoric feeling of meth to be felt. When meth enters the brain and blood stream a variety of effects both physical and mental will take place.

Does Meth Have A Taste?

Meth has a very distinctive taste. It is often said that it resembles the taste of rotten eggs. This can cause someone to not want to ingest meth and will find other means of taking the drug. The taste of meth is best described as a bitter, chemical-like taste in the mouth that is similar to burnt plastic, ammonia, or rotten eggs.

What Does Meth Smell Like?

The smell that meth produces when it is being cooked depends heavily on what kinds of materials are being used. Pure meth will not have an odor but meth that is produced with toxic chemicals will have a pungent smell. The strong smell of meth may resemble cat urine, burnt plastic, ammonia, fertilizer, vinegar, nail polish remover, or rotten eggs.

What Are the Signs of a Meth Addiction?

While meth is highly addictive, using it doesn’t automatically cause an addiction. Common signs of meth use, such as nervous scratching, irritability, and fatigue, don’t necessarily fit the criteria for a substance use disorder.

True meth addiction includes several obvious signs and symptoms, particularly with someone’s appearance. Some of these signs include:

• Skin sores
• Tooth decay and missing teeth, known as “meth mouth”
• Violent behavior
• Psychotic symptoms
• Mood swings
• Blood pressure fluctuations
• Temperature fluctuations
• Malnutrition
• Weight loss
• Rapid heart rate

To be classified as an addiction, or a stimulant use disorder, someone has to use meth compulsively despite the negative effects on their life – and they must not be able to stop. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a stimulant use disorder includes the following criteria:[4]

• Experiencing strong cravings
• Trying to cut back or stop meth use and being unable to do so
• Continuing to use meth despite problems with interpersonal relationships
• Building up a tolerance to meth
• Failing to fulfill obligations at work or home
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when meth use stops

Why is it So Hard to Quit Meth?

Methamphetamine is an addictive substance. It’s a potent stimulant with a high potential for addiction that can significantly alter the brain. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that aids in regulating pleasure and motivation, is released in large amounts into the brain when users use meth. This burst of dopamine, or “rush, ” brings a tremendous surge of pleasure.”

However, once the effects of the drug start to wear off, users may encounter several unpleasant symptoms like irritation, paranoia, and anxiety. Because of these negative effects, some individuals may turn to meth again to feel better or regain the initial high.

What Is Meth Withdrawal?

When someone uses meth for a long period of time, they may develop dependence on the drug. This means that the body and mind are so accustomed to having meth in the system that they have negative reactions to it no longer being there.

Unlike heroin or some other drugs, meth withdrawal isn’t often life-threatening, but it can be extremely uncomfortable and difficult. The symptoms typically begin within a few days of stopping or cutting back on meth. Some psychological symptoms may take weeks to subside.

Some common meth withdrawal symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Extreme fatigue
• Intense dreams or nightmares
• Anhedonia, a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Severe cravings
• Hunger and weight gain

Medical detoxification (detox) can help with the discomfort of meth withdrawal symptoms while the drug makes its way out of the system. There are no medications that are approved for stimulant withdrawal, but medications can treat symptoms like depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Meth?

With chronic use, meth can cause devastating physical and psychological effects, such as:[5]

• Reduced coordination
• Mood changes
• Violent behaviors
• Chronic anxiety
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Extreme weight loss
• Severe heart problems like pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and heart attack
• Damaged blood vessels
• Severe dental disease
• Brain changes leading to memory loss, impaired learning, and confusion

How Crystal Meth Effects the Brain

Crystal meth has a big impact on the body and brain. As a central nervous system stimulant, meth stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, meth can be more dangerous because a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body and stays present in the brain longer.[6]

Meth is toxic to the nerve terminals in the brain and can damage the synapses where dopamine is released, affecting the mood and leading to dependence. Chronic, long-term meth use can alter brain chemistry, making it more difficult to experience pleasure outside of the pleasure that comes from the drug.

Methamphetamine Overdose

Taking too much meth, or combining it with other substances, can increase the risk of a fatal overdose. Meth may be combined with other potent illicit substances, such as fentanyl, that can make it even more dangerous. An overdose of meth, with or without an additional substance, can cause potentially fatal effects like a heart attack or stroke.[7] Some additional signs of overdose include:

• Seizures
• Confusion
• Psychosis
• Rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
• Lung collapse
• Chest pain
• Death

How Does Meth Addiction Treatment Work?

Meth addiction treatment can vary by the individual’s needs. Generally, meth addiction treatment involves several types of therapeutic techniques that work together to address the physical and mental effects of addiction.

Detox is often the first step for meth addiction. This allows the body to rid itself of the drug while keeping the person calm and comfortable, limiting the risk of relapse to make the discomfort stop. Though meth withdrawal isn’t often life-threatening, medical staff is available to limit the risks of complications.

Inpatient or residential treatment is a typical step after detox. People stay in a facility around the clock to receive intensive care, including individual and group therapy, behavioral therapies, and other modalities. Once inpatient treatment is complete, outpatient programs provide ongoing therapy without the need to stay in a facility day and night. This helps people transition from constant care to more independent environments while attending therapy sessions.

For some people, transitioning from outpatient treatment to aftercare helps with coping skills to avoid relapse, adapt to stress, and build support systems. Whatever form it takes, effective meth addiction treatment addresses the addiction itself and the underlying factors that contribute to it.

Will Health Insurance Cover Treatment for a Meth Addiction?

Most health insurance companies offer coverage that includes the expense of substance use disorder, including meth and other narcotics. Meth addiction treatment is frequently regarded as a type of healthcare.