Injecting Meth – Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive stimulant that boosts activity in the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in accelerated breathing, increased body temperature, and elevated heart rate. Meth is most often abused for its euphoric effects and ability to increase energy and alertness and suppress appetite. However, it is also notorious for provoking severe and debilitating effects on the physical health and well-being of users, as well as adversely impacting the lives of those close to them.

Meth can be administered by oral consumption, smoking, snorting, or injecting. Injecting meth is also commonly known as “slamming” or “shooting.” No means of ingestion is ever safe, but injecting poses risks that may be more serious than others. For one, slamming meth can rapidly contribute to the development of addiction because of the intensity in which the resulting effects are experienced.

Effects of Injecting Meth

Injecting causes meth to enter the brain rapidly, and induces an intense “rush” or sense of euphoria. This effect only continues for a few minutes, however, so the user will soon need to inject more of the drug to resume experiencing the desired effects. This is why meth is frequently used in a binge-style pattern, as the user repeatedly injects over a short period in an attempt to maintain the high.

Binging is eventually followed by a phase called “tweaking,” which can persist for several days, and then a “crash.” During this time, people may neglect normal daily functions and responsibilities (e.g., personal hygiene) in favor of meth abuse.

The euphoria experienced by a meth user is caused by a rapid release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved with feelings of pleasure and reward that positively reinforce drug-using behaviors. During the early stages of a high, the user experiences the characteristic, sought-after stimulant effects, including exhilaration and energy, as well as a flurry of thoughts and rapid speech. The person may also exhibit an increase in impulsive behavior and a hyperactive sex drive.

In the later stages, the user may encounter restlessness, nervousness, paranoia, and psychosis. Cravings for more meth are likely to manifest in the later phase, as well as a depressed mood and severe fatigue.

Dangers of Slamming Meth

Slamming meth can lead to many serious health problems. These are associated with both the use of the drug and the usual method of administration. Below are some complications that may result from injecting meth:

Users who inject meth also face a heightened risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis.The risk of contracting HIV is higher due to both the sharing of needles and engaging in risky sexual behavior, which is common for those who use meth due to a hyperactive sex drive.

The following are additional harmful effects related to meth abuse, regardless of the means of administration:

Chemical Imbalances and Brain Damage

Over time, shooting meth alters the user’s brain chemistry significantly. Prolonged use contributes to tolerance, which is characterized by the person’s need to use increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the desired high (repeated exposure = diminished response).

As the brain grows accustomed to the continued presence of meth, it also becomes unable to function normally without it—a condition referred to as dependence. Once a person has become dependent on meth, he or she will experience withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of use, such as extreme cravings, depression, and sleep disturbances.

As noted, meth has a significant impact on the dopaminergic system in the brain. Using meth results in a surge of dopamine in the brain, which is responsible for the euphoric feelings associated with its use. Repeated meth use can have neurotoxic effects because the drug destroys dopaminergic neurons, which then result in reduced levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain.

Addiction and Treatment

Meth addiction is a devastating disease that will eventually destroy the mind and body of those who use it and profoundly impact those who love them. People who are addicted to meth are urged to seek help immediately before circumstances deteriorate further and lead to irreversible impairments or death.

Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers integrated, evidence-based treatment in both partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient formats. All of our programs include services vital to the recovery process, such as psychotherapy, psychoeducation, individual, group, and family counseling, group support, and more.

Our knowledgeable addiction professionals administer care to our clients with care and expertise. We provide our clients with the tools and support they need to recover and begin to experience long-lasting wellness and sobriety.

Please contact us as soon as possible if you are ready to reclaim your life free of drugs or alcohol! We can help!

Methamphetamine (meth) is an extraordinarily addictive and potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that can induce intense euphoria, suppress appetite, and increase energy and attention span. It is typically encountered on the illegal drug market as a white and odorless crystal powder or white or bluish rock-like substance known as “crystal meth.”

It is frequently used in a “binge-and-crash” pattern in which the user takes the drug repeatedly to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Each time the stimulant is administered, the euphoria and other desired effects diminish, ending in a crash in which the user can no longer maintain the high.

Smoking meth routinely can lead to increased tolerance, chemical dependence, and addiction characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Repeated exposure to meth can cause pronounced changes in brain structure and functioning, which may impact cognition and emotions long-term. Other effects of meth use include skin sores, heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and, in extreme cases, psychosis.

Side Effects of Meth Use

Chronic meth use can profoundly impact both the body and brain of the person using it. An addiction to meth can cause severe impairment in the user’s life, and adversely affect those around him or her as well. Physical consequences of meth use may include the following:

Abusing meth for a prolonged period can also result in adverse mental or emotional problems such as the following:

Even short term but repeated use of meth may increase the likelihood that a person will develop a physiological dependence. If a person abruptly stops smoking meth after developing a dependency, he or she may experience a litany of highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including the following:

The Risks of Smoking Meth

When meth is smoked, it is heated then inhaled through a pipe. There are several adverse health consequences directly associated with smoking meth. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) states that you are more likely to develop a meth addiction if it is smoked rather than if it is used in other forms.

This is related to the speed in which meth reaches the brain when smoked, inducing a rush of intense pleasure nearly immediately. This rapid method of delivery can also increase adverse health effects related to drug use.

Another outcome particular to smoking meth is dental deterioration, commonly known as “meth mouth.” This condition is marked by mouth sores, gum disease, and tooth decay. These dental issues are typically a result of repeated grinding of teeth when intoxicated, in addition to inadequate dental hygiene and poor eating habits.

Additionally, recent studies on mice have suggested that inhaling meth increases the chances of pulmonary damage and contracting an infection of the lungs. Although studies haven’t been conducted using humans, this preliminary research reveals the potentially toxic properties of smoking meth.

Meth Abuse Treatment Options

There are many different effective treatment options available for those suffering from an addiction to meth. Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers personalized, comprehensive treatment in partial hospitalization, outpatient, and intensive outpatient treatment formats.

We employ highly-skilled addiction specialists who are trained to deliver therapeutic, evidence-based services to clients with care and expertise. All of our programs include treatments vital to the recovery process, and include, but are not limited to the following:

Group counseling—A mental health professional facilitates a therapy session that focuses on the development of sober social skills and uses coping strategies in a peer group environment.

Individual therapy—Patients visit with a therapist one-on-one to address the underlying issues that contribute to meth use. Patients also learn how to develop healthier coping skills that can be used in stressful situations or to counteract relapse triggers.

12-step programs—Support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous provides members with the support and encouragement they need as they work through the steps necessary to facilitate recovery. These programs are free to join, and the only requirement is that members seek to live a substance-free life. Regardless of which program you choose, we can provide you with the tools, resources, and support you need to experience a full recovery, prevent relapse, and enjoy long-lasting wellness and sobriety.

If you or someone you love is abusing meth or other drugs or alcohol, please contact us today to discuss treatment options. We can show you how to begin your journey to recovery and help you every step of the way!

Meth addiction is among the most prevalent drug abuse menaces in America. It has led to the overdoses of thousands, has ravaged communities in all regions of the U.S., and has contributed to a significant increase in criminal activity.

Illicit meth production process, usually undertaken in dangerous, uncontrolled, and unsanitary clandestine labs, has created public health concern across the entire U.S. Families and loved ones of suspected drug abusers are encouraged to watch for the physical and behavioral signs of meth addiction, which may include the following:

How Meth Impacts the Brain and Body

Meth use, whether prescription or illicit, can cause severe mental and physical health complications in both short-term and long-term meth users. Meth abuse hijacks a person’s entire life, while adversely affecting their physical appearance and causing brain damage that may be irreversible.

The effect of meth that is appealing to users is the immediate rush of pleasure, followed by prolonged feelings of boundless energy and euphoria. It also provides users with a sense of confidence, alertness, and focus. While many drugs and enjoyable activities release dopamine in the brain, the amount released when using meth is unmatched and produces a high that can last as long as 12 hours.

Each use of meth, however, generates a less intense high than the previous one, driving users to take more. When the desired effects wear off, users may encounter extreme depression or hopelessness and feel the need to take more to avoid the impending “crash.”

Extended meth abuse alters the brain chemistry of users, damaging the brain’s pleasure center and making it very difficult to experience any pleasure aside from meth use. Research has shown that this process can sometimes be reversed after use has been discontinued. Sadly, however, a complete restoration of tissue and function is unlikely, and any loss of cognitive capabilities may be irreversible.

Tweaking

Another sign of meth addiction is hyperactive, obsessive, impulsive, and even aggressive and violent behavior. Meth is a stimulant that prompts the brain to produce high doses of adrenaline, thereby also creating anxiety and highly-focused attention. This state is also known as tweaking, and psychotic behavior, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and aggression are associated with excessive and chronic use.

Tweaking is a physical and psychological condition that may occur following a binge, in which a person dependent on meth is no longer able to experience a high. During this time, the person will have intense cravings and a desperation to get high that can no longer be sated. It is at this point that the aforementioned psychotic symptoms can manifest.

During tweaking, some users also hallucinate the sensation of insects crawling under their skin, a strange condition known as formication. People who are suffering from formication often pick at their skin obsessively, causing sores to form.

Meth Makes Users Less Attractive

Meth abuse destroys blood vessels and tissue and limits the body’s ability to heal itself. Blood flow throughout the body is constricted and eventually cut off. Also, because meth use instills users with a high amount of energy and suppresses appetite, subsequent profound and unhealthy weight loss can make meth users look gaunt, sickly, and frail.

People who use meth for an extended period may appear many years or even decades older than they really are. Tooth grinding (bruxism) combined with dry mouth, poor hygiene, and insufficient diet makes circumstances worse, with users having mouths riddled with discolored, broken, and rotting teeth.

Sex Drive Increases as Inhibitions Decrease

An increased sex drive combined with impaired judgment places many meth abusers at high risk for engaging in impulsive sexual encounters. Meth is also considered an aphrodisiac. The excessive release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters heightens sexual desire and boosts adrenaline and stamina.

During this time, the brain’s feel-good chemicals are at work prompting users to take part in behaviors they likely would not engage in while sober, including unprotected sex and having intercourse with multiple partners. This behavior is especially dangerous because it’s relatively common for meth users who inject to share needles, which can facilitate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, such as hepatitis or HIV.

Getting Help for Meth Addiction

Meth abuse and addiction are devastating conditions that adversely affect the health and well-being of those suffering, as well as profoundly impact the lives of those around them. Fortunately, meth addiction is treatable, and through the use of an integrated approach to substance abuse, former meth users can achieve sobriety and restore mental and physical wellness to their lives.

If you or someone you love has developed an addiction to meth, please contact Harmony Treatment and Wellness as soon as possible to discuss treatment options. We are waiting to help you recover from addiction and reclaim the joyful and fulfilling life you deserve!