A Guide on Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Use

Are there negative long-term effects of meth due to excessive use for a long time? Yes, there are different meth long-term effects which can easily damage your body and brain. The frequent use of methamphetamine can result in severe health problems. Knowing these effects helps you protect yourself and others suffering from meth use. Before exploring the effects, it is a good approach to know what methamphetamine is.

What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is an effective synthetic stimulant. This substance is prepared in the labs with a higher potential for addiction. Meth is available in the form of crystalline and powder in the United States of America. Crystalline methamphetamine is also known as Ice, crystal meth, and tina.

Meth can be injected, smoked, or snorted, resulting in talkiness and alertness. The immediate effects of using methamphetamine include feelings of well-being and happiness, and decreased appetite. Long-term meth use can result in serious health issues such as unintentional overdose. Meth can be found in the bodies of people who die from a fentanyl overdose.

Legality of Methamphetamine

It is important to consider that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has approved the use of methamphetamine for the short-term treatment of obesity and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) leads to legal availability via a non-refillable prescription. 

What are the Long-Term Effects of Meth Use?

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that can make you alert and talkative while offering a pleasurable experience. However, there are different consequences of long-term methamphetamine use.

Tolerance and Withdrawal from Methamphetamine

The continuous use of methamphetamine provides a pleasurable experience to the users. With the passage of time, users start taking meth frequently or higher doses to get the same pleasure just like the first time. However, chronic users become addicted to meth, which can also lead to crystal meth addiction. This addiction is harmful because it destroys the nervous system and finally life. 

Withdrawal from methamphetamine can also bring several negative effects on your health. The potential long-term side effects of meth use include fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Moreover, it can also boost your craving for the drugs.

Physical Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Use 

There are several physical effects of meth use for long-term users. These effects include skin sores, tooth loss or decay, and weight loss. It is important to consider different reasons for dental issues, such as teeth grinding, dry mouth, poor dental hygiene, and poor nutrition.

Psychotic and Mood Problems

There are notable symptoms in people who have been using meth for a long period. The prominent symptoms are violent behaviour, mood swings, confusion, anxiety, and insomnia. There are also psychiatric issues like delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, and paranoia.

It is crucial to remember that psychotic symptoms can last for a few months to years after you get rid of the addiction. Stress is a spontaneous recurrence of meth psychosis in individuals using methamphetamine. Therefore, mood and psychosis are the prominent long-term effects of crystal meth.

Effects on Brain Structure and Functionality

The most dangerous effect of long-term use of methamphetamine is on mental health. It usually alters the activity of the dopamine system in the addicts’ minds. This effect can lead to impaired verbal learning and slower motor speed. Excessive use of methamphetamine can result in damage to the memory and emotional system of the brain. Therefore, addicts undergo cognitive and emotional issues.

The long-term effects of methamphetamine on the mind also include impaired habits, such as counterproductive or useless behavior. It also alters the mind structure, which is usually involved in decision-making skills. These negative effects are the reasons for the decline in mental flexibility.

Meth Use Disorder

The distinctive characteristics of ice make it the most addictive substance for people. The repetitive use is the main reason for the methamphetamine disorder among individuals who snort or smoke it for feelings of happiness and relaxation. This disorder can badly affect you in terms of physical health and economics. You need to contact the MD Rehab Center for the proper treatment of this addiction.

Bacterial Infections  

Long-term meth effects also consist of bacterial infections among those who are addicted to crystal methamphetamine. Using shared injection equipment for ice addiction can boost the chances of bacterial infections on the addicts’ bodies. This infection can further result in infective endocarditis (heart infection), which is dangerous for an addict’s life.

Viral Hepatitis or HIV Disease

The use of shared equipment for injecting ice increases the chances of diseases like HIV or viral hepatitis among addicts. These diseases can last for a few months to years, depending on following the healthcare guidelines while stopping the use of tina. Moreover, the sexual interaction after using the ice frequently can also spread hepatitis.

Cardiovascular Health Problems

The frequent or excessive use of methamphetamine can also lead to serious cardiovascular issues among addicts. Risks associated with cardiovascular events include a stroke that can badly affect the heart’s functionality. Moreover, excessively using methamphetamine can also cause heart failure, leading to death. 

Deceased Sexual Functionality among Male Addicts

The first dose of ice increases both the duration and the pleasure of having sex. However, long-term addiction can affect sexual functionality among men. Increased ice dosage brings the following negative effects, such as loss of control, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.

Effects on Pregnancy

The use of methamphetamine among women can result in several health problems during pregnancy.

• Higher risks of abruption and premature birth.

• Severe chances of miscarriage and eventual death.

• Small newborn size, minimal head size, and weight loss.

• Stressful conditions with lower alertness.

Why does Meth have the Highest Relapse Rate?

Meth addicts can face different obstacles. It is a fact that most of the users have a closer connection with the people who are already addicted to methamphetamine. There is a group-sharing culture to buy and use the meth together. Ice becomes the first priority that forces individuals to ignore or change their daily obligations. The desire to continue the addiction also forces the addicts to change their social activities. They have to be adhered to to prevent relapse.

The full recovery from ice addiction is possible for those addicts who can make gradual changes in their lifestyle. Addicts are always ready to relocate to friends who are also on the same track and make new friends who are also ice addicts. Meth has been a biological, physical, and mental addiction.

What are the Withdrawal Symptoms for Methamphetamine?

There are different symptoms when a chronic user starts avoiding the use of methamphetamine. These symptoms become more prominent within 2-3 days, even if addicts don’t experience a drug use disorder. It is important to remember that meth withdrawal symptoms can last for a few weeks after avoiding the addiction. The indicators include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Discomfort and pain
• Craving
• Irritability
• Sleeping issues

How does Methamphetamine become Addictive?

Meth is a drug with a higher chance of becoming addictive. It directly enters the brain and produces a euphoria that ends fast. This quick end makes the meth reinforcing, and addicts want to take more drug. It is important to remember that two out of three people aged above 26 years can experience drug use disorder.

Stimulant use disorder represents the condition of those people having a problem with the use of methamphetamine. This disorder is a pattern of stimulant use that can result in distress or impairment. Therefore, people using methamphetamine can show these symptoms in the next 12 months.

• Long-term use or excessive consumption of different drugs.

• Unsuccessful and persistent desire to regulate or cut down on the drug use.

• Spending time getting, using, or recovering from the excessive use of ice.

• A stronger desire to keep consuming the drug.

• Unable to complete different obligations due to excessive drug use.

• Ignorance of interpersonal or social issues for consuming methamphetamine.

• No or minimal activities due to higher addiction to ice.

• Tolerance to the use of crystal methamphetamine.

• Different withdrawal symptoms on avoiding the drug.

There will be a mild diagnosis when a person experiences two to three of the symptoms. The presence of four to five symptoms ensures a moderate diagnosis. There is also a possibility of a severe diagnosis when a person has at least six symptoms. Moreover, the severe diagnosis is an indication of the addiction. 

What are the Treatments for Meth Use?

There is no FDA-approved treatment for methamphetamine use disorder. Fortunately, behavioral treatments are available to deal with meth addiction. Contingency management is the most successful treatment in curing meth addicts. It allows you to consider the different incentives, such as cash, prizes, and gift cards, to inspire those looking to stop using methamphetamine.

There are also other options, such as motivational interviews, group support, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to treat methamphetamine use disorders. NIDA inspires medical facilities to explore new medications and use them to reduce and eradicate substance addiction. It is also recommended to measure safety protocols to reduce methamphetamine use.

Get the Best Treatment for Methamphetamine Craving

Taking methamphetamine through a prescription is not injurious to health, but being addicted to it can lead to several long-term effects. These consequences of consuming ice for a long time can badly affect your physical and mental health. We are committed to providing the best treatment to those suffering from meth.