Side Effects of Meth

Crystal meth is one of the most dangerous street drugs currently available.

Known as Crystal, Crissy, Crank, Speed, Glass, Ice, and more, methamphetamine is highly addictive and extremely dangerous. The side effects of meth are devastating physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The physical side effects of meth can include acne, loss of skin luster and elasticity, dilation of pupils, tooth decay and/or tooth loss, and rapid extreme weight loss. Some users experience body and facial sores that can trigger a disorder called formication. This disorder causes obsessive skin-picking brought on by the hallucination of bugs crawling beneath the skin. With these noticeable physical side effects of meth, one can also experience a rapid or irregular heartbeat, high body temperature, increase in blood pressure, and long periods of wakefulness.

With any substance use, the brain is overly stimulated, and it’s often worse with methamphetamine use.

Short-term side effects of meth may include erratic, bizarre and sometimes violent behavior; paranoia and panic; psychosis, irritability, and hallucinations. One single high dose of meth can cause convulsions and/or seizures, which can cause death by overdose.

The long-term side effects of meth are not easy to reverse. These include but are not limited to permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain; organ damage of the liver, kidney and lungs; infectious diseases; respiratory problems; tissue destruction and damage to the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease.

Recovery from meth addiction is possible, and licensed medical staff can help alleviate the discomfort of detox.

Once a person has been through detox, they can embark on a plan for long-term recovery.

Contact us today if you or your loved one is ready to reach out for help. We can start you on the road to recovery.

References

Frontline: Meth and the Body. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016.

The Deadly Effects of Meth. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016, from http://www.drugfreeworld.org/