Crystal Meth Addiction

Crystal meth, also known as methamphetamine, is a powerful drug which comes from the amphetamine family.

Meth is a synthetic drug, which means that it is made using a mixture of chemicals. These include ammonia and battery acid.

These chemicals give it a strong smell, sometimes compared to vinegar. Pure meth appears as a white powder, but street meth often looks yellow or brown in colour due to lower purity levels.

Meth can be taken in a number of ways, including snorting, injecting, smoking and inhaling via the nose.

It makes users feel more energetic and more intelligent. Its effects can last for as long as sixteen hours, although some meth users go on binges which can last for several days.

Crystal meth is very addictive. It causes the brain to release a huge rush of dopamine, far in excess of the dopamine released during cocaine high. Once someone has experienced this rush, it is very difficult to resist taking meth again.

How is Crystal Meth Made?

While Crystal Meth production, addiction, and problems, may not be as prevalent in the United Kingdom when compared to countries such as the United States and Australia, for example, the addictive substance still manages to have an effect on communities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Crystal Meth is often created in labs by transnational criminal organisations and distributed across countries and smuggled through international borders.

Many different licit and illicit drugs and substances are used to produce Crystal Meth, with one example being pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug which simply eases nasal congestion.

However, to increase the quantity of Crystal Meth sold, and ultimately to increase their own profits, dangerous and harmful chemicals are used in order to dilute the substance.

This is often referred to as “cutting”. Other issues, such as metal impurities, will also contribute to other harmful chemicals being present in a substance. This makes it impure.

In addition to the physical and psychological issues that Crystal Meth consumption can present, these harmful chemicals can contribute to even worse symptoms.

It is already an extremely dangerous and addictive drug to consume, as it is far far more addictive than other substances, and it is even considered to be the most addictive form of illicit substances.

So, when subjects are purchasing illicit substances on the street they will not only receive the typical substances used to form Crystal Meth, but their substance may also include a range of other harmful chemicals which will have other adverse effects.

Some examples of these “cutting” substances will range from baby powder, baking soda, powdered milk, caffeine, ketamine, metal, and so on.

If a subject smokes their Crystal Meth, which is the most common way to ingest Meth, they may experience a more severe form of irritation on the lungs if there are impurities present.

Additionally, more impurities will lead to dangerous particles being released into the subject’s bloodstream.

If metal is present in the Meth, subjects may experience symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, vomiting, kidney damage, neurological damage, and more due to metal toxicity.

How To Know If I’m Addicted to Crystal Meth

If you identify with the common symptoms associated with Crystal Meth addiction, such as irritability, hallucinations, delusions, hyperactivity, and many more, you may be concerned that you are suffering from an addiction.

While some subjects may downplay their consumption habits, others may actually overestimate their level of dependence on a subject.

To truly understand the severity of your level of Crystal Meth dependence, you should always seek a diagnosis from a licensed professional.

However, there are substance use disorder screening tools which are available for anyone to use if they are concerned about their consumption habits and symptoms. One notable example is the CAGE Questionnaire.

The Cage Questionnaire consists of four questions concerning consumption habits and the consequences of substance use dependence.

If subjects answer affirmatively to two questions, it would imply that they are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

If they answer ‘yes’ to more than two, it is likely that they are severely addicted.

The questions are as following:

Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking or drug use?
Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking or drug use?
Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?
Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)?

When a subject is seeking diagnosis from a medical professional, it will be in accordance with a multidimensional substance dependence screening tool such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), otherwise known as the DSM-5 Criteria.

According to the DSM-5 Criteria, there are 11 categories of symptoms associated with drug and alcohol addiction.

These are as follows:

Hazardous Use: Consumption habits which puts the subject in danger.
Social Problems: Relationship breakdown, social isolation, and other social problems which are as a result of one’s substance dependence.
Neglected Responsibilities: The subject not undertaking responsibilities whether related to work, academia, hygiene, and so on, due to their substance consumption.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing physical and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms as a result of their addiction.
Tolerance: The subject’s increase in tolerance due to frequent consumption.
Increase in Consumption Quantities and Frequency: The subject consumes more of their addictive substance than they did previously.
Failed Attempts of Abstaining: Relapsing and being unable to sustain abstinence due to withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Time Spent Consuming: How much time the subject is spending consuming their addictive substance.
Physical or Psychological Problems: Addiction has led to a range of physical and or psychological problems. In the case of Crystal Meth addiction, examples include but aren’t limited to depression, hallucination, nausea, seizures, and so on.
Lack of Personal Interest: Losing engagement in what originally interested or motivated subjects due to their preoccupation with consuming drugs or alcohol.
Cravings: Physical and psychological cravings for an addictive substance, which then causes the subject to relapse and restart the dangerous cycle of addiction.

As you can tell, addiction can cause a range of problems and they will vary drastically from one person to the next.

Just because one person may suffer from neglected responsibilities and social isolation, it doesn’t mean the next person will. You can have people who are high functioning or low functioning when fighting an addiction.

Additionally, the severity of withdrawal symptoms will range, just as the level of tolerance, physical and psychological problems, and so on.

Because there are many variables, it is important that subjects do not presume that they are or are not addicted based on other subjects. Instead, they should seek diagnosis from a licensed professional.

Medicated Detox for Crystal Meth Addiction

Withdrawal symptoms can be severe for subjects suffering from addiction. This is especially the case when they are suffering from Crystal Meth addiction.

Because Crystal Meth is so addictive, the withdrawal symptoms can be more profound and dangerous.

Many substances will pose either physical or psychological symptoms, but some substances will present both forms.

This is true to alcohol and Crystal Meth. Some of the withdrawal symptoms of Crystal Meth include hallucinations, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, headaches, anxiety, and much more.

Not only will patients at rehab struggle to undergo therapeutic approaches while experiencing these symptoms, but they will be in danger of suffering physical and psychological damage, and potentially even death.

Because of this, a medicated detox is imperative for patients who want to establish long-term recovery.

Meth detox can take around a couple of days to a week to complete, but subjects may continue to experience withdrawal symptoms for weeks. Because of this, the timeframe of a medicated detox will vary from patient to patient.

During a medicated meth detox, patients will stay in a safe and comfortable environment while receiving medication. Medication will help minimise physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms for patients as the addictive substance is leaving their body.

Medication will be prescribed to patients by an addiction physician, and they will vary from patient to patient depending on which symptoms they experience.

This stage is often referred to as pharmacological intervention. Some of the medications include but aren’t limited to:

Modafinil: A drug which can help alleviate some withdrawal symptoms.
Fluoxetine: A drug which is an antidepressant, and it is commonly prescribed to patients who are suffering from anxiety.
Buprenorphine Subutex: An opioid which is used in order to treat acute and chronic pain.
Naltrexone: A medication which has the effect of reducing cravings for addictive substances.
Bupropion: An antidepressant which can help regulate levels of dopamine which are often severely affected by Meth consumption and addiction.

There are many other forms of medication which may be prescribed, subject to the patient’s unique needs.

Following a successful Meth detox, patients will begin to undergo a range of effective treatments in order to tackle cognitive, behavioural, and emotional issues which may hinder their recovery from Crystal Meth addiction.

Therapy for Crystal Meth Addiction at Rehab

Crystal Meth addiction poses a range of physical and psychological symptoms, and because of the potential severity of particular withdrawal symptoms (depression, suicide ideation, seizures, etc.), subjects will not be able to suddenly cease their consumption in order to combat their addiction.

Instead, they will need to undergo a range of processes such as a medicated detox, pharmacological intervention, and therapeutic approaches.

This will be done at a facility which specialises in treating patients suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Therapeutic approaches are implemented in an addiction treatment programme and they are done so in order to tackle any behavioural, emotional, and mental issues which the patient suffers from.

These issues may not only hinder their recovery, but they may also be one of the root causes of their substance use addiction.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly implemented forms of therapy when treating substance addiction at a drug and alcohol rehab.

Not only does this form of therapy have a history of being effective for those suffering from addiction, it is also used to treat patients suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, and much more.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is effective in treating those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction because it can help patients identify and address negative habits that they have. These habits they have may be self-destructive and will prevent them from improving their life.

Examples of self-destructive tendencies include irrationality, cognitive distortions, self-loathing, and more.

Patients who are suffering from substance abuse often display a range of harmful mental, emotional, and behavioural habits which ultimately obstructs them from long term recovery.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as it is employed in order to help patients overcome some of the negative habits that they display. However, there are some differences between the two.

While Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of individual therapy and is often done in one to one formats, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy may sometimes include group therapy.

Additionally, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is especially catered towards patients who experience strong thoughts and emotions.

Patients who undergo Dialectical Behavioural Therapy often include those suffering from substance addiction, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, Schizophrenia, Postpartum Depression, and more.

The objective of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is to introduce notions of self acceptance and change to patients.

While they may seem counterintuitive to each other, self acceptance can help patients lead to change and the development of healthy habits. Patients will also learn about the intricacies of stress management and meditation.

Patients who undergo Dialectical Behavioural Therapy sessions will hopefully become much more constructive and rational, with a much higher capability towards sustaining their recovery.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a unique form of therapy because it relies on the language of change in order to encourage behavioural change. When patients are suffering from addiction, they often lack the motivation to sustain their recovery by attending therapy and counselling sessions.

Therefore, Motivational Interviewing is introduced in order to help patients find the intrinsic motivation towards achieving long term recovery and sobriety. Motivational Interviewing utilises goal oriented techniques in order to help patients remain committed towards treatment methods.

The objective of Motivational Interviewing is to help patients develop and reinforce their willingness to change.

This can be done by exploring some of the initial reasons they initiated recovery, whether it is intrinsic (e.g. done out of self for physical and mental health) or extrinsic (e.g. family or work related).

Patients will then become more engaged in the therapy and recovery methods that they undergo.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy is different to many of the traditional forms of therapy because it doesn’t target specific symptoms.

While other forms of therapy may be implemented in order to tackle cognitive and behavioural problems, for example, the purpose of holistic therapy is to improve the overall quality of the patient’s life.

The term holistic means to treat something wholly, and in this context it means treating the patient’s psychological, physical, and spiritual self.

The theory behind Holistic therapy is that these three are intricately connected and one of them can have a significant effect on the other. By improving even one aspect, patients will gather momentum towards making positive changes.

Holistic therapy is also a diverse form of therapy with a vast range of activities. These include but are not limited to tai chi, art therapy, equine therapy, and adventure therapy.

As you can see, the examples vary significantly and will vary in their benefits.

Different examples will yield different benefits. While yoga and movement therapy may promote physical exercise, yoga and meditation will promote mindfulness, stress management and reduction, and so on.

Family Therapy

When someone is suffering from an addiction, the family can play a crucial role.

Some families may have had a profound influence on the development of their loved one’s substance use addiction, whereas others can be a profound instrument in helping their loved one in their recovery.

Whether the patient presents to their family members or they turn towards them in order to receive support, family therapy can help the patient in reaching long-term recovery.

Some examples of family therapy include:

Family Behavioural Therapy
Functional Family Therapy
Multisystemic Therapy
Multidimensional Family Therapy
Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Some examples will be implemented in order to address toxic behaviours which exist within the family.

The patient may have inherited some of the negative and self destructive traits which their parents or other family members exhibit, and these factors may prove to be the root cause of their addiction.

In this case, family therapy may help the family understand their complicated dynamic and how their habits affect their loved one’s substance consumption. Social and environmental factors can have a significant influence on a subject developing substance addiction.

On the other hand, the family is not to blame in many situations, and they are suffering profoundly by witnessing their loved one’s addiction.

In this case, family therapy can offer counselling sessions, problem solving skills and communication training in order to help them cope and overcome some of the obstacles associated with their loved one’s addiction.

Regardless of the role of the family before the patient was suffering from addiction, family therapy is implemented in order to help reinforce the patient’s support network.

The family can play a crucial role in developing and sustaining healthy habits, and by educating them on the complexities of addiction, they will become more capable of assisting their loved one.

Group Therapy

While many forms of therapy are confined to the typical one to one format, there are many benefits to be had for patients who attend group therapy sessions.

By introducing an environment which features multiple patients in a session led by a licensed therapist, patients will find a new form of support network through group therapy.

Group therapy will place patients in a non-judgemental and a healthy environment. In this environment, patients can discuss their experiences with addiction recovery, whether they are positive or negative, in order to share and gain insight with others who are on a similar path towards lifelong sobriety.

These patients each have a common goal, and that goal is to overcome addiction. By being in the presence of other like-minded patients, they are much more likely to sustain their newly adopted positive habits and their willingness to recover.

Social reinforcement is also a factor which makes group therapy so effective, as patients are incredibly encouraging to those who they identify with and are on the same journey towards recovery.

Additionally, group therapy can help patients combat a common symptom of addiction which is social isolation.

Social isolation will increase anxiety, decrease social skills, and ultimately prevent subjects from seeking help. Group therapy combats this by placing patients in a safe and non-judgemental environment with others.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Practices such as mindfulness and acceptance are paramount if patients not only want to recover but want to become a better person.

Whether experiences are positive or negative, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy will help patients navigate experiences in life without the need for intoxicating substances.

The theory behind Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is that patients who develop psychological flexibility will be able to cope with particular situations in a more rational and constructive manner.

Patients who are suffering from addiction often turn to their addictive substance due to uncertain and stressful situations.

Instead of resisting certain thoughts and feelings, and ultimately experiencing these thoughts and feelings manifested in another way such as drinking or consuming drugs in order to cope, patients will learn how to accept them.

Through a range of positive habits and coping mechanisms acquired through rehab, patients will be able to deal with issues in life without the need to seek euphoria through intoxicating substances.

Contingency Management

Contingency Management provides patients with tangible rewards for their abstinence.

While recovery in of itself is a monumental reward for abstinence, the presence of rewards that are more tangible, such as gifts or prizes, for example, provide an extra incentive in order to sustain recovery.

If a patient is displaying signs of improvement and is consistently attending therapy sessions, for example, this could warrant a reward for their positive behaviours.

It is a form of behavioural therapy which provides additional motivation towards exercising positive actions.

12-Step Facilitation Therapy

The 12-Step Facilitation Therapy or Programme is a type of behavioural therapy which promotes a healthy lifestyle of abstinence.

Often used during the aftercare stage of an addiction treatment programme, it is an active engagement strategy which provides a lifestyle structure for patients to abide by following their recovery.

It is estimated that of those who leave their drug and alcohol rehab having successfully completed their addiction treatment programme, patients who undergo the 12-Step Facilitation Programme are 600% more likely to remain sober than those who do not.

During the 12-Step Facilitation Programme, patients are taught to accept that addiction is a disease of chronic brain relapsing.

With this in mind, patients will realise that abstinence is the only way to combat this disease, and moderation or harm reduction will not suffice.

Patients will also learn to surrender to their higher power by accepting the support provided by the 12-Step engagement strategy.

Co-occurring Disorders and Dual Diagnosis

Studies often show that there is a strong correlation between psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia, for example, with those suffering from substance use addiction.

In particular, subjects who are suffering from Methamphetamine dependence were significantly more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal ideation than those who were not dependent on these substances.

When subjects are suffering from Methamphetamine dependence, they are far more likely to experience what we call Methamphetamine Psychosis, which can lead to severe agitation, violence, delusions, and more which can lead to social dysfunctions such as arrests, harm, hospitalisation, and more.

Those suffering from Methamphetamine Psychosis are far more likely to suffer from relapses and be readmitted to the hospital if they are not treated for their mental disorders in addition to their addiction.

Because of this, patients suffering from co-occurring disorders are required to undergo co-occurring treatment at rehab.

Co-occurring treatment means that patients will receive treatment for two conditions. In this case, they will receive treatment for their Meth addiction and also for their mental illness, which may be depression, schizophrenia, or else.

A dual diagnosis will be made in order to begin the procedure and ensure that patients receive the treatment that they require.

Sometimes patients may enter a rehab and only disclose that they require treatment for their addiction, all while also suffering from another illness.

However, some of these illnesses may be the root cause of their addiction, or they may hinder their recovery. Because of this, it is important that both illnesses are addressed instead of prioritising one over the other.

Patients who are suffering from co-occurring disorders, especially when suffering from a Crystal Meth addiction, are highly advised to enter a drug and alcohol rehab as an inpatient.

Here, they will undergo a comprehensive and personalised recovery programme which will cater to their unique needs.

Relapse Prevention Planning at Rehab

While the detox process plays a crucial role for particular patients to overcome their addiction, patients will also need to learn about how they can resist relapse triggers and prevent a relapse from taking place upon leaving their rehabilitation facility.

This can be done by implementing relapse prevention planning strategies into the patient’s rehabilitation programme.

Not only will they recover from addiction from undergoing a detox and a range of therapeutic practices, but they will learn how to maintain their recovery outside of rehab.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a popular form of therapy which can assist relapse prevention strategies. HALT, which stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, is an effective relapse prevention planning tool which can assist patients.

Here, they will learn about how to manage their cravings, whether they are physical or emotional cravings.

While subjects who are addicted or have fought addiction may experience physical cravings for their substance, they may also still be exposed to emotional cravings. This means that they are susceptible to relapsing if they are angry, tired, or feeling isolated.

HALT helps patients recognise these signs and triggers, and instead of succumbing to them, they will have developed healthy coping mechanisms in order to remain sober.

Aftercare for Crystal Meth Addiction

Once a patient completes their addiction treatment programme at their designated drug and alcohol rehab, they will continue to receive support in the form of an aftercare programme.

While the patient will have put in an immense effort towards the detox process and other therapeutic approaches, recovery is something which needs to be maintained for a lifetime.

The former patient will be able to undergo an aftercare programme which is specially tailored to cater to their individual needs and lifestyle. This aftercare programme will play a crucial role in maintaining sobriety during post-rehab life.

Aftercare programmes focus on relapse prevention techniques, avoiding triggers, rebuilding relationships, career guidance, and other areas which can help improve their life.

The 12-Step Facilitation Therapy will also be included in the aftercare programme, helping patients reinforce a lifestyle of acceptance, change, and surrender.

Furthermore, patients will be granted access to local fellowship programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and so on.

These fellowship groups are only a few examples of many, however, they are notable for their effectiveness in helping former patients maintain their sobriety.

Fellowship groups allow patients to attend support sessions in-person or online, thus discovering a new form of support network which can help them maintain their lifestyle of sobriety.

Irreversible Effects of Crystal Meth Addiction

While there are many short-term and long-term symptoms which subjects will suffer from if they are battling a Meth addiction, they can expect to recover from many of these symptoms if they enter rehab and are able to regain sobriety.

However, it is also thought that Crystal Meth addiction can pose irreversible effects to patients. A prominent example of an irreversible effect of Crystal Meth addiction is Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is described as a brain disorder which causes unintended and uncontrollable movements such as shaking, stiffness, lack of coordination, and so on.

While there is no cure for the disease, treatment methods can help relieve symptoms.

Subjects who are suffering from Meth addiction are often suffering from poor hygiene which can expose them to other serious illnesses and diseases. This is particularly true for subjects who choose to inject Meth through needles and syringes.

However, sharing a needle or syringe with others who are consuming Meth in this fashion can expose them to HIV transmission.

Subjects who consume Meth are more likely to be exposed to HIV transmission, not only because of the use of dirty syringes and needles but also because Meth consumption is thought to increase sexual activity and behaviour significantly.

HIV can hasten disease progression and increase the severity of symptoms of other illnesses, making the symptoms of addiction much more severe and difficult to manage.

While HIV is still not curable, there are forms of effective treatments which will manage the virus.

The consumption of Meth can have other irreversible and long-term effects related to the cardiovascular system. Intense, frequent and long-term use of Meth can lead to a heart attack.

A heart attack can potentially lead to permanent and irreversible heart damage.

Second Hand Smoke Effects From Meth and Indirect Effects

While it is unlikely that someone will become addicted to Meth if they are in the presence of another person smoking the substance, it can still cause a range of health complications if someone were to ingest second-hand smoke.

Not only can it cause health problems, Meth will be present in the subject’s body if they have been in the same environment as someone else consuming this substance. This will cause them to fail a drug test.

One study noted that a family who lived in the house of a former Meth laboratory suffered from a range of health complications as long as a year following the closure of the laboratory.

The family members, including the children, tested positive for Methamphetamine and experienced a range of symptoms such as behavioural changes, anxiety, rashes, persistent coughing, symptoms resembling asthma, and more.

Who is Likely to Take Crystal Meth?

Addiction transgresses boundaries and divisions related to age, gender, class, and so on. However, it is thought that adults who work in low-income professions are much more likely to suffer from Crystal Meth addiction.

This is because working a stressful job but also suffering from other factors such as financial insecurity can burden individuals significantly, leading to them developing substance abuse in order to cope with their circumstance.

Additionally, Meth has been used in order to increase alertness and energy when struggling to meet the demand of their responsibilities.

A study conducted in the United States also discovered that around 23% of individuals who are homeless had reported consuming Crystal Meth at one point during their lives.

This is compared to 0.6% of the population in the United States admitting to using Meth. Clearly, there is a correlation between those who are struggling with financial and housing insecurity and the consumption of Meth.

What is Crystal Meth?

Crystal meth is an illegal drug that goes by many names, including crank, glass, crystal, blade, quick, ice and chalk. It is a stimulant, and is often used by people at clubs, raves and parties.

Meth is nearly always produced illegally. A controlled version of methamphetamine is sometimes prescribed for ADHD, under the brand name Desoxyn, but this is a rare clinical application for a drug that is illegal in the majority of countries.

The fact that meth is mostly produced illegally means that its levels of purity vary considerably. It can also contain other toxic chemicals which may harm the user.

Long-term meth use can bring about serious mental and physical health problems.

Legal Status of Crystal Meth

Crystal meth is a Class A drug in the UK, which means that possession, use and supply all carry significant punishments.

Meth was a Class B drug in the UK until 2006, when it was upgraded to Class A after a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. ^[3]

Due to its devastating effects, crystal meth is illegal in most countries, apart from Italy and Portugal, where it is legal for personal use.

Crystal meth in the UK and abroad

Meth is not as readily available in the UK as other, more popular drugs like cannabis and cocaine. According to government statistics, only 0.03% of respondents admitted to having used meth in the last year, when asked during a 2018/19 survey.

For comparison, 7.6% of respondents to the same survey said they had used cannabis in the last year. ^[1]

Meth is more popular in America. 1.6 million people (0.6% of the population) admitted to having used meth in the last year as part of the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). New users of meth in the US had an average age (in 2016) of 23.3 years, a worrying statistic that suggests that meth use may be becoming more prevalent among young people. ^[2]

Crystal meth use is also prevalent in Australia. Former PM Tony Abbott described meth use as an ‘epidemic’ in 2015. ^[4]

When polled in a 2019 survey, 5.8% of Australians said they had used meth in their lifetimes, and 1.3% said they had used it in the last year. ^[5] Read more about crystal meth use in Australia here.

What are the effects of crystal meth in the short term?

The short-term effects of meth include:

Meth causes the brain to release a huge amount of dopamine, making users feel energetic and happy.
It increases powers of concentration, which can lead users to focus on one thing for hours on end without noticing the passage of time.
Meth diminishes feelings of hunger, which means that users often go without food for hours.
It disrupts sleeping patterns, making it very difficult for users to get to sleep.
It makes users feel powerful, and can make people aggressive. It also makes people more irritable.
Meth has been known to make people physically stronger, and give them delusions and paranoia. You can read the testimony of one doctor here, who describes struggling with unruly, hallucinating patients who were high on meth.

What are the effects of crystal meth in the long term?

There are several negative effects of meth use in the long term, which include mental and physical problems:

One major physical problem is the damage to the heart caused by meth use. Meth puts a lot of strain on the heart, which can lead to deterioration of blood vessels and high blood pressure. In the long run, this raises the chances of a stroke.
Meth use also damages the kidney, liver and lungs. Read more about meth-induced kidney failure here.
If snorted, long term meth use can lead to the erosion of nasal tissues, something which is also seen in long-term cocaine addicts.
If smoked, meth use can lead to problems with the lungs and respiratory system.
If injected, there is a higher risk of infectious diseases, especially if users share their needles with other users.
Even in the short term, meth use can lead to severe weight loss; in the long term meth users are likely to suffer from malnutrition and mineral and vitamin deficiencies. This is why nutrition forms such an important part of recovery.
‘Meth mouth’ or tooth decay caused by crystal meth use is another problem which users are likely to encounter in the long term.
The powerful effect which meth has on the brain is likely to lead to problems with concentration further down the line. It may also cause more severe mental issues such as confusion and memory loss.
Over long periods, the powerful addictive nature of meth is likely to lead to severe dependence. This has further consequences, such as an inability to hold down a job, damage to relationships, and damage to mental health.
Mental health problems caused by long-term meth use include depression and psychosis.
Users may also experience problems with memory and understanding which resemble Alzheimer’s. ^[6]

What are the signs of crystal meth use?

There are lots of signs to look out for if you suspect that someone may have a crystal meth addiction.

We list the main ones below:

Being more irritable
Persistent cough or hoarseness (this can come about as a result of smoking meth)
Rapid changes in mood, alternating from extreme happiness to severe depression
Hallucinations
High levels of aggression and hostility
Signs of needle usage on the arms, legs, hands and neck.
Delusions
Problems with breathing
Skin abscesses or infections of the skin

What are the symptoms of meth use?

Meth addiction can cause mental, physical and behavioural symptoms.

Here are some of the main ones:

Mental/psychological symptoms of meth addiction

Agitation and aggression
Anxiety
Confusion
Depression
Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Emotions of hopelessness, guilt and shame
Hallucinations and paranoia
Impaired judgement
Rapid mood swings
Sleeplessness
Struggling to make decisions
Worsening of any existing mental health conditions

Physical symptoms of meth addiction

Bruised or scabbed skin
Dilated pupils
Higher heart rate and body temperature
Hyperactivity
Infections to the mouth, teeth, and gums
Needing more and more meth to feel the same high (developing a tolerance)
Psoriasis
Rapid eye movement
Red skin
Twitching without warning
Weight loss
Withdrawal symptoms

Behavioural symptoms of meth addiction

Using meth even though you know it is harming you
A sense that meth is the only thing you care about
Devoting large amounts of time to procuring and taking meth
Doing dangerous, criminal things while under the influence of meth (e.g. driving under the influence).
Becoming less interested in activities or hobbies that you used to enjoy
Neglecting duties and responsibilities e.g. looking after children, going to work
Taking more and more meth, in a manner that is becoming harder to control
Trying and failing to quit meth
Taking less care of your appearance
Touching and picking at your skin obsessively
Telling lies to your friends and family in order to hide your meth use
Isolating yourself from loved ones
Spending time only with other meth users

What happens when you take meth?

The crystal meth experience has several distinct stages, which include the following:

The first stage is sometimes known as ‘the rush’. This is the feeling which users get straight after taking crystal meth. It causes a raised heart rate and higher blood pressure. This stage can last for up to thirty minutes. It precedes the main high, which can last for several hours.
The main high, or ‘shoulder’, comes after the rush. This period is when the well-known effects of meth really start to kick in. During the main high, users feel faster, smarter and stronger. They may be inclined to talk over people, much as cocaine users tend to do. Periods of intense focus are also common during this stage. The main high can last anywhere between four and sixteen hours, depending on the amount of meth taken, tolerance, body weight and so on.
Due to the severity of the meth comedown, users are likely to engage in ‘bingeing’ – taking more and more meth in order to sustain a high. A meth binge can last as long as a fortnight, after which the body’s supply of dopamine and serotonin is so low that crystal meth fails to produce any effect. Bingeing on meth is incredibly dangerous as it pushes the body to its limits. Binges are often accompanied by a period of little to no food consumption, which can leave users very malnourished.
After the binge comes ‘tweaking’. This is by far the worst stage of the meth experience. When someone is tweaking, they are coming down from meth, and are unable to postpone the comedown any longer since taking more meth no longer has any effect. This comedown is often accompanied by feelings of intense itchiness, with users reporting the sensation of insects under the skin. It is very difficult to sleep during the tweaking phase, so users are also likely to stay awake for days at a time. Hallucinations are common. Combined with aggression, this makes meth users in the ‘tweaking’ stage a potential danger to people around them.
After the tweaking stage, meth users are likely to experience a crash, where the body effectively shuts down. When tweaking, it is very difficult for meth users to get any sleep; during the crash phase, the body compensates for this by sending the meth user into a deep sleep that can last as long as three days.
Once the meth user comes back to consciousness, they enter the hangover period. This period is characterised by feelings of total exhaustion, on every level. This is due to a depletion of dopamine and serotonin, as well as a lack of food, water and sleep over an extended period. The hangover period lasts between two and fourteen days. Some users choose to end this hangover period by taking more meth, a choice which starts the cycle all over again.
Finally, after the hangover has come to an end, meth users will start to go into withdrawal. Meth withdrawal can be very severe, with depression and suicidal ideation common among many users going through this stage.

Meth withdrawal and the threat of relapse

Studies have shown that relapse rates for crystal meth are relatively high, with 61% of people relapsing in the first year after being discharged from treatment, and 25% in the following 2-5 years. ^[7]

One of the main contributing factors for this statistic is the difficulty of going through meth withdrawal. Without medical supervision and support, withdrawal can seem like an impossible mountain to climb. Many choose to take the easy option and simply go back to using meth.

However, with meth rehab, meth users stand a better chance of getting clean and staying clean.

In meth rehab, you get support and medication to help you through detox, followed by therapy to treat the underlying causes of your addiction. This sets you up for a life without drugs.

Inpatient vs outpatient meth rehab

If you are willing to stop using meth and want to start a sober life, then going to rehab is a very good option.

There are two main kinds of rehab for crystal meth: inpatient and outpatient.

Inpatient rehab is residential rehab, where you live at the rehab for the duration of your treatment. This carries several advantages. For one, you can access medical care around the clock, which will help you to deal with some of the withdrawal symptoms that go hand-in-hand with meth detox, such as psychosis, itchiness under the skin, and depression.

Medical staff at the facility are trained to deal with such withdrawal symptoms, and will be able to offer support and medication to help you overcome them.

Another advantage of inpatient meth rehab is that it takes you away from your home environment. At home, you may have triggers and stressors that make you more likely to use meths, such as difficult relationships, or friendships with other meth users.

At an inpatient rehab, there is very little that can tempt you to return to old habits.

However, inpatient meth rehab is more expensive, and takes up more time. For those who are looking for a cheaper, more time-efficient form of rehab, outpatient rehab is worth considering.

Outpatient rehab means staying at home while you go through treatment for crystal meth addiction. In this form of rehab, you go to an outpatient facility for three or four hours a day for rehab and medical appointments.

Outpatient rehab does have some advantages, but for crystal meth addiction you should be aware of the dangers of relapse. Outpatient rehab may be cheaper in the short term, but this could prove to be a false economy if you relapse straight away.

Final thoughts

Crystal meth addiction is a terrible form of substance dependency, which can destroy people’s lives.

However, if you are dealing with a meth addiction, do not give up hope. There are good treatment options available to you. You just need to take the first step and reach out for help.