How is Your Body Affected by Smoking Meth?
How is Your Body Affected by Smoking Meth?
Table of Contents
What is Meth?
If you are interested in understanding how your body is affected by smoking meth, it is important to understand what meth is. Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a central nervous system stimulant.1 While it has been used in the treatment of severe ADHD, it has also been misused as a common illicit substance.
What Does Meth Look Like?
In its illicit form, meth appears as a rock formed by powder. Commonly, flakes will break off the rock and resemble crystals or glass, which is where many of its other names, such as ice, originate.
Meth vs. Crystal Meth
Meth is an umbrella term that includes crystal meth. Crystal meth, also known as ice, is a form of meth. It is a distilled form that is more potent than other forms of the drug, increasing its addictiveness and risk of side effects.
Is Meth Addictive?
Any substance can become addictive when regularly administered in the body, especially one that depresses or elevated brain chemistry. Because meth is a stimulant that directly affects the central nervous system, there is a high risk of addiction even with only a few uses.
How is Meth Used?
- Snorting Meth: With snorting, meth crystals are ground into a fine powder and inhaled through the nose. This method introduces the substance directly to the central nervous system and is one of the most potent forms of administration.
- Injecting Meth: During injection, meth is melted to a liquid and administered intravenously. Injecting meth allows for more rapid onset of effects. It also poses a variety of risks due to unhygienic practices and can increase the risk for infection or blood-borne disease.
- Smoking Meth: Smoking is another common method of administration and involves heating the fragments of meth in a glass pipe. With long-term use, this method can cause the usual effects of meth abuse as well as lung damage.
Signs of Meth Use
The signs of meth use can manifest in both physical and mental ways. Some of the most common signs of meth use include:
- Weight loss
- Intense scratching
- Sores
- Poor oral health (meth mouth)
- Agitation
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Paranoia
Additional Signs of Meth Abuse
There are very few drugs on the market that have no side effects. Despite its benefit as an opioid treatment medication, side effects from Suboxone can occur, especially if a dependency has developed. Someone who uses this substance and becomes addicted will generally feel similar side effects to those experienced when withdrawing from prescription pain medications or other opioids like heroin.
Some of the most common signs of Suboxone side effects include:
Meth Mouth
One of the most noticeable signs of meth abuse is dental health decline, a phenomenon known commonly as meth mouth or meth teeth. Meth mouth is characterized by a variety of dental health concerns including cavities, tooth decay, and gum issues.2 Overtime, this effect can lead to tooth loss and harm the entire body.
Meth Sores
Meth use can also take a toll on the skin in the form of meth sores. These are surface wounds that can appear in a variety of sizes depending on the severity of damage and are most common on the face and arms.
Meth sores can be caused by:
Administration
Excessive picking
Infection
Immune system decline
Increase in acne
What Does Meth Smell Like?
During production, meth will have a strong, volatile scent from the number of hazardous chemicals used. This scent also carries a strong chemical note itself and may resemble vinegar, ammonia, or even acetone. Many people describe the smell of meth either as a hospital due to the variety of fragrant chemicals used or as something foul such as rotting eggs or cat urine.
However, when it is smoked, the heat can alter the smell. During this time, the meth smell may become lighter or even sweeter smelling. Many other illicit substances share a similar version of this slightly sweet aroma upon smoking. In rare cases, meth may have no odor at all.
Meth Side Effects
Whenever meth is administered into the body, there is a risk for side effects. The appearance and severity of side effects can vary based on different factors, including method of use, dosage, and genetics.
Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects of meth are the consequential state of feeling “high.” However, this high can also pair with negative feelings immediately after or even during use. Short-term effects of meth can include:- Mood swings
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in sleep schedule
- Agitation
- Increased heart rate
Long-Term Effects
Some studies have shown that meth may also damage DNA. This damage means that while meth itself has not been shown to cause cancer, even with smoking, it has the potential to increase the risk for cancer.3
Due to the chemical composition of methamphetamine, smoking meth can also produce similar effects as smoking cigarettes. It can cause severe lung damage, especially with long-term use. Damage can also occur elsewhere in the respiratory system due to the inhalation of smoke and toxins.
Long-term meth abuse can also lead to psychological issues including depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
Meth Psychosis
Because meth affects the brain, it can lead to a condition known as psychosis, which includes severe hallucinations.4 Most times, meth psychosis requires hospitalization to maintain safety for the individual and their surroundings.
Overdose
One of the most dangerous side effects of meth use is overdose when a toxic amount of a substance is introduced to the body. An overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
- Agitation
- Lethargy
- Increased appetite
- Dry mouth
- Psychotic symptoms
- Suicidal ideation
- Depression
- Intense cravings
How To Quit Smoking Meth?
For those looking for professional help with managing and treating their substance abuse disorder, there are a variety of options available.
- Detox
The first step in treatment for a meth addiction begins with a detox program. The body needs to be given a period to eliminate any traces of methamphetamine from its system to heal. This time is known as detox.
Depending on the severity of addiction, detox can lead to withdrawal. Due to the intensity and discomfort associated with meth withdrawal, other forms of treatment are often utilized not only to provide treatment for the withdrawal but to prevent relapse within the future by addressing the source of addiction.
- Detox
- Inpatient
Inpatient programs can provide continuous care to help treat the side effects of meth addiction as well as withdrawal symptoms. This program can aid in the prevention of relapse while also providing lasting skills to use outside of the rehabilitation center.
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
Outpatient care is focused on therapy, support groups, and appointments with medical professionals to manage withdrawal symptoms and provide a method to continue recovery.
- Outpatient
- Therapy
Therapy can help treat the source of meth addiction while also aiding in treating withdrawal symptoms during withdrawal. One of the most common forms of therapy used is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on the connection between thoughts and behaviors to promote an improvement in mental health while also providing the tools for self-help to encourage long-term recovery.
- Therapy
