Methamphetamine, or Meth, is a dangerous and highly addictive substance that works by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in increased brain activity and higher heart rate and respiratory rate. Meth is abused because of its intensely euphoric properties and its capability to increase energy and heighten focus. However, it can also have severe and debilitating consequences on a person’s physical and mental health.

Meth is used in different ways: orally, smoked, snorted, and even injected. Not one method is safe, but some are riskier than others. Shooting Meth, for example, can speed up addition because of the immediacy and intensity with which the effects are felt. Also, it can be fatal.

Knowing the harm methamphetamine causes may help the individual make a positive change and break their addiction:

What Are the Effects of Shooting Meth?

1. Euphoria

The high from shooting meth is intense, but it lasts only 8 to 15 minutes. Users report feelings of euphoria or the sensation of being extremely happy. Meth users feel a rush of energy and a strong desire to talk and move around.

2. Hyper-Alert and Hyper-Active

Meth makes users feel very alert and active. They can stay awake for days, and their energy is increased. Users often feel addicted to meth because they’re in a constantly heightened state of activity. Mixing meth and other drugs, especially alcohol, makes users feel more energized but more anxious and aggressive.

3. Increased Breathing Rate

Meth increases the heart rate and stimulates the brain, lungs, and rest of the central nervous system. The breathing rate of a meth user can advance to the point that they can’t stand still.

4. Changes in Appetite and Thirst

Meth users experience extreme changes in appetite and thirst. They can eat or drink large amounts of food and water. They can also eat or drink nothing at all.

5. Increased Body Temperature

Meth makes the body feel hot, even when it’s cold. The body temperature of a meth user can rise to dangerous levels, potentially resulting in a life-threatening condition called hyperthermia.

6. Tolerance and Withdrawal

The body quickly builds up a tolerance or need for meth, which means users have to take larger doses to achieve the same effect. Withdrawal symptoms set in as the drug wears off, and the user’s body craves meth even more. The most intense withdrawal symptoms occur between 2 to 8 days after the last dose of meth, but the symptoms can last for up to 3 months.

7. Violence and Paranoia

Meth users feel high levels of paranoia and aggression, leading to violence and crime. Meth users are often paranoid that someone is trying to steal their supply, or even kill them. Their aggressive behaviors can lead to robbery, theft, and violent assault.

8. Hallucinations and Psychosis

People who use large amounts of meth can develop distorted perceptions and hallucinations. They may feel like bugs are crawling all over their bodies or that their skin is on fire. Meth psychosis may also cause people to feel as if their bodies are extremely large or small.

9. Other Psychotic Symptoms

Meth can cause psychosis, which is a mental condition in which a person can’t tell the difference between real and imagined experiences, and may have trouble relating to others. People who have a history of psychosis are especially susceptible to meth, because it can quickly worsen the symptoms.

What Are the Dangers of Shooting Meth?

1. Quick Addiction

Shooting meth is the most common way of using meth, but it’s also the most dangerous.

Addiction to meth can develop within one to three months of its use. This is because meth works on the central nervous system by flooding it with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that activates the reward and pleasure centers. Repeated use of meth can cause the brain to become dependent on the drug to create dopamine, resulting in severe cravings.

2. Overdose

Methamphetamine can cause serious, life-threatening effects, especially when taken in large doses or when taken in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Death can result from an overdose of meth.

3. Damaged Brain Function

Methamphetamine causes a variety of damaging effects on the brain, including the reduction of dopamine binding sites and the loss of dopamine transporters (DAT). The loss of dopamine transporters means that fewer dopamine messages

What Is Meth?

The name methamphetamine is composed of two words, methyl, and phenyl. Methyl is a form of carbon, while phenyl is an aromatic hydrocarbon. Methamphetamine, therefore, is an organic compound with a chemical structure similar to ephedrine and amphetamine. Meth is a central nervous system stimulant. It was synthesized in 1919 in Japan and is also known as “speed,” “crystal,” “crank,” and “ice.”

Meth is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug that affects the brain and spinal cord. There are several different types of methamphetamine. The most common is called “crystal meth” or “ice,” which is a clear, odorless, and bitter-tasting form of the drug. College students and professionals often use methamphetamine, Adderall, and other stimulants to increase mental alertness, attention, and energy.

What Exactly Is Shooting Meth?

Shooting meth is when someone injects meth directly into their bloodstream. When someone shoots meth, the drug can enter the bloodstream within 8 to 12 seconds, sending the user into an intense euphoric state that lasts approximately 15 minutes. Meth is typically snorted, but it can also be smoked, eaten, or dissolved in water and then injected. Of these four methods of using meth, injecting it is by far the most dangerous.

What Are the Signs That Someone Is Using Meth?

Common signs of meth abuse include:

• Twitching or shaking of the hands and body

• Excessive sweating (even when not hot)

• Dilated pupils

• Sleep disturbances

• Unusual behavior

• Extremely irritable mood

• Repetitive mannerisms and habits

• Paranoia

• Loss of appetite

• Hiding evidence of drug use

• Disappearing for hours at a time

Understanding Chemical Imbalances in the Brain

Meth abuse can be passed from the neuron to the junctions where they are released. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that is responsible for regulating movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and pleasure.

When an individual uses meth, the brain is flooded with an excess of dopamine, which triggers an immediate sense of euphoria. The problem with meth is that many of these dopamine receptors are not being replenished. The user is no longer able to feel pleasure as intensely as before. This is the drug’s primary appeal and addictiveness. Many users are driven to continue using meth in an effort to recreate the feelings of initial euphoria.

Experiencing psychotic episodes

On the other hand, signs of drug abuse can differ from person to person because every person’s body is different. It’s important to remember that no single factor indicates definitively that a person is using drugs.

What Are the Behavioral Changes in Someone Using Meth?

Meth users often have a variety of behavioral changes that can include:

• Restlessness

• Irritability

• Aggression

• Nervousness

• Hostility

• Paranoia

• Violence

• Impulsive behavior

• Psychosis

• Hallucinations

How Can One Stop Shooting Meth?

If you or a loved one is shooting meth, you must get treatment immediately. The treatment process should not be taken lightly and can be difficult, but possible. Your first step is to find a detox center where you can get medically supervised care and detoxification.

Detoxing is the process of cleansing the body of drug and alcohol abuse. It’s an essential step in the drug abuse treatment process because it allows the user to clear the drugs from their system. During detoxification, meth users experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms, which can include:

• Insomnia

• Agitation

• Nervousness

• Anxiety

• Mood swings

• Depression

• Flu-like symptoms

• Physical symptoms

• Mood swings

Conclusion

Meth is a dangerous drug that is used in many different forms. Injecting meth is the most potent way of using meth, but it is also the most harmful. If you or a loved one is shooting meth, know that help is available. There are addiction treatment centers that can help.

Source: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine 

The post Things to Know About Shooting Meth: Symptoms, Risks, and Effects first appeared on American Drug Rehabs.

The post Things to Know About Shooting Meth: Symptoms, Risks, and Effects appeared first on American Drug Rehabs.