What Is Meth? Use, Effects, Addiction, and Treatment

August 30, 2022 12:44 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Methamphetamine misuse has also been shown to contribute to increased transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Efforts to build state and local prevention and response capacity, expand linkages to care, and enhance public health and public safety collaborations are needed to combat rising methamphetamine availability and related harms. It was both the difficulty of injecting and the fear of overdose that motivated people to start smoking fentanyl instead. Smoking was also more social and people shared equipment, drugs and information.

  • While his family was downstairs, Paul said he pretended to be sick while he relapsed in a multiday meth binge.
  • Carter’s legal woes continued in the early 2010s as the Carter family dealt with various tragedies, including the deaths of Leslie and Bob.
  • The audience learns about all aspects of meth from experts with diverse perspectives on the issue – a true “360-degree” view of the harmful effects meth can have on communities.
  • Other options for treatment include detox programs and medication-assisted therapies, which employ medicines to help users manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms to increase the likelihood that clients can stay sober.

Public Messages

meth awareness

With little knowledge available about meth at the time and few resources available, Robert, who asked that NBC News conceal his last name to protect his privacy, became an “on and off” user, which he defines as five to six times per year. After meeting a man on Craigslist, he snorted a line of powder that he thought was cocaine. Google spokesperson Ned Adriance highlighted the company’s efforts to include addiction https://thetennesseedigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ helpline numbers at the top of search results related to addiction. On a Wednesday in February, a DJ in front of pink flashing lights played a trance song that included audio snippets from Netflix’s Squid Game for a crowd of 90 people. All but one person asked to withhold their last names or to go by their first initials to publicly discuss their drug use without fear of personal and professional harm.

It provides support

Chronic meth users also usually show poor personal hygiene and sores on their bodies from picking at “crank bugs,” unhealthy complexion, pallor, and tactile hallucinations that often occur in tweakers. Methamphetamine users may develop cracked teeth because of extreme clenching of their jaw when they are high on methamphetamine. Methamphetamine Sober House overdose is a toxic, potentially life threatening reaction to the drug. Your risk of overdose increases if you take a large dose of meth or mix methamphetamine with other drugs. Methamphetamine abuse and addiction is a growing issue in the United States, with a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities nationwide.

About National Today

meth awareness

On a broader scope, active addiction to methamphetamine affects the person abusing the substance and those around them, leaving no one untouched. Families, friends, and communities are all impacted once an individual is actively addicted to meth, making it especially critical to address. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. There are currently no medications for people trying to get off meth, and treatment relies on behavioral approaches that can be timely, Compton said. And meth tends to be more common in rural places, like South Dakota, where people might have more limited access to healthcare. Currently, there’s federal funding to tackle opioid addiction, but scant federal money for meth, Gill said.

Get started on the road to recovery

Mental health symptoms like paranoia and delusions may take longer to disappear. If you take more than one stimulant at a time, you have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack, and your body may overheat. If you’re found with less than 2 grams of meth in your possession, you now get a Class E violation instead of a felony. This means that you can pay a $100 fine or visit an addiction recovery center instead of spending time in jail. Scientists in the early 20th century developed it in an effort to improve the medication amphetamine. But their creation turned out stronger than they expected — too strong for most people to use safely without the risk of overdose or addiction.

meth awareness

Why Meth Awareness Day is Important

If you’d like to stop using meth, you have options for confidential support and treatment. Meth use can also increase your risk of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that can make it hard to control your movements. If you inject meth with a needle, you also have a higher risk of contracting bloodborne viruses like hepatitis C. What’s more, combining meth — a stimulant — with depressants like alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines can have a tug-of-war effect on your bodily functions. In everyday language, that means most of the meth will leave your system before the day is done. Some folks may do a “run,” which involves taking meth continuously for several hours or days, often without sleeping or eating.

  • Fortunately, with awareness, education, and support, it’s possible to minimize the destructive impact of meth so individuals, families, and society can be re-established.
  • The spokesperson added that some communities, like r/meth, were allowed to continue to exist on the platform with harm reduction in mind — providing a space for drug users to connect and be together virtually rather than alone.
  • Five or six pounds of toxic waste are produced for each pound of meth that is manufactured.

Methamphetamine

However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using. Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that can make you feel more awake and active. Always seek professional help if you suspect you or someone close may be experiencing this issue.

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This post was written by vladeta

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