According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 2.5 million people in the United States have used methamphetamine (meth) in the past 12 months. That’s around 0.9% of the total U.S. population.
Do you think that someone you know might be using meth? If so, it’s important to know the signs to look out for.
Meth is a synthetic stimulant that’s highly addictive. Abusing this substance can lead to a range of health issues and even death.
Today, we’re sharing how to tell if someone is high on meth, and the next steps you can take to encourage them to get the help they need.
What Is Meth?
Before we dive into some of the telltale signs of meth addiction, let’s briefly discuss what it entails and why it’s so dangerous.
Meth is an addictive stimulant that affects a user’s central nervous system (CNS). The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies it as a Schedule II substance.
Structurally, it’s a white, odorless crystalline powder that dissolves in water or alcohol. The powder can be taken in many different ways, including:
- Smoking
- Snorting
- Injecting
- Orally ingesting
Developed in the early 20th century, meth originated from its parent drug, amphetamine. It was first used medicinally, as an ingredient in products such as nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
While pharmaceutical methamphetamine is still in production today, street supplies of meth are illegally manufactured. These forms are usually powdered and look like reflective glass fragments. They can also take the shape of white-colored crystalline rocks, known as crystal meth.
Both meth and amphetamine can have similar effects. Some of the most commonly reported ones include:
- Increased activity
- Increased talkativeness
- Sense of well-being and euphoria
- Decreased appetite
The main difference between these two substances is that when taken at similar doses, much more meth travels into the user’s brain. This alone makes it a more powerful and potent stimulant. Moreover, meth also has a more severe and longer-lasting effect on the user’s CNS.
Short-Term and Long-Term Health Effects
Besides the euphoric high it delivers, meth is also associated with other health effects. These effects can be both short-term and long-term in nature.
Short-Term Effects
As their name implies, short-term effects come on quickly, soon after taking meth. They also tend to dissipate after meth use discontinues. Some of the most common ones include:
- Increased wakefulness
- Increased physical movement
- Suppressed appetite
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Increased respiratory rate
- Elevated blood pressure
In addition to physical effects, meth can also have an impact on an individual’s immediate mental health. For instance, while it can cause an initial bout of euphoria, it also tends to elevate feelings of depression or anxiety, especially if taken in high dosages.
Long-Term Effects
When someone enters into a meth addiction, their symptoms shift from short-term to long-term. Chronic use of this substance can lead to severe health problems that affect the person’s health and well-being.
These effects can include:
- Mood swings
- Violent behavior
- Cognitive challenges (e.g. confusion, memory loss)
- Issues with coordination
- Paranoia
- Severe anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Significant weight loss
- Blood vessel damage
- Severe respiratory problems (e.g. hypertension, cardiomyopathy)
- Dental problems (e.g. tooth decay, gum disease)
In addition, individuals who inject meth also have a higher risk of contracting specific bloodborne illnesses, including:
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
While all of these symptoms are extremely concerning, they do not occur overnight. Long-term symptoms are often the result of chronic meth use. Early intervention can help prevent them from occurring, but only if loved ones know what to look for.
Understanding Meth Addiction
Due to its highly addictive nature, meth has a very high potential for misuse, as well as significant physical and psychological dependence.
Why is this the case? It has to do with the way meth interacts with a person’s brain.
When someone uses meth, it catalyzes the activity of multiple neurotransmitters. One of those transmitters is dopamine, a chemical linked to motivation and found in the “reward center” of the brain.
Meth quickly releases large amounts of dopamine into the brain, triggering a sense of reward and pleasure. These sensations reinforce the drug-taking behavior as individuals seek to experience them again.
Another reason behind meth addiction is the brief surge of euphoric feelings that occur when someone smokes or injects the drug. Though this wave of happiness is brief and fades before the substance has a chance to reach the bloodstream, it can be incredibly powerful.
To maintain the feeling, individuals will take even more of the drug to avoid the inevitable “crash” that will occur soon after the euphoria fades. In extreme cases known as “runs”, they will skip everything, including eating and drinking, and go on a binge that lasts for multiple consecutive days.
How to Tell If Someone Is High on Meth
Do you think that someone you know or love might be addicted to meth? Understanding the early signs of meth addiction is critical. In many cases, quick action can help prevent the devastating effects of a meth overdose.
Before we get into the meth symptoms to look for, it’s important to make a quick disclaimer. Some of these symptoms, such as fatigue, irritability, and scratching, are not always indicative of an addiction or substance abuse disorder. They can be signs of other health conditions.
This is why it’s important to consider both physical and behavioral symptoms. It also helps to understand the differences between meth use and meth addiction. While the substance is addictive, not everyone who uses meth will become addicted to it.
Thus, we can break these symptoms into two categories: signs of meth use and signs of meth addiction. In both cases, the individuals in question require support and treatment to help them eliminate the harmful behavior.
Signs of Meth Abuse
The signs that someone is abusing meth include:
- Hyperactivity
- Mood swings or outbursts
- Burns (especially on the fingers and lips)
- Agitation
- Insomnia or irregular sleeping patterns
- Paranoia
- Rapid eye movement
- Twitching
- Jerky, quick movements
- Facial tics
- Dilated pupils
- Rotting teeth
- Weight loss
- Skin sores
As you can see, the effects of meth abuse can be both behavioral and physical. Some of the symptoms, such as skin sores and dental problems, are easy to spot while others, such as agitation and dilated pupils, can go undetected.
Signs of Meth Addiction
A meth addiction, or a methamphetamine use disorder, can develop from meth abuse. This condition is characterized by an individual’s compulsive use of meth that continues despite the consequences that the substance has on their life.
Some of the most common signs of meth addiction include:
- Repeated or failed attempts to stop or cut back on meth use
- Continuing to use meth even despite the strain it puts on relationships
- Experiencing frequent, strong cravings for meth
- Missing obligations at work, school, or home due to meth use
- Continuing to use meth despite experiencing negative health effects
- Developing a tolerance for meth that promotes a higher dose or more frequent use to achieve the same effect
Signs of Meth Withdrawal
When someone addicted to meth stops taking the substance altogether or drastically reduces their intake, the withdrawal symptoms can be immense.
The specific withdrawal response will look different for each person. The types of symptoms that someone experiences will depend on a range of different factors, including:
- The dose of meth they normally take
- The purity of the drug
- Their level of intoxication
- Their route of drug administration
- Their previous experiences with meth withdrawal
- The duration of time they used meth
- Their history of meth use
When the symptoms take hold, they can also differ based on the situation. Some of the most common ones include:
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Lack of energy
- Chills
- Weight gain
- Dehydration
- Disorientation
- Social withdrawal
- Insomnia, leading to hypersomnia
- Dysphoria (low mood)
In some cases, symptoms of dysphoria can progress into clinical depression. Left untreated, they can even lead to suicidal thoughts.
Prompt, professional treatment is often necessary to help someone work through the process of detoxing from meth. There are a range of different drug and alcohol treatment programs available, including:
- Detox treatment programs
- Residential treatment programs
- Inpatient treatment programs
- Rehab treatment programs
- Partial hospital programs
- Intensive outpatient programs
- Sober living and intentional housing
A medical professional can help point your loved one toward the type of program that can be the most beneficial for their unique case.
Find Help For Meth Abuse and Addiction
If someone you know is struggling with a meth addiction or is high on meth, you don’t have to watch as they suffer in silence.
There are resources and programs that can help individuals with substance abuse disorders reclaim their quality of life and find freedom from addiction.
At Detox to Rehab, we’re here to help you find the right program for your needs. You can call (866) 578-7471 or visit our meth addiction page to learn more and find local treatment centers.
