What Are Signs of Meth Use?

Meth use has risen in the United States, raising the alarm about addiction and overdose. In 2018, data shows that nearly 1.9 million people used meth. According to the National Institute on drug abuse, meth overdose rates quadrupled from 2011 to 2017 alone. Due to the rising concerns about the drug, knowing how to recognize the signs of use can be helpful.

What is Meth?

Meth is a shorter name for a substance called methamphetamine. People also call meth by names like blue, crystal, ice, and speed. There is no legal use for meth.

Meth is a very addictive stimulant drug. It interacts with a person’s central nervous system and increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. This chemical interacts with a lot of body and brain functions. These functions lead to a high and the “reward system” part of the brain. This is part of what makes meth so addictive.

Methamphetamine is a white powder or pill. It has been described as bitter tasting. Crystal methamphetamine looks like shiny, glass-like fragments. Sometimes, crystal meth looks like blue or white rocks.

People take methamphetamine by swallowing, smoking, snorting, or injecting it.

Effects and Signs of Use

Short-Term Use Effects

These effects are similar to other stimulant drugs.

Decreased Appetite
Increased physical activity or less sleep
Fast breathing
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Increased blood pressure
Higher body temperature

Long-Term Use Effects

Emotional and Behavioral Effects

As methamphetamines affect the brain, someone taking meth will have different emotional responses, reactions, and behaviors than usual. These reactions are a possible sign of meth use:

Anxiety
Paranoia
Hallucinations
Memory loss
Confusion
Sleeping problems
Violent Behavior
Uncharacteristic risk-taking behavior

Physical Effects

Methamphetamine use can change someone’s appearances. These physical effects are a possible sign of meth use:

Intense itching, dull skin, sores
Severe dental problems (this is known as “meth mouth”)
Extreme weight loss
Reduced coordination or sudden clumsiness
Impaired verbal learning (slurred or difficult to understand speech)
Dilated pupils and rapid eye movement

Other Possible Signs of Meth Use

Sudden changes in a person may suggest drug use. The presence of these signs does not guarantee that a person is using meth; however, these signs and behaviors have been observed in many meth users.

Unusual reckless behavior
Easily agitated, irritable, aggressive, or defensive
Picking at skin, hair-pulling, or twitching
Not eating for many hours or an entire day
Not wanting to sleep
Not caring about physical appearance or grooming
Financial and legal problems
- Borrowing money or stealing
Having paraphernalia like needles, aluminum foil, or glass pipes

Additional Concerns

Meth is an illegal drug that is of great concern because it is so addictive. The high or rush someone feels from meth contributes to how addictive it is, as people may want to immediately feel this sensation over and over again. The more often a person uses meth, the more tolerant they become. This means that a person needs higher doses to achieve the same effects.

Additionally, people that take meth through injection are at increased risk of getting an infectious disease. A person can contract a disease such as HIV and hepatitis through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. This contact can happen through shared needles. This leads to other serious, potentially fatal, consequences.

Meth addiction may be difficult to overcome, but treatment success is absolutely possible with the correct support, medical attention, and rehabilitation drug treatment program. Seeking help is the best thing one can do. Please seek a trusted medical resource for any questions or concerns you may have about meth or addiction.