The high school and college years are transformational for teenagers and young adults. They mark a period of discoveries, growth, experiments, and also hardships. Unfortunately, high stress, peer pressure, curiosity, and the desire to boost their performance can affect their judgment during this period, contributing to trying drugs. As surprising as it might sound, drugs are easily available to high school and college students. For impressionable young adults, easy drug access can lead to bad decisions and addiction.
It is estimated that approximately 10% of students misused stimulants, including methamphetamine or crystal meth for short. So what is meth, and what happens to your body when you use methamphetamine?
What Stimulants Like Meths Promise
Stimulant drugs are essentially designed to stimulate the body to increase its activity levels. They speed up your physical and mental processes. As a result, meth users report an immediate feel-good sensation.
Indeed, in the short term, using meth can increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that is essential to the sensation of pleasure. Dopamine also plays a significant role in other brain functions, helping individuals to focus and plan more effectively. Meth use will make the individual experience an increased sensation of well-being. It is, unfortunately, part of its appeal as the immediate effects appear to be positive. The quest for longer euphoric moments is becoming the largest cause of meth addiction.
The body and the mind are more alert and confident, which makes meth one of the preferred illicit stimulants among students. Additionally, crystal meth has also been associated with weight loss and self-managed depression treatment among the youth.
Users also experience an increase in body temperature and blood pressure. These effects do not tend to last.
The Long-Term Effects of Meth
Continual meth use significantly affects the body. Meth is linked to decreased appetite. But in the long term, users are likely to exhibit alarming weight loss transformations and deficiencies.
Prolonged consumption can put dental health at risk for a variety of reasons. Meth increases blood pressure, which can contribute to the appearance of gum disease. Combined with weight loss, the gum could shrink, leading to tooth loss in extreme cases. Additionally, dental infections and markings are common among addicted individuals.
Depending on your choice of absorption, meth can also make users more vulnerable to HIV or hepatitis with dramatic consequences, due to the use of shared needles.
Psychological symptoms are frequent, ranging from violent to psychotic behaviors as a result of neurotransmitter damage. Indeed, the dopamine increase is not without consequences. Meth users are more likely to go into a fight as a result, which will also affect their physical health. Psychotic symptoms often lead to sleep deprivation, which, in turn, makes the body more vulnerable to diseases and infections.
Can You Die If You Use Meth?
Unfortunately, overdoses can occur among users who are addicted to the “high.” But a high number of fatalities is directly caused by the effects of meth on the body. An over-elevated body temperature can cause someone to pass out, which can lead to death without immediate treatment. Increased heart rate can lead to heart attacks or even stroke.
How Do I Know If Someone Is Using?
Meth addiction will typically show through extreme weight loss, mood swings, paranoia, and hallucinations. Increased energetic outbursts in the form of constant talking, jerky motions, and usual sleeping patterns.
Meth users are showing common traits with other addictive behaviors, such as money borrowing and a lack of care about personal grooming.
If you are a user yourself, these are also signs of your addiction if you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms.
How Do I Seek Help?
Meth addiction is extremely challenging to handle because of its feel-good effects. Understandably, you might be concerned about losing the positive euphoria and experiencing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
At Findlay Recovery Center, we are experienced in dealing with all sorts of addictions. We offer a range of outpatient and inpatient programs to help you reclaim your peace of mind. Our tailor-made treatments are specifically designed with your unique situation in mind, so you can rest assured that you are in good and caring hands. Due to the lasting effect on the body, we recommend residential inpatient programs to our patients addicted to meth. Inpatient treatments enable us to provide 24/7 care and medical assistance, so we can help you recover. You will also receive nutritional and emotional support, helping your body and mind work towards sobriety. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are worried about meth addiction. Our caring team is here to help you find the right treatment.
