Is Meth Addictive?

Before you can understand what meth is capable of, you need to know exactly what meth is.

WHAT IS METH?

Methamphetamine, more commonly referred to as "meth," is a highly powerful stimulant which mostly affects your central nervous system. Among many other terms it is also known as blue, ice, or crystal. Although it can come in many different forms, it typically takes the form of a crystalline, white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder that is soluble in water or alcohol.

Methamphetamine can be taken in a range of forms, such as by smoking, snorting, injection or oral ingestion.

POSSIBLE SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS TAKING METH

The following are possible signs you can check to determine if someone you know is taking meth:

• Borrowing money often, selling possessions, or stealing;

• Not caring about personal appearance;

• Obsessively picking at hair or skin;

• Loss of appetite and weight loss;

• Jerky, erratic movement, animated or exaggerated mannerisms, and constant talking; and

• Rapid eye movement

IS METH PHYSICALLY ADDICTIVE?

The short answer is: yes, Meth is physically addictive as it is a narcotic and an illegal substance that is often abused.

The long answer is that Methamphetamine interacts with and alters your brain chemistry. Regardless of how you administer the drug, it inevitably finds its way into your bloodstream. The stimulant acts upon your body’s central nervous system and increases your dopamine levels. The body and brain become addicted as the drug activates pleasure sensors, which ultimately leads to users becoming dependent upon the drug to function properly.

METH OVERDOSE

Meth addiction is very dangerous as it can be a slippery slope towards a meth overdose.

The signs you can look for to spot an acute meth overdose are as follows:

• Altered mental status;

• Enlarged pupils;

• Chest pains;

• Difficulty breathing;

• High blood pressure;

• Heart attack;

• High body temperature;

• Stomach pain; and

• Kidney failure

In the event of a meth overdose, you can undergo an altered mental status which may include psychotic episodes, irritability, or being suicidal. In severe cases, a person may experience seizures or even end up in a coma.

Another way to overdose on meth is what you call a chronic overdose. This applies to the long-term health effects accrued by the use of methamphetamine. Chronic abuse of meth may lead to:

1. Severe sleep disturbances; and

2. Extreme mood changes (e.g. anxiety and violent outbursts)

METH WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

According to a study by Zorick, et.al. (2011), subjects who abused meth exhibited a wide range in severity of depressive symptoms, with the average score at a mild to moderate level of severity. Also common were signs of insanity. Although depressive and psychotic symptoms were mostly resolved within a week of abstinence, desire did not decrease dramatically from the period of initiating abstinence until the second week, and only persisted down to the fifth week at a reduced amount.

Some physical symptoms of meth withdrawal are as follows:

• Headaches;

• Irregular heartbeat;

• Constipation;

• Diarrhea;

• Muscle or joint pain; and

• Red/itching eyes

Some emotional symptoms:

• Anger;

• Anxiousness/nervousness;

• Depressed;

• Loss of interest or pleasure; and

• Restlessness

Some functional symptoms:

• Poor concentration;

• Poor memory;

• Sleep difficulties; and

• Tired or low energy

HOW CAN YOU TREAT METH ADDICTION?

Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral and contingency management approaches, are the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction at this point in time.

In cognitive-behavioral therapy, patients are directed to understand, stop and deal with circumstances that can cause abuse of the medication. This approach focuses on helping individuals to rationalize how their emotions influence their feelings and behaviors. This approach also allows patients to recognise the causes of their opioid addiction and to develop a strategy for the prevention of relapses.

Additionally, doctors can prescribe you the following medication as these are proven to be effective in positively curbing meth intake:

1. Modafinil. Modafinil is a drug that can provide cognitive benefits in patients with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) and schizophrenia, influencing memory as well as motor, attention and executive functions in healthy adults. In methamphetamine-dependent patients, Modafinil can be a cognitive enhancer and may therefore have the ability to increase the response to behavioral therapies. Modafinil has been cited as a suitable treatment to minimize the pursuit and craving of stimulant drugs because of its poor stimulant properties.

2. Bupropion. Bupropion is an antidepressant that has also been licensed as a cessation treatment for smoking. It is an inhibitor of monoamine absorption with stimulant-like effects in animals. It prevents re-uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, increases dopamine in the synaptic cleft after blocking presynaptic DAT, and targets both norepinephrine transporter (NET) and nicotinic receptors. Bupropion may be successful in treating withdrawal symptoms and cognitive deficits in early methamphetamine abstinence by restoring depleted concentrations of monoamines, thereby decreasing methamphetamine usage.

3. Dextroamphetamine. In the SR d-amphetamine group, administration of Dextroamphetamine improved retention and a lower degree of dependency. This research offers tentative proof that methamphetamine dependency could be an appropriate treatment choice for SR d-amphetamine.

4. Risperidone. In combination with Risperidone treatment, methamphetamine use reduced and the drug was well tolerated.

5. Immunotherapies. Be it aggressive immunization (vaccines) or passive administration of anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies (AMMA), immunotherapy is a revolutionary opioid addiction management technique. Vaccines can be effective in blocking the effects of substance addiction[118] and have benefits over traditional medicines because they do not have any direct psychoactive effects or liability for addiction. Its impact will continue for months, effectively enhancing patient adherence to care.

BEAT METH ADDICTION TODAY

Here at Recovery Blvd, we will have the best treatment for methamphetamine addiction: therapy and guidance. Our treatment center is aimed at helping you deal with drug abuse and hopefully guiding you to leave it behind fully.

Among our high quality programs are:

1. Advanced Relapse Prevention;

2. Substance Abuse Counseling; and

3. Recovery Crossfit.

With us, you can build the right foundation and receive the best care. At Recovery Blvd, you can have the promising future you deserve, not just for yourself, but for your loved ones as well.

Embark on the journey towards rehabilitation now by calling us at (866) 231-3007. Visit Recovery Blvd drug rehab center in 1316 SE 12th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. We proudly serving the Portland, Hillsboro, and Gresham, OR areas.