Meth Addiction

Meth (Methamphetamine) is a powerful and intense synthetic stimulant that has an intense euphoric reaction to the drug.

When injected or smoked, Meth immediately produces a rush of dopamine (dopamine controls the brain’s pleasure and reward centers), which is released in the brain and causes an intense high or “flash.”

Due to its short-term effects, many people often use this drug repeatedly in a binge and crash pattern and sometimes will even give up food and sleep while continuously taking the drug every few hours.

Approximately 1.6 million individuals reported used methamphetamine in 2017 and the average age of a new user in 2016 was 23 years old. An estimated 964,000 people aged 12 or older had a methamphetamine use disorder in 2017 and about 15% of all drug overdoses involved methamphetamine compared to 50% of overdose deaths that involved opioids.

After being a widely popular pharmaceutical drug on the market, methamphetamine became classified as a schedule II drug under the Controlled Substance Act in 1971 and addiction declined but in the 1980s meth addiction increased once again as meth became a popular street drug.

Signs & Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Meth addiction does not create a physical dependency, but it quickly develops into a vicious psychological addiction. The quick and intense euphoric feelings that are felt and the changes in the brain lead the user to have a mental dependency on meth.

There are signs that are exhibited when a person is high on methamphetamines. Methamphetamine is known to be extremely addictive because of the intense euphoric high it produces and as a result, it can be very difficult to get clean from meth.

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These are some examples of the signs:

Another consequence of using meth is the onset of obsessive behaviors. People may begin to participate in repetitive activities and behaviors for prolonged periods of time as a result of meth destroying the brain’s inhibitory control.
Paranoia and aggression also often result from meth use, as does the onset of hallucinations and delusions, including feeling things such as having bugs crawling under their skin and hearing voices that are not really there.
Meth use can directly impair a person’s frontal lobe, which is the area of the brain responsible for:
Controlling impulses
Understanding the consequences of one’s behavior
Governing sound judgment
As a result of the long-lasting cognitive impairment that meth users experience, their ability to learn new things becomes clouded, and performing basic verbal and motor skills can suddenly become difficult.

Treatment for Meth Addiction, how we can help

The most effective treatment approaches for individuals who use methamphetamines are behavioral and psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family education, 12-step programs, and contingency management interventions.

Contingency management interventions provide tangible incentives in exchange for actively engaging in treatment and abstaining from methamphetamine use.

Cognitive behavioral therapy specifically concentrates on patterns of abnormal thinking and distorted beliefs that are the underlying causes of irrational emotions and thought patterns that can lead to mental illness. This key concept for this type of therapy approach lies within the idea that thoughts and feelings are directly related to behavior and therefore gaining control of one’s thoughts and emotions can better dictate their behavior. Unlike opioid, alcohol and benzodiazepine addiction, there are no medications that have been deemed safe and effective for the treatment of methamphetamine addiction.

Difference between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine?

Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system by having psychoactive properties. Methamphetamine is a class of amphetamines that are often abused in illicit forms, commonly known as crystal meth. Structurally similar to amphetamines, methamphetamine is much more potent, last longer and results in a higher potential of abuse.

Methamphetamine is also made from harmful household ingredients potentially resulting in worsening side effects compared to amphetamines.

Amphetamines are often prescribed from stimulant effects and are now used for individuals with obesity, narcolepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Common brands of prescription amphetamines include Adderall, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, and DextroStat.

When an individual without ADHD or a sleep disorder uses amphetamines, the drug can produce euphoria and a highly energized state. Adderall is often used among college and high school students as a potent study drug, enabling students to stay up all night and cram before a big exam.