This means our helpline can provide completely independent and unbiased advice to help you find the rehab service most suitable for you or your loved one. The only legal meth product is a prescription medication approved to treat ADHD. The powerful rush you get from using meth makes it easy to get hooked right from the start.

Repetitive Behavior

Meth contains chemicals that are similar to amphetamine, a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Find out the differences between Adderall and methamphetamines, as well as amphetamines vs. methamphetamines. Meth is typically a white pill or powder that doesn’t have a smell but tastes bitter. Crystal methamphetamine usually looks like glass chunks or shiny bluish-white rocks. If crystal meth comes as more of a powder, it’ll have a bitter taste like other kinds of meth. Since meth stimulates the central nervous system to boost alertness and energy, those addicted to meth often suffer insomnia and sleep disturbances.

This rapid surge of pleasure creates a powerful psychological dependency. Would you like more information about mental health or drug addiction? Meth users also share injection equipment, significantly increasing their risk of HIV and hepatitis infections. The CDC reports that meth users account for 23% of all hepatitis C cases related to injection drug use in the U.S.​. This isn’t about not trusting your loved one as a person—addiction can drive people to act in ways that contradict their values.

“I was shooting up every day, sometimes two to three times a day,” she says. “It’s almost like methamphetamines are falling from the sky right now, with the amount that’s coming through the border and on boats and planes,” says Matthew Donahue with the U.S. “As we understand the complexity of the human brain, it becomes very much of a magical thinking that one pill will solve the problem of addiction,” she says. Meth is a toxic stew of solvents and other chemicals, and prolonged use will shorten your life along with destroying everything else in it. The pipeline from experimenting with meth to experiencing homelessness and worse is very short. Overdose is more likely when meth is taken in large amounts or combined with other substances.

That’s why we have a comprehensive set of treatment providers and don’t charge for inclusion. We do not and have never accepted fees for referring someone to a particular center. Providers who advertise with us must be verified by our Research Team and we clearly mark their status as advertisers.

Repetitive behavior is also a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. Stimulants like meth can increase your sexual libido and lead to impulsive and risky sexual behavior. Meth users may see disturbing images and people who aren’t there, hear phantom sounds and voices, and smell odors that don’t exist.

Acknowledging the problem is a pivotal moment in the journey toward recovery. Treatment options vary from detoxification programs to inpatient and outpatient services tailored to individual needs. Counseling and behavioral therapies play a significant role in addressing the root causes meth addiction signs and treatment of addiction and fostering healthier coping mechanisms.

• 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.
• We can offer guidance and insight into the recovery process, and will work to provide you with clarity into the steps that lay ahead.
• The only legal meth product is a prescription medication approved to treat ADHD.
• People who frequently use meth often have teeth that break, turn black, rot, or fall out.
• Chemically, it resembles a medication called amphetamine which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a sleep condition known as narcolepsy.

Drug Detox

Meth is used through various ways, including smoking, snorting, injecting, and oral ingestion. Smoking meth involves heating the substance and inhaling its vapors, leading to an almost immediate high. This doesn’t mean treatment doesn’t work or that your loved one is hopeless. Each treatment episode builds skills and motivation for future success.

Withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of the last use and may last for weeks. Call your health insurer to find out if you need to go to a specific doctor or place for addiction treatment. You’ll typically pay less out-of-pocket if you go to “in-network” providers. People who use meth often need a professional counselor or drug treatment program to help them get better.

• Because it acts so quickly and powerfully on the brain, it carries a high risk of dependence.
• Meth addiction especially causes organ failure in the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, and heart.
• The high may linger a little longer if you snort or swallow the drug, lasting up to 12 hours or longer.
• Ray says the success rate of the naltrexone-buproprion combination may be improved as doctors refine the method and when supported with other treatments, including behavioral therapy.
• It’s important to set (and reinforce, as often as necessary) boundaries that set the tone for what behaviors you will and won’t accept and set the stage for healthier interactions.
• The unpredictable nature of these interactions makes this combination particularly lethal.

Meth Addiction Is Treatable. Rebuild Your Life With The Edge Treatment Center!

Long-term meth use changes the way the brain works,9 which affects people’s memory, attention, and decision-making. This is why your loved one might seem confused, forgetful, or have trouble with tasks they normally do easily. These changes aren’t necessarily permanent, but they are sign that your loved one needs professional care. Meth is an extremely strong psychostimulant, which means it drastically affects sleep patterns.4 It’s known for causing days-long binges during which people stay awake for days on end. Meth causes severe tooth decay called “meth mouth.”2 You might notice your loved one covering their mouth when they smile, complaining of tooth pain, or having bad breath.

Unfortunately, based on the provided information, we are not able to work with the client at this time.

Use our rehab directory to find nearby meth addiction treatment in your area. Long-term meth use can damage blood vessels in the brain and cause stroke and other fatal events such as heart attacks. Meth has also been shown to decrease gray brain matter, which increases the risk of memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

Have contacts ready, know what insurance covers, and be prepared to assist them with transportation and other logistical aspects of starting treatment. One of the most noticeable signs of meth use is rapid, significant weight loss. Meth suppresses appetite, and your loved one may go days without eating proper meals. You may notice them becoming gaunt or their clothes fitting loosely. They might also seem uninterested in food or the favorite meals they used to enjoy.

And clients experience the warmth and compassion of an entire staff that cares deeply about their success. The risk factors of meth addiction include early onset of use, peer pressure, mental health disorder, high-frequency usage, and co-occurring mental health disorders. A study by Gan et al., published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2018), reports that a higher dose and prolonged use of methamphetamine significantly raise the likelihood of dependency​. Take the next step today by finding a meth addiction treatment center and speaking to an addiction specialist about your options.

According to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021), combining these medications resulted in a 16% improvement in sustained abstinence among meth users​. MAT also includes comprehensive counseling and support programs that help individuals rebuild their lives. Long-term effects are severe, including chronic memory loss, cardiovascular issues such as heart disease, and physical damage like tooth decay (“meth mouth”). Methamphetamine addiction refers to a condition identified by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and physical, psychological, and social consequences.

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.