Inpatient treatment is always the best option for addicts, especially long-term users who will have more severe withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient treatment allows for close medical oversight, in a safe environment that can prevent triggers, and relapse from occurring. Alongside inpatient treatment, patients can also be involved in meth addiction therapy programs to help address the underlying causes of their addiction, such problems with their mental health. If someone you love is abusing meth, and cannot or will not stop on their own, it may be time to seek professional help. If they are in denial about their harmful behavior, you may want to set up an intervention with an addiction specialist and gather their close friends and family members. This person may also be aware they are addicted but are unable to stop despite trying to ween back their dosage.
Burn Marks on Skin
We believe everyone deserves access to accurate, unbiased information about mental health and recovery. That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion. We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers. Meth’s effects on brain structures affect decision-making and the ability to break habits that involve harmful behaviors.
Risk factors
- Methamphetamine withdrawal is a slow, difficult, but enormously valuable process that may last several days or weeks.
- The intense dopamine spikes from both drugs increase addiction potential and the chance of overdose.
- It’s important to know when friends, family members or others are using crystal meth so you can be cautious around them.
- In general, you may feel the effects of meth for around 2-6 hours if you smoke it or 6-8 hours if you inject it.
Higher dosage and more frequent use increase the risk of meth overdose, especially when it’s mixed with other substances. The more meth someone uses, the harder it becomes to break out of their addiction. Because it builds dependence, you can also become tolerant of the substance’s effect.
- Constant and frequent use of meth prolongs the timelines of detection.
- Meth addiction is a serious and growing issue in the U.S., with over 2.5 million people reporting use in the past year.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) stands as a foundational element in addiction treatment, guiding individuals to recognize and reshape harmful thought patterns and behaviors linked to drug use.
Now is the time to focus on your recovery.
For example, people who become addicted to meth often develop hyperthermia. This life-threatening condition causes a dangerous increase in body temperature.3 Meth use can also trigger stroke, heart disease, and overdose. Targeted addiction treatment may help people experiencing meth addiction reduce their risk of these complications.
Chronic Physical Health Issues
The long-term effects of meth use won’t appear on the same timeline for every person. Someone may experience multiple long-term side effects while another experiences little or no side effects. Being aware of these long-term effects is still important for monitoring your and your loved one’s overall health. Some people may safely tolerate meth withdrawal without medical supervision or intervention. But others may opt for, or even require, supportive care to manage their symptoms.
Stimulants like meth can increase your sexual libido, and lead to impulsive and risky sexual behavior. Severe itching is a common side effect of meth use, which can lead to relentless scratching and a number of huge, red, open sores, often referred to as “meth sores” or “meth rash”. The chemicals in meth can dry out one’s skin and also induce hallucinations that make users think there are bugs crawling beneath their skin.