Methamphetamine is a derivative of amphetamine, a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulator. Also known as meth, crystal meth, crystal, and crank, it is illegally produced in labs and sold as a recreational drug. Meth is so highly addictive that some users can develop a dependency after one use.
What are the long-term effects of meth use? What can you or a loved one do to recover and heal?
Gulf Breeze Recovery offers comprehensive, holistic meth addiction treatment that addresses physical, psychological, and emotional dependency on meth. Our meth rehab in Florida can help you or a loved one break the cycle of addiction once and for all. Contact our team at 833.551.2304 to learn about our meth abuse treatment program.
What Are Signs and Symptoms of Meth Addiction?
Meth increases activity in areas of the brain that heighten central nervous system functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Chemical messengers in the brain, particularly dopamine, are dramatically increased by meth, resulting in enhanced energy, focus, attention, excitement, and pleasure. This increase in dopamine causes an intense high, and the desire to recreate the high leads to addiction. Quitting without professional meth addiction treatment is rarely possible.
Because it is so highly addictive, meth use can quickly escalate to dependency and then addiction. The physical and psychological effects of meth addiction are often more apparent than with other substances and can include:
- Extreme weight loss
- Intense itching resulting in scabs and sores
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Confusion and hallucinations
- Violent outbursts
- Inability to sleep, often for several days
- Tics, hyperactivity, and feeling jumpy
Other physical signs to watch out for include persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive sweating. Individuals might also demonstrate obsessive or repetitive behaviors such as constant grooming or reorganizing their belongings.
The Long-Term Effects of Meth
Studies on the prolonged use of meth reveal that it causes significant changes to areas of the brain that regulate emotion and memory. Long-term effects of meth are associated with impaired verbal learning, memory loss, reduced coordination, motor speed, and problem-solving ability. Other significant long-term effects of meth abuse can include the following:
- Increased tolerance, making the user need more significant and more frequent doses to achieve the desired effects
- Increased risk of accidental overdose or death
- Inability of the brain to feel pleasure, also known as anhedonia
- Dangerously high blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke or heart attack
- Psychosis resulting in hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
- Vision loss
- Mood disturbances, including unpredictable, violent behavior
For individuals who complete meth addiction detox and subsequent treatment, the effects of meth addiction can begin to reverse after a year or so of sobriety. Unfortunately, for some, the changes within the brain are permanent. The more prolonged meth addiction goes untreated, the more likely its effects will be lasting.
Call Gulf Breeze Recovery to Start Meth Addiction Treatment
Recovery from substance use disorders is complex and can be challenging. This is particularly true with meth. Many individuals who struggle with meth use also have co-occurring mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or personality disorders, complicating the recovery process.
At Gulf Breeze Recovery, we believe that everyone has the potential to recover from substance use disorders and dual diagnoses. Our location on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida provides the perfect backdrop for therapeutic healing, growth, and recovery. We use a comprehensive approach to recovery that includes evidence-based and holistic treatment modalities designed to foster physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing from addiction and mental health concerns
Contact the Gulf Breeze Recovery team today at 833.551.2304 or online to discover your effective holistic healing and recovery options.
