9 Signs of Meth Addiction and How to Get Help Fast

You can also suffer from serious cardiovascular problems like a heart attack or stroke, both of which can be deadly. Poison Control can help you decide whether you should call 911 after a meth exposure. Although Poison Control is staffed by medical experts, it is important to remember that they are not a replacement for emergency health care. They may, therefore, direct you to seek emergency medical attention after you contact them. One of the reasons why methamphetamine is so toxic and dangerous to users is because the drug is made out of a range of harsh, synthetic chemicals. Industrial cleaners, solvents, and even animal poisons are used to make methamphetamine in illegal labs around the world.

  • Contact our admissions team to see how we can support you today.
  • This leads individuals to pick at their skin excessively, resulting in sores, scars, and infections.
  • At first, a person might feel very happy, have some trouble breathing, or feel restless.
  • Prolonged methamphetamine use can cause irreversible damage to the blood vessels around the heart and in the brain, causing an irregular heartbeat.

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. It should not be used in place of the advice of your signs of a meth overdose and finding treatment physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Engaging in Risky or Uncharacteristic Behavior

If someone’s overdosing on meth, one of the biggest dangers is their body overheating. Meth can spike their temperature, which is serious and needs to be dealt with fast. The first and the best thing you can do is ensure that doctors can be in their way. You don’t have to know what drug (or amount) they took, but if you do, tell them it’s meth. If these symptoms aren’t addressed and they keep happening every time someone uses them, they can lead to lasting damage or even death.

Behavioral Signs of Meth Addiction

From 2015 to 2022, overdose deaths involving psychostimulants (mostly meth) increased from approximately 5,716 to 34,022. Risky drug ingestion methods increased in tandem, and researchers have made a correlation between the two statistics. If someone near you is experiencing a meth overdose, call 911 immediately. Overdose treatment is imperative as the chances of recovery from a meth overdose are dependent on how quickly the patient receives the required medical attention. Meth is an aphrodisiac used for the sudden euphoria it induces.

What Are the Symptoms of an Overdose?

Even though some issues can appear quickly, the temptation to chase that high often outweighs the warnings. Because street meth is illegal, you can never really know how strong or pure it is. A dose that might be okay under your doctor’s prescription could be risky if it comes from an unknown source. Both types of overdose, acute and chronic, can cause significant harm to your organs.

It is impossible to know for sure how much meth it takes to overdose. A big reason for this is that the purity of methamphetamine is often unknown, as the drug can belaced with other substanceslike fentanyl. Further, mixing meth with other drugs or alcohol can heighten the side effects and increase the potential for an overdose. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.

Reset Your Mind: Benefits of Inpatient Mental Health Care

  • Overdosing on meth or amphetamine can seriously impact individuals.
  • Meth tightens up your blood vessels, which messes with the flow to your intestines.
  • Meth addiction treatment involves detox, therapy, and support, with detox managing withdrawal and therapies like CBT addressing psychological issues.
  • Liver, lung, and kidney damage also occur in advanced meth addiction.
  • Yes, meth overdoses or toxicity can occur in small doses, especially when mixed with other drugs.

Methamphetamine was invented in the early 1900s and was used to help people stay awake or lose weight. During WWII, soldiers took methamphetamine to help them stay awake during long military engagements. While methamphetamine has similar effects to amphetamines, it is more addictive and comes with a range of dangerous side effects. If you or someone you love is struggling with meth use, know help is available. There are many treatment programs and therapies that help to treat stimulant use disorders.

These toxic chemicals can rot sensitive tissues, veins, muscles, and teeth. Advanced drug or alcohol addiction often changes the user’s appearance, but the change is profound in meth addiction thanks to the corrosive, toxic effects of the drug. A person’s ability to recover from a meth overdose depends on the amount of meth they used and how quickly they were able to receive medical attention. The quicker a person overdosing can get medical care, the greater their chances of recovery from the overdose are. In 2020, nearly 82.6% of methamphetamine overdose deaths also involved fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid almost 100x stronger than morphine and contributes to a majority of drug-related deaths in the United States.

How Common Are Meth Overdoses?

The road to recovery may seem challenging, but it is achievable with the right support. Recognizing the signs of meth abuse is the first step to making a difference. If you or someone you care about is struggling, don’t wait to seek help. The team at Robert Alexander Recovery Center specializes in guiding individuals through every stage of recovery, with personalized care and expertise. Reach out today to begin the path toward a healthier, substance-free life.

Meth Overdose Symptoms

Emergency dispatchers can guide you through providing emergency first aid measures. These may include rolling the person onto their side if unconscious, protecting the head if they are having a seizure, or giving chest compressions if they have stopped breathing. “DEA warns of methamphetamine and fentanyl drug market built by aftermath of COVID-19 in New York,” January 26, 2021.

Understanding Drug Overdose

Furthermore, giving the person Narcan will not be detrimental to their health even if it does not have an impact on meth overdose. Keep an eye out for the signs of meth use and if you believe you or a loved one is struggling with a meth addiction, there are treatment options. Meth addiction is hard to stop; finding the best support and treatment will help your success in recovery. Treatment programs provide support to get you through meth withdrawal symptoms and give you tools to help you maintain sobriety.

They may cause permanent damage to organs and ongoing mental health issues. When you overdose on meth, it can impact your body in both the short and long term. At first, a person might feel very happy, have some trouble breathing, or feel restless. Since every drug affects your body in unique ways, mixing them is a riskier move. Representatives are standing by to answer your questions about addiction treatment.