However, there is good news about this condition. A process called Methamphetamine detoxification is helpful for those with addiction problems. Since Meth overdose can have adverse mental and physical effects, moving down the treatment road is highly beneficial. Both chronic and short-term meth addiction can cause short- and long-term effects. From this article, you will know more about Meth, the symptoms, how the treatment is performed, and more.
What is Meth and Meth overdose?
Meth is a very addictive central nervous system stimulant that produces effects similar to methylphenidate in users. It can cause addiction in just one use by a specific individual. Another name people outside the health sector call Meth is speed, ice, or crystal.
A high quantity of Meth distributed comes from illegal imports and laboratories. In most cases, the product is cooked on “stove tops” or low standard home labs. There are other places where unqualified persons produce this drug, sometimes with high-grade tools. One of the main constituents of Methamphetamine is pseudoephedrine or ephedrine found in cold and cough medications.
Why does Meth act on one use?
The action is caused by the rush of dopamine from the drug itself. Dopamine is a brain chemical that functions to induce feelings of pleasure, memory retention, reward processing, and more. So, the rush of this chemical causes people to use the drug to maintain those heightened functions. Please note that meth supplies this chemical in unnatural amounts.
Pharmaceutical grade methamphetamine is licensed for utilization in adults with ADHD or obesity. However, experts rarely prescribe the drug since it has a high possibility of abuse, and there are other available options. One of the significant effects of Meth is that users tend to use more of it due to an increase in tolerance levels. Hence, they may end up with an overdose, which causes damage to the body systems.
Symptoms and signs of Meth overdose
You may notice certain signs in yourself or someone else when there’s an issue of Meth intoxication or overdose. Some of them are more common than others. However, you should know that this drug acts by raising the activity levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Meth usage may cause an increase in serotonin, norepinephrine, and, as earlier mentioned, dopamine in the brain. When there’s an increase in brain neurotransmitters’ activity levels, it leads to a quick boost to mood and energy. Please note that the Meth overdose symptoms are similar to the short-term effects of Meth. Here are some of the signs and symptoms that come up due to an overdose:
| S/N | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS |
| 1. | Stroke |
| 2. | Kidney failure |
| 3. | Paranoia |
| 4. | Difficulty breathing |
| 5. | Chest pains |
| 6. | High blood pressure |
| 7. | Stomach pain |
| 8. | Altered mental status |
| 9. | Agitation |
| 10. | Rapid, slowed, or irregular heart rate |
| 11. | Heart attack |
| 12. | High body temperature |
| 13. | Weight loss |
| 14. | Osteoporosis |
When there’s a meth overdose, the altered mental status may involve irritability, suicidal ideation, and psychotic episodes as well. Sometimes, the user may have seizures or fall into a coma. For the chronic Meth overdose, which occurs due to long term use, the methamphetamine overdose symptoms include anxiety, severe sleep disturbances, violence outbursts, and extreme mood changes.
Short-term and long-term effects of Methamphetamine
There are several short- and long-term effects of Methamphetamine that you should comprehend. In most cases, when this drug is smoked or injected, it increases blood pressure and heart rate, which induces the brain neurotransmitters. However, when Methamphetamine is snorted, it creates a euphoric sensation. Meanwhile, its effect when snorted differs from what occurs when it’s injected or smoked.
For snorting, a rush doesn’t occur. When there is a “rush,” the side effects of Methamphetamine can last as long as eight to twenty-four hours. One of the significant impacts of usage of Meth is how long the users go without sleep. Often, they face severe sleep disturbances that make them awake for several days. On some occasions, insomnia may be due to binge and other stimulating effects. Here’s a table that shows the effects of Meth:
| S/N | SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF METH | LONG-TERM EFFECT OF METH |
| 1. | Decreased appetite | Brain damage |
| 2. | Euphoria and rush | Liver damage |
| 3. | Hyperthermia | Lung disease |
| 4. | Increased respiration | Kidney damage |
| 5. | Increased activity and wakefulness | Irritability |
| 6. | Rapid or irregular heartbeat | Depression |
| 7. | Increased attention and decreased tiredness | Memory loss |
The long-term effects may persist even after a stop of the drug. Additionally, the use of this drug can cause an increased risk of hepatitis B, HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases. Why is that possible? In most cases, Meth users share needles with others, which exposes them to viral infections.
How Methamphetamine causes dependence
Methamphetamine users have a high risk of depending on the drug. Meth dependence occurs when users need to continually increase their meth intake to achieve a state of Methamphetamine intoxication. This act occurs due to repeated use of the drug, which increases body tolerance. At this stage, the user is on the verge of overdosing due to high meth consumption.
Sometimes, addicts tend to combine this drug with other substances to lower tolerance and remain intoxicated. Examples of dangerous and common substances not to mix with Meth include alcohol, heroin, and GHB.
Treatment for Methamphetamine dependence
Fortunately, there are legitimate ways to find help for methamphetamine addicts in their state of methamphetamine dependence. With these cures, users can have a relatively high meth recovery rate. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), Behavioral therapy, individual, and family counseling are effective ways of treating meth addiction signs. Here are some of the other treatment steps to take:
Detoxification
In cases of addiction to Methamphetamine, this step may be very crucial. For this process, there are always specific centers in place. These locations have expert medical staff that monitor and treat patients when showing withdrawal symptoms, helping them go through the body cleansing process with medication therapy and achieve a physiological and psychological state in which the patient does not feel the need for the drug. The intensity of the detoxification process depends on the patient’s level of addiction.
Outpatient Treatment
In this procedure, the individual undergoes an abuse therapy once, twice, or more weekly. This process takes place in a well-structured medical and psychological environment, but it doesn’t require on-site living procedures. This type of meth addiction help is excellent for individuals with a less severe addiction level. In other words, it’s helpful for those who may have recently completed a residential program or maintained sobriety for a long time.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, overdosing on Methamphetamine occurs in a large percentage of people. There are several signs and symptoms of meth overdose that are highly noticeable. It’s crucial to seek help once you notice the immediate effects of meth usage. Examples of standard treatment methods are outpatient treatment or inpatient therapy and detoxification.
