Methedrine Addiction Side Effects

Sharing the facts about Methedrine addiction side effects may save your teen from permanent damage

Is your teen in danger of becoming addicted to Methedrine? Sharing the facts about the permanent damage caused by Methedrine addiction side effects may stop a loved one from making a fatal mistake. The side effects of Methedrine addiction can cause long-lasting, often permanent damage to addicts’ brains and bodies. According to a survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most meth addicts try the drug for the first time when they are around 19 years old. Many meth users become addicted after just a few times of using. Educating your teens about the dangerous side effects of meth addiction may keep them from ruining their life with this dangerous drug.

Short term effects of Methedrine abuse

Methedrine is one of the street names for methemphetamine, a powerful stimulant drug that takes a terrible toll on users’ brains and bodies. When someone smokes or injects Methedrine, it releases a massive amount of dopamine in the brain. This causes an intense, short-lived burst of euphoria followed by a fast crash. The short-term effects of Methedrine abuse are evident as soon as someone uses the drug, and may linger for a few hours. If you are wondering if your teen is abusing Methedrine, look for these signs of Methedrine abuse:

• Increased wakefulness
• Heightened alertness
• Restlessness and increased physical activity
• Decreased appetite
• Rapid breathing and heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure and temperature
• Irregular heartbeat
• Euphoria
• Anxiety

Long term Methedrine addiction side effects

When someone is addicted to Methedrine, the side effects of their drug use can be devastating. Long-term use of methedrine can cause significant neurological and physical damage. Over time, the huge amounts of dopamine that Methedrine unleashes in the brain causes addicts to develop emotional and cognitive problems, such as losing the ability to feel any pleasure without the drug. The mental and emotional effects of Methedrine addiction may include anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and other mood problems. Addicts may act out with violent behavior and develop psychosis accompanied by paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

Over time, the physical appearance of Methedrine addicts changes just as dramatically as their mental state. Addicts often appear decades older than their actual age. The physical and psychological effects of Methedrine addiction become obvious and readily apparent to everyone as the damage progresses. Long term Methedrine addiction side effects may include:

• Deficient thinking
• Deficits in motor skills
• Increased distractibility
• Severe or pervasive memory loss
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Broken, discolored, and rotting teeth caused by acid erosion from meth use (known as “meth mouth”)
• Extreme weight loss
• Red and inflamed skin sores from incessant itchiness (feeling like bugs are crawling under the skin)
• Hair loss
• Trembling and shaking limbs

Methedrine recovery

Some of the damage caused by meth addiction may be at least partially reversible. In cases where Methedrine recovery programs have been successful at helping recovering addicts sustain abstinence from meth for more than 14 months, the individuals displayed improved performance on motor and verbal memory tests.

Inpatient meth addiction treatment programs of at least 90 days, followed by a stay in a sober living community may provide the best chance for long term recovery. Methedrine recovery programs that are based on cognitive, behavioral, or motivational methods, such as cognitive-behavioral and contingency-management interventions, have proven to be the most effective. Patients can focus exclusively on recovering from their addiction while attending treatment sessions that include behavioral therapy; family education; individual, group, and family counseling; and participation in 12-Step support groups.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.