Methamphetamine use disorder is affecting a growing number of people in the United States. In 2023, about 0.4% of the population (964,000 people) had the disorder. This is compared to 684,000 people in 2022. Using methamphetamine (or meth, as it is commonly called) can lead to mental health issues. For example, about 40% of people who use meth experience psychosis like that in schizophrenia. There are also physical impacts of using meth.Here, Can-Am Interventions would like to bring awareness to meth psychosis, how meth affects your body and brain, and what the link is between meth and schizophrenia.
What is psychosis? And how is it linked to meth use?
Psychosis is the presence of hallucinations, delusions, or both. Some people who use meth experience psychosis because of how the drug affects the brain’s chemistry.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are things that you see, hear, or feel that are not real. For instance, you might hear voices that others do not hear, or see objects or people that do not exist. You might also feel as though you have bugs crawling on your skin when that is actually not the case.
Delusions
Delusions are false beliefs that you hold very strongly. These beliefs are based on incorrect understandings about reality. For example, someone may believe that all their thoughts and actions are being controlled by another person or external source. Or they might believe that someone wants to harm them, so they think the person has poisoned all their food.Because hallucinations and delusions can often be very scary or upsetting, they can sometimes lead to violent behaviour.
What does meth do to your body?
Methamphetamine affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It is a drug that falls in the category of stimulants. What this means is that meth causes changes to your body such as:
- Increased activity, talkativeness, or energy
- Decreased appetite
- Euphoria, or an extreme sense of pleasure and well-being
The euphoria that meth causes makes it very addictive. As a result, meth is legally available only through a nonrefillable prescription. Medical providers prescribe it for weight loss or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, providers rarely prescribe it, and when they do, they do so at much lower doses than what is typically taken by recreational users.
What does meth do to the brain?
Meth increases dopamine levels in your brain. Dopamine is a chemical that plays a role in the reward systems of the brain. It increases feelings of pleasure. As a result, you return to using substances or doing activities that release it.You probably know of cocaine, which is another type of stimulant. Cocaine is completely processed by your body and quickly removed from it. Half of it is removed from your body in 1 hour. Meth, on the other hand, lasts in the body longer. It takes 12 hours for your body to remove half of it. This means that meth also stays in the brain longer. As a result, the effects of meth last over a greater period of time compared to that of cocaine. Also, meth generates even more dopamine in the brain than cocaine does, making it highly addictive.
What are the short-term effects of using meth?
The increased levels of dopamine from meth affect various body systems. Some short-term side effects may include:
- Increased attention
- Decreased fatigue
- Faster breathing
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Hyperthermia, or dangerous increase in body temperature
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Nausea
- Erratic or violent behaviour
Meth can also cause these psychotic effects within 1 to 5 days after use:
- Paranoia: being suspicious of others that is undue or without reason
- Delusions: false beliefs that you hold very strongly.
- Hallucinations: things you hear, see, or feel that are not really there.
How much meth is needed to cause these effects can vary between people. The minimum dose that causes these side effects would depend on how much meth you use and over what period of time. A large dose in a short amount of time can cause these effects. Taking smaller doses over a longer period of time can cause them as well.
What are the long-term effects of using meth?
If you misuse meth long-term, there can be many negative consequences to your health and your life. These can include some of the following listed below.
Behavior or mood changes
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Mood disturbances
- Violent behavior
- Psychosis that can last for months or even years after quitting meth
Physical problems
- Brain damage
- Heart damage
- Liver, Kidney and Lung damage
- Intense itching and skin sores from scratching
- Severe tooth decay and tooth loss
Addiction-related problems
- Withdrawal, or painful/uncomfortable symptoms when you stop using, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, or intense cravings for meth
- Tolerance to meth, or needing higher and higher doses to feel the same effects
- Meth addiction
- Difficulty feeling pleasure from anything else in life
Help?
Drug addiction is a life destructing condition that continues to become worse the longer the addiction carries on. Support from family, friends or from the community are very important to help fight the disease of addiction. It is also highly advised to obtain the support and services of an experienced and trained professional to provide treatment plans and the guidance and resources needed for healthy recovery. Drug addiction is a very fragile condition to manage. It is important to approach the issue with all the support and guidance available to ensure that the user practices a healthy and stable recovery plan. Can-Am Interventions primary focus is to treat addicts and to provide a plan for recovery and to guide not only the addict, but to also guide all involved in the support network of the recovering addict. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us today. We look forward to the opportunity of assisting you on your path to recovery.
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