Meth Side Effects
Meth (Methamphetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant that is made up of a cocktail of various household chemicals, and the meth side effects experienced can cause a lifetime of suffering for the user. For those who do not seek help for their addiction, Meth, as it is known on the streets, can be a death sentence. There is little to no room for casual use with Meth. It is more powerful than Cocaine or Heroin with side effects that rapidly begin to eat away at a user. Those who use Meth understand the love-hate relationship that you develop for the drug. The drug takes such a hold on you that you can not quit using, but you hate the effect that the drug has on you.
Meth Side Effects Hit Fast
A number of meth side effects that begin to appear very quickly with constant use of the drug. A Meth addict will often appear pale and splotchy with sores from the constant picking at the “crank bugs” that they believe are crawling under their skin. Crank bugs are a common hallucination that is associated with abuse of Methamphetamine. Meth abusers show general disregard for their personal hygiene as they binge, which contributes to what is known as “Meth mouth.” Meth mouth occurs when the addicts teeth are rotting out.
Meth is usually swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked in its rock form known as Crystal Meth. Meth gives the user a false sense of confidence and power that is commonly referred to as the “superman syndrome.” This causes the addict to over exert. The user will feel unusually alert and will have no appetite. When the effects begin to wear off, the addict will perform what is known as “tweaking.” Tweaking is the point where the euphoric feeling disappear causing intense cravings, bouts of severe irritability, and frequent periods of sleeplessness. Someone who is tweaking may have been without sleep for as much as two weeks. These individuals present an immediate danger to themselves and to society.
Mental Meth Side Effects
The physical aspect of meth side effects the drug has on the body are bad enough, but when you begin to add in the mental effects and you put them all together, this collaborative effect is what makes Methamphetamine such a death sentence for those who do not seek help. For those that do, many of the effects of repetitive Meth use are permanent. Meth use causes bouts of paranoia and hallucinations making the person mimic something similar to Paranoid Schizophrenia. Meth causes extreme mood swings which can make the user suicidal or even homicidal. This most often appears during the tweaking stage of a binge.
Meth, Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal Meth, no matter what you call it, it is still lethal and dangerous. Research shows that Meth literally eats holes into the brain causing permanent damage. Those who have used Methamphetamine for long periods of time often suffer from memory loss, learning deficiencies, and even bouts of paranoia long after use of the drug has been discontinued. Not seeking help for Meth addiction is placing a life sentence on yourself that can only end badly whether it ends with death or jail time. If you or a loved one is suffering from this addiction, please call our addiction counselors to get help. The road to recovery from Meth addiction is a long one, but the prize at the end is a life of freedom and relief without the constant meth side effects.
