Author: John Carter
Crystal Meth: Signs of Use and Addiction
If you know someone who can’t control their drug use, ask for professional help. The chances you’ll take too much meth are higher if you inject meth, but harmful or life-threatening health problems can happen no matter what method you use. You can have a toxic or deadly reaction when you take too much meth. The risks of overdose are higher when you mix the drug with opioids or other stimulants such as cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines. The only surefire way to avoid harm from drugs is to not use them. But if you choose to use meth, there are steps you can take to make your experience safer.
Unlike medication regulated by the government, there’s no way to know what’s in drugs made in illegal labs. And meth makers commonly “cut” their products with strong chemicals or medications (such as fentanyl or other opioids) to save money. 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. The high may linger a little longer if you snort or swallow the drug, lasting up to 12 hours or longer.
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Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard is an independent drug journalist and transgender critic. She was formerly a staff writer at Filter, one of the only online journalistic publications dedicated to covering harm reduction.
- Of course, the aim is to clear the last molecule of the drug from the body.
- Meth addiction can induce symptoms of withdrawal, a set of health problems that can linger for days.
- The effects of meth use can be felt long after a person stops using the drug.
- Meth is typically a white pill or powder that doesn’t have a smell but tastes bitter.
The person who has a methamphetamine relapse is usually so filled with guilt and shame that they try to hide in the next hit. There’s a reason that drug and alcohol users continue going to meetings long after their last use. It’s easy to have a methamphetamine relapse and take that first hit, no matter how long a user has been clean and sober. Telling yourself that just one time won’t get me back into using is a self-deceit.
Depression and Unease: Seven to 10 days
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Unfortunately, there is no “miracle” medication for crystal meth addiction that can make a comedown easy or erase the effects instantly. It takes time and effort for an addict to feel better again. Most of the approaches to addiction recovery from this drug are supportive in nature. The aim is to improve the addict’s general health and nutritional status. By law, private insurers have to cover some of the costs of substance use treatment, and most drug rehab centers accept private and public health insurance.
If you use meth on a regular basis, it can change your brain’s dopamine system. For example, you may have problems with coordination or learning. Your chances of getting Parkinson’s disease (a movement disorder) may go up.
This is because the drug is highly addictive due to its influence on dopamine production in the body and the long-lasting euphoric high it provides. The first euphoric feeling that methamphetamine provides individuals can never truly be repeated, leaving many users on a continual chase for a high that can never be experienced again. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.
No medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating meth addiction. But some pharmacological treatments have shown promise in reducing meth use. A 2005 study published in the journal Addiction indicated that amphetamine users can experience depression about seven to 10 days into withdrawal. Symptoms of depression may continue into the second and third weeks of withdrawal, but they usually end within the first two weeks. Methamphetamine creates an intense high that lasts five to 30 minutes, and the lingering effects can last up to 12 hours.
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Inpatient programs are typically the most expensive, costing anywhere from $5,000 to $80,000. But what you’ll pay depends on where you get treatment, how long you stay, what services you need, and your health insurance coverage. If you or a loved one are currently struggling with crystal meth addiction, there is hope and a road to recovery waiting to be started at the Windward Way Recovery Treatment Center.
But others may opt for, or even require, supportive care to manage their symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are “also dependent on individual brain chemistry, so each person can experience withdrawal differently,” Acheson says. He also notes that there isn’t a lot of human data regarding what happens during meth withdrawal, which makes it hard to give a general timeline. Methamphetamine withdrawal starts within the first two days after the last dose of the drug was taken. Moreover, the process can last from a few weeks or can continue up to three months. Most users tend to take the drug consistently to sustain feelings of euphoria and avoid symptoms of withdrawal.
Timeline of Crystal Meth Withdrawal
Most meth withdrawal symptoms peak 1 or 2 days after stopping consumption and go away within 7 days. A small 2005 study found that some low-level symptoms may continue for up to 2 weeks, though. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. Withdrawal of methamphetamine after long-term abuse results in an inability to feel pleasure because of a lack of dopamine and dopamine receptors. It can take up to two years to restore dopamine balance in the addict’s brain.
But, when done with the guidance of trained health professionals at a treatment center, recovery can always be achieved. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that meth withdrawal symptoms can alter a person’s emotions. While going through meth withdrawal during detox, people often become angry, nervous or anxious. Some may experience severe mental health problems such as depression or meth psychosis. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers.