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Short-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Use

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Methamphetamine is one of the most potent and addictive stimulants used in America today. In the short-term, methamphetamine use can cause a rush or euphoric state and surges of energy. These pleasurable effects drive the use of this drug. But even intermittent, recreational use can quickly become an addiction or a fatal overdose. The strongest forms of meth are produced in illegal laboratories. These versions take the form of a powder, referred to as “crystal; a glass-like crystal, referred to as “glass,” or a bluish-white rock, referred to as “ice.”Man feeling short-term effects of meth

In addition to these illicit versions, methamphetamine is produced as a prescription drug for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. These medications take the form of a pill and are prescribed quite rarely. The prescribed version, Desoxyn, isn’t nearly as strong as illicit meth. Despite this, this medication is still diverted and used.

Methamphetamine users smoke, snort, inject or swallow the drug. The sensation produced by smoking the drug is frequently referred to as “amping.” No matter how this drug is consumed, it has the potential to form a strong physical dependence and addiction. Meth can also form an intense psychological addiction. The best programs understand this dual effect and create a treatment plan which addresses both facets of addiction.

If you or a loved one is struggling with meth use, Vertava Health’s meth addiction treatment can help. Contact us at 844.470.0410 to learn more about our treatment options.

The Short-Term Effects of Meth

The short-term effects of methamphetamines occur quickly, stimulating the central nervous system (CNS) to produce heightened physical and mental activity. Peak euphoric states are felt for five to 30 minutes, though individuals may feel certain feel-good effects for as long as six to 12 hours.

Compared to other stimulant drugs like amphetamine, the effects of meth last longer and are felt more strongly. This combination makes meth very attractive to recreational drug users. But even in the short term, meth places a user’s body and brain under considerable strain.

Short-term effects of meth use include:

  • Appetite suppression
  • Bursts of energy
  • Dilated pupils
  • Dry mouth
  • Euphoria and rush
  • Excessive sweating
  • Extreme wakefulness
  • Greater attention
  • Headaches
  • Increased activity
  • Irritability
  • Sleeplessness
  • Talkativeness
  • Unpleasant breath
  • Unsafe sex

As a person’s CNS is stimulated, it speeds up. This is why meth is often referred to as an “upper.” When the CNS goes into overdrive, a person’s blood pressure, breathing, heart, and temperature rates begin to climb. The heart rate may also become irregular.

Methamphetamine can cause a person to act in unexpected and strange ways. Some individuals may become extremely paranoid, believing that everyone is out to get them.

As meth makes a person more active, certain activities may be hard to control. Some individuals will begin to engage in repetitive and pointless tasks. People may also encounter uncontrollable physical movements, such as tremors or jaw clenching.

The Binge and Crash Cycle of Meth Use

Even though a handful of pleasurable effects remain for hours after using meth, the high fades rather quickly. To avoid this, many meth users take the drug repeatedly. This behavior is called binging.

While the high from meth can be extreme, the low which follows can be equally intense. This up-and-down cycle is referred to as a “binge and crash” pattern. During the low, an individual may be overwhelmed by severe depression. To avoid this and other unpleasant feelings, many meth users use the drug in an extreme form of binging, termed a “run.”

During a run, a person takes meth every few hours for an extended period of time. Within this period, most people refrain from eating or sleeping, the results of which can cause long-term damage. A run may last for several days.

What Does “Tweaking” on Meth Mean?

A person may not sleep for between three and 15 days while on a run. This is one of the most dangerous periods of short-term meth use. At this time a person will likely become highly irritable and paranoid.

A large amount of this irritability comes from the tweaker’s inability to achieve the sensations of their original high. What follows can be unpredictable, erratic behavior, which results in violence, crime, domestic disturbances, and car accidents.

Physical signs of tweaking include:

  • Fast, jerky movements
  • A quivering voice
  • Rapid eye movements
  • Shaking

Tweaking is dangerous and can even be fatal. Since a person on a run is not likely to sleep or eat, extreme physical strain can result in stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, exhaustion, and death.

Meth Intoxication and Organ Damage

Meth intoxication can cause a person’s body temperature to climb to dangerously high levels. This state is referred to as hyperthermia. Hyperthermia has been shown to cause brain and organ damage.

These extreme temperatures place the brain under immense pressure. As a result, the blood-brain barrier may begin to leak. The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from toxins and pathogens which reside throughout the body. Should this barrier be crossed, these harmful agents could begin to attack a person’s brain. Hyperthermia can also cause brain edema or swelling and fluid retention in the brain.

The liver is hit particularly hard by these rising temperatures. Acute liver toxicity, liver damage, and liver necrosis (death of the liver cells) may result from acute meth intoxication. As the body’s temperature rises, muscle damage, vascular damage, and a weakened immune system may also occur.

Short-Term Effects Of Meth and Death

Short-term use of meth can be life-threatening. This is because meth has unique properties which allow it to cross the blood-brain barrier quickly and efficiently. This action is partly why meth is so potent and long-lasting.

It can be very dangerous to experiment with meth. Even a single dose can cause intense physical harm, overdose, or death. Short-term use of meth has been linked to seizures and increased rates of sudden death.

Symptoms of overdose from meth include:

  • Agitation
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe stomach ache
  • Stopped or irregular heartbeat
  • Paranoia
  • Seizures

In the most serious cases, an overdose will cause a person to slip into a coma. During an overdose, a person’s body temperature will continue to climb to dangerous extremes.

Getting Help for Meth Addiction at Vertava Health

Meth addiction can rapidly form physical and psychological addictions. To create the most successful, sober life, treatment must address the physical and mental health effects of meth abuse.

Contact Vertava Health at 844.470.0410 to learn about treatment options. A brighter future is possible.