Crystal meth, also known as Tina, ice, or glass, can be snorted or smoked, as well as dissolved into a liquid solution for injection. Illicitly manufactured, crystal meth might resemble shards of glass or bluish-white rocks. The harmful and addictive properties of meth lead some to wonder, what does meth do to the body? It is an essential consideration when the toxic components of meth could include dangerous chemicals such as battery acid, paint thinner, or refrigerant. These ingredients travel through the body, and each use affects the brain, skin, internal organs, and immune system.
Meth addiction is a significant problem in Tennessee. The data supports the fact that thousands of people in this state struggle with breaking their addiction. Recovery is possible through comprehensive treatment utilizing evidence-based therapies after medical detox. For those locked in the dangerous hold of meth addiction, it is vital to seek treatment for meth addiction as soon as possible to prevent the long-term effects of meth
Understanding Meth and Its Impact
The properties of meth make the drug highly addictive and a powerful stimulant. Meth affects the central nervous system. Meth’s high potency leads to higher levels of the drug entering the brain; thus, the effects are quick and last longer than other stimulant drugs. These properties make the primary medical use for methamphetamine as the treatment for ADHD and short-term weight loss. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies meth as a Schedule II stimulant and can only be prescribed as a non-refillable prescription medication through a licensed physician.
For this reason, people obtain methamphetamine through illegal sources that are not regulated. In June 2024, The White House extended their concern about methamphetamine’s effect on the American public. In the Methamphetamine Plan Implementation Plan, the data shows the level of concern that began with 1,000 overdose deaths from meth to roughly 34,000 overdose deaths annually in 2022. With a rise in polydrug use, including meth and fentanyl, a warning rang out within the report that meth users should be aware that meth may contain fentanyl, a deadly combination.
How Meth Affects the Brain
What does meth do to the body and the brain? Meth directly affects the central nervous system, which means the drug floods the brain with the chemical messenger dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure, happiness, and reward. However, meth provides the brain with an artificial source of dopamine, causing an abnormal response. The brain immediately wants more of that false sense, posing a severe problem. It is difficult for the brain to produce dopamine naturally without the meth.
Short-term effects of meth on the brain can include any of the following symptoms:
- Following the comedown from meth, irritability, erraticism, and depression
- Hallucinations, sometimes of bugs crawling on skin that cause compulsive skin-picking
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Loss of cognitive abilities, clouded judgment, loss of inhibitions
Short-Term Physical Effects of Meth Use
What are the short-term effects of meth use, and what does meth do to your body? The intense high from meth use is immediate and can extend for up to 12 hours. The short-term effects of chronic meth use are a combination of physical and psychological symptoms. Additionally, behavior and cognitive processes lead to dangerous activities.
The following short-term effects of using meth could be any of the following:
- Increased energy and decrease in fatigue
- The artificial elevation of mood and confidence
- Anxiety and restlessness with racing thoughts
- Decreased appetite, with unhealthy weight loss and an increase in sexual drive
- Enlargement of pupils, rapid breathing, and muscle twitching
- Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
- Dangerously high fevers
- Dental decay, gum deterioration, and grinding teeth
- Convulsions and seizures
- Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
Long-Term Damage from Meth Addiction
What are the long-term effects of meth addiction? Perhaps the most disturbing long-term impact of meth use is the changes it can cause to the structure and functioning of the brain. While some changes are reversible with sobriety, other changes may continue for an undetermined period. Dopamine production is negatively affected and needs time to regain normality.
Long-term effects of meth use on the brain can include:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Meth psychosis, hallucinations, and paranoia
- Potential permanent brain damage and cognitive impairment
- Depression, inability to feel pleasure, and memory loss
- Increased risk of stroke
What does meth do to the body long-term? Unfortunately, the list is long and includes many physical problems affecting significant organs and the immune system. For many of the physical issues, meth is responsible for negative behaviors that worsen the integrity of physical problems. The risk of infection elevates with long-term meth use.
The Effects of Meth on the Cardiovascular System
The long-term effects of meth on the cardiovascular system are not limited to older users; it can also affect younger users. According to data from www.heart.org, men who use meth, people with kidney disease, and high blood pressure are at particular risk. Cardiomyopathy, heart muscle disease, pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure, and circulation issues top the list of problems from long-term meth use. There is also evidence that heart failure due to long-term meth use has dramatically increased.
Meth and the Respiratory System
Respiratory and lung diseases occur when meth smokers use for the long term. An increase in COPD, asthma, emphysema, and other lung infections are at higher risk with meth smoking. Interstitial pneumonitis is an inflammation of the lung that is commonly found in smokers of meth. This infection can lead to further lung disease.
Skin and Dental Health
The long-term effects of meth on the skin and the mouth are severe. Tooth decay, cavities, and tooth loss in combination are meth mouth. The combination of grinding teeth and dry mouth is responsible for tooth loss. The skin, the body’s largest organ, is affected by intense itchiness, like bugs crawling under the skin. Users will scratch, pick, and cause irritation to the skin, which can lead to severe infections.
Meth’s Impact on Mental Health
In some cases, meth use leads to mental health conditions to develop. A dual diagnosis requires unique treatment options. A dual diagnosis is when a substance use disorder and a mental health condition occur at the same time. Long-term meth usage can cause anxiety, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, sleeping problems, and the loss of sense of reality.
Why Meth is So Addictive
What does meth do to the body to cause such a high level of addiction? Methamphetamine has a high level of potency, which directly affects the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain’s delicate chemistry. The sense of euphoria meth initiates is very difficult to resist. Another unfortunate factor is that meth often contains other unknown substances to enhance the high it produces.
The Risk of Meth Overdose
Meth overdose risk is high with any crystal meth use. Illegal production of methamphetamine allows manufacturers to add unknown substances, which can be lethal. The addition of fentanyl is on the rise. Even the smallest amount of fentanyl can trigger a fatal overdose. The increase in overdose deaths was an alarming wake-up call for the government to initiate treatment and drug awareness to begin to address meth addiction.
Reversing the Damage: Can the Body Recover?
Detox and treatment for meth addiction must include medical supervision by healthcare professionals in a facility familiar with the dangers. Safety is paramount in a successful medical detox, and treatment must address the psychological effects of this addiction that can last for weeks to months. The body can recover in some cases after sobriety, but some brain problems and illnesses have treatments but have no recovery.
Address the Urgent Need for Methamphetamine Treatment in Tennessee Today
The risk of fatal overdose is very high with crystal meth. Tennessee Valley Recovery in Tennessee offers medical detox, comprehensive treatment for meth addiction, and additional help for mental health conditions meth can produce. They offer a variety of treatment options to meet individual needs. Contact Tennessee Valley Recovery today for more information on how to end meth use today.