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Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive Schedule 11 psychostimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and assist in short-term weight loss. The drug—known on the street under monikers such as ice, crystal, blade, quartz, and glass—is available in a variety of forms, including fine, white powder and ice-like shards. Meth’s inherent dangers are magnified by the fact that it is manufactured in underground labs by “street chemists” and frequently laced with poisons or other cheap household ingredients in order to maximize dealer profits. Crystal meth, a crystallized form of the drug prevalent on the black market and popular on the rave scene, is known for its devastating and unpredictable toll on physical and psychological health.
In 2017, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that approximately 900,000 people age 12 and older currently used methamphetamine, the majority of them illicitly. Additionally, 85-90 percent of stimulant-related drug deaths involved meth—a record 225 percent increase in stimulant-related deaths when compared to the previous decade. The following national and global statistics shed further light on the magnitude of the meth epidemic:
Unlike the outwardly identifiable signs associated with other illicit drugs, meth addiction produces a number of distinct signs and symptoms that place it in a unique category. These signs and symptoms are evidence of serious physical and psychological deterioration and those suffering from them require aggressive professional treatment in order to safely recover.
Meth’s disruption of neurotransmitter levels in the brain and central nervous system (CNS) is highly problematic. Although the short-term euphoria is causes is initially perceived as pleasurable by users and quickly becomes addictive, over time, meth abuse floods the brain with excessive pleasure-inducing chemicals, creating a noticeable imbalance. As a result of their chemically altered brain, users may experience major cognitive deficits including short and long-term memory loss, difficulty learning new motor skills, and visual memory impairment. Psychosis is another clinical feature directly observable in many meth abusers and may include:
Methamphetamine exacts a devastating toll on the human body—which was not designed to withstand the assault of toxic chemicals often found in its ingredients—even when used only occasionally. As a potent psychostimulant, it assaults the cardiovascular system, disrupting regular heart rhythms, impairing overall function, and creating abnormal blood clots that may lead to a heart attack. Additional effects of meth-induced physical damage may include:
In many users, meth addiction begins with casual experimentation but rapidly progresses to an overwhelming, life-consuming priority. Once addicted, users soon encounter a myriad of work, school, and relationship problems that become increasingly difficult to manage, and impossible to hide. For example, meth users may be fired, suspended, served divorce papers or threatened with restraining orders due to their increasingly volatile behavior. Some may lose scholarships, be dismissed from high schools or universities, miss out on key social or athletic events, or find themselves suddenly unwelcome by family or their circle of friends. Spouses, husbands, partners, or immediate family may find meth-related drug paraphernalia inconspicuously stashed in dressers or glove compartments, or be called from jail to bail out their recently arrested loved one. The following list of behaviors is commonly associated with meth addiction:
Meth withdrawal is known for being a slow, “pins and needles” process defined by three formal stages: the crash, subsequent cravings, and recovery. In many clients, the withdrawal process can last up to 40 weeks or longer, however, the most intense and debilitating symptoms generally appear within 48 hours following cessation. This is largely due to the fact that meth is considered a fast-acting psychostimulant which is metabolized very quickly in the majority of users. It also exhibits a relatively short half-life—the time it takes meth levels datable in the bloodstream to be reduced by half.
In addition to initial detox, where the withdrawal process is medically managed in order to prevent precipitated withdrawal—a potentially deadly backlash effect—clients may require one or more of the following treatment options aimed at minimizing symptoms and encouraging optimal treatment outcomes:
MAT will include appropriate therapeutic interventions as determined by an experienced clinician, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications as determined by the attending physician. Depending upon individual variables such as the length of addiction and presence of co-occurring mental or physical health disorders, the following medications may be prescribed:
If you or someone you love are suffering from meth addiction and in need of treatment, contact a substance abuse professional today. Action delayed is action lost—especially with regard to the ticking time bomb of a drug as unpredictable and dangerous as meth.
Always remember that addiction is not a sign of personal failure or underlying character defect. Rather, it is a learned response to physical, emotional and psychological trauma and/or stressors that can be effectively treated with commitment and discipline. Even in cases where addiction is particularly severe or the result of known genetic tendencies, long-term sobriety and a healthy, functional life are entirely possible.
Finally, remember that methamphetamine overdose is considered a medical emergency to be treated immediately by calling 911 or visiting your nearest emergency room (ER).
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