Meth Abuse and Addiction – 9 Dangerous Symptoms of Meth Withdrawal

Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous illegal street drugs. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), from 2007 to 2011, there was a rapid rise in hospital visits due to meth abuse – from 68,000 in 2007 to 103,000 in 2011. A further study conducted by SAMHSA in 2014 showed that as many as 569,000 adults in the United States had used meth within the last month. The highly-addictive nature of this stimulant quickly leads to an addiction. Not only can continued use of the substance cause severe problems throughout the person’s life, but meth withdrawal can be hellish to deal with.

Meth side effects on a person’s long term health is an area of great concern as attitudes change due to the dependency, often leading to criminal activity, and even the abuser’s physical appearance can be greatly altered. In this article, we will look at the various effects of meth abuse.

Meth Addiction Facts

Through the observance and studies done of the many victims of methamphetamine abuse, meth addiction facts have become available. They are as follows:

• In 2014, a total of 1.6 million respondents to the NSDUH survey admitted to having tried stimulants such as meth non-medically in their lifetime.
• According to the CDC, 3,728 Americans died from a meth overdose.
• Most of the meth overdose related deaths did not involve the use of other drugs.
• In 2008, 6.1% of admissions to rehab centers were for a meth addiction.

Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

Not every person experiences the same withdrawal symptoms from long-term meth abuse. A person’s age, how much meth was taken frequently, previous meth detoxes and how long the abuse of meth happened for can influence withdrawal symptoms.  Even in short-term use, a person can experience depression, fatigue and an increase in appetite.

The nine long-term meth withdrawal symptoms often experienced by users include the following:

• Depression that is often resistant to treatment
• An increased appetite that can lead to sudden weight gain
• Severe fatigue
• Mood swings including feelings of anxiety, restlessness and agitation
• Excessive sleeping and sleep disturbances, unable to maintain a normal sleeping pattern
• Unpleasant and vivid dreams
• Psychosis that is similar to schizophrenia
• Extreme paranoia
• Suicidal thoughts and tendencies
• Extreme cravings, often resulting in relapse if unsupervised

The biggest risks in stopping meth are the depression that can lead to suicide as well as the risk of relapse. It is advised to seek the help of professionals at White Sands Treatment Centers to help you or a loved one through the dangers of withdrawal from meth.

Meth Side Effects

Since meth is a stimulant, many of the short-term effects of meth abuse are similar to drugs such as cocaine. If too much meth is taken in one sitting, there is a risk of overdose and death.  Other short-term effects include the following:

• Rapid breathing rate
• Suppression of appetite
• Irregular heart rate – often very rapid
• Users experience an increase in physical activity and wakefulness
• Body temperature rises and blood pressure is increased

The long-term health effects of meth abuse can be harmful in many ways. Since it is an addictive substance, addiction is a big concern. Depending on how severe the abuse of the substance is, users tend to experience to following:

• Intravenous users increase their risk of contracting diseases such as hepatitis and HIV
• Risky behavior that can lead to dangerous situations such as unprotected sex and criminal activity
• Anxiety
• Problems sleeping
• Extreme weight loss
• Skin sores from constant scratching
• Paranoia
• Confusion
• Unpleasant hallucinations
• Meth withdrawal symptoms

Meth addiction does not have to be a life sentence. Find help at White Sands Treatment Center and help get yourself or your loved ones away from the grip of addiction.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.