Signs of Meth Addiction
Meth dependent people are frequently unable to stop without a structured detoxification and rehabilitation program because meth confuses the decision-making process and changes the brain’s reward programming. Meth dependence or a meth addiction is a progressive and deadly condition.
Meth reprograms the brain’s ability to release happy-juice (dopamine) in the brain’s reward center. Meth rapidly hijacks the brain into believing that meth is more important than food, sleep, love and life.
Signs of meth addiction include:
- Hyperactivity
- Significant weight loss
- Dilated pupils
- Talkativeness
- Increased distractibility
- Tooth decay and loss of teeth
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Inflated sense of self-worth
- Nervous twitches
- Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
- Nervous
- Moody
- Paranoid
- Jumpy eyes
- Scratching, or itching at skin
- Money problems
- Missing financial deadlines
- Frequently late for school or work
- Major changes in behavior
- Cravings
- Problems interacting with people
- Acting before thinking
- Poor memory
- Disorganized behavior
- Not sleeping for days
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Violence
Fortunately, many of these problematic signs return to normal during recovery after several months. Some changes can be permanent. For example, meth use can prompt irreversible damage to the brain’s blood vessels, which can cause stroke.
Meth usually lasts from about 8 to 24 hours.
Meth users regularly stay awake for several days when they run or binge.
During meth binges, meth dependent people may experience the following side effects:
- Anxiety
- Reduced appetite
- Increased respiration rate
- Irregular heartbeat
- Confusion
- Chest pain
- Anger
- Flushed skin
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
The long term side effects of meth abuse include:
- Longevity-unfriendly weight loss
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Brain disease
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- High blood pressure
- Appear much older than chronological age
- Irreversible damage to blood vessels in the heart
- Irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Damage to the inside of the nose
- Breathing issues
- Malnutrition
- Infections and abscesses
- Severe tooth decay
- Severe gum disease
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Apathy
- Psychosis
- Marked depression
- Epilepsy
- Inability to experience pleasure
- Death
Reach Out
If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance abuse problem, please reach out to our addiction specialists for guidance and support, at (877)-RECOVERY or (877)-732-6837. Our addiction specialists make themselves available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because We Care.
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