How Meth Destroys Lives

Methamphetamine is a drug within the same class as cocaine. Commonly it’s referred to as meth, crank, speed, or chalk. People become addicted to meth because of the false sense of pleasure it gives the user for anywhere between a few hours to a full day. People can consume meth by inhaling it, snorting it, smoking it, or even injecting it. The white substance is extremely dangerous and is known for being a cheap party drug for ravers looking to get an unnatural burst of energy for the time being. While it may seem like recreation at the time the user first ingests meth, it’s actually the first step in the downfall of their life.

How Meth Destroys Lives

Most people who try meth get immediately hooked. They take it because of the positive effects they think they’re experiencing, meanwhile it’s destroying the users body. The chemical can be related to memory loss, aggressive behavior, psychosis, and even brain or heart damage. The addictive properties of meth are so strong that it’s often considered one of the hardest forms of addiction to treat. Meth literally eats away at all of your body’s resources, leaving you with no choice but to continue consuming the chemical.

Informational websites like GreenHillRecovery.Com describe the feelings that someone on meth would experience during a high. The stages are as follows:

  • The rush
  • The high
  • The binge
  • Tweaking
  • The crash
  • Meth hangover
  • Withdrawal

The rush

When the user first injects, snorts, smokes, etc. the meth they feel a rush through their body. What they feel is their heart racing, their blood pressure intensifies, and their metabolism increases rapidly. The difference between cocaine and meth is that this rush lasts for five times as long.

The high

The high comes after the rush and results in excessive confidence. People high on meth can become disruptive and rude. They may be confrontational yet extremely focused. The high can last for anywhere from a few hours to almost an entire waking day. It’s very hard for a meth addict to be a productive part of society.

The binge

Meth addicts will continue the use of meth so that they are never released from the high. The binge could last a few days to a few weeks and can continue until the user no longer feels the rush sensation when they first consume the drug.

Tweaking

Tweaking is a phase that people that are unfamiliar with meth addicts wouldn’t know. Tweaking happens when the user no longer feels the rush from using meth and experiences intense feelings of cravings and emptiness instead. Symptoms of this tweaking phase include itchiness, unnatural sleep patterns, psychosis, and seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. During this stage, users become dangerous to themselves and the people around them. Often, meth addicts who reach tweaking are at risk of hurting themselves.

The crash

The crash results in a day or two of sleeping. Users who experience a crash from meth can become completely unresponsive and absolutely lifeless. The body can no longer cope with the drug effects and shuts down.

Meth hangover

In the same way that people who drink too much wake up with a hangover in the morning, meth addicts can experience their own, much more intense form of a hangover. Instead of sleeping it off or popping an Advil, users going through this stage have no choice but to use more meth in order to cope with the pain.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms can take up to 90 days post the last time a meth user abused the drug. Symptoms include depression and loss of energy. Some users who experience withdrawal symptoms turn to suicide while others relapse. For this reason, meth addiction is one of the hardest addictions to treat.

Treatment centers in Los Angeles like Nexus treat methamphetamine addiction. As one of the hardest addictions to get clean from, treatment facilities like Nexus make sure that health professionals guide addicts through the recovery process step by step with specially designed programs to increase the users chance of sobriety.