Methamphetamine, also known as meth, is an illegal drug that causes permanent changes to a person’s brain and can cause irreversible damage to their mind and body. If you or someone you care about is abusing meth, it’s best to reach out for help from an experienced team of professionals.
At Fresh Start Recovery Center, we offer integrated treatment plans that are tailored to the individual needs of our clients. Reach out to us today online or at 833.625.0398 to speak with a trained representative about the benefits of our meth addiction treatment program. We look forward to providing you with more information about treatment options that are right for your particular life circumstances.
What Is Meth?
Meth is homemade in uncontrolled and dangerous circumstances. Chemicals in meth have the potential to cause severe harm to those making and handling the drug as well as those who consume it. In part because of the harmful chemicals in meth, one in three users report having symptoms associated with “meth mouth.” This includes broken teeth, extreme tooth decay, loss of teeth, and other mouth and jaw-related health issues.
Meth produces a short-lived high. The result is that those who use meth are encouraged to go on binges in order to avoid a crash. Not unlike those who use cocaine and crack, people who use meth tend to use the drug repeatedly over a period of many hours and stay awake for unreasonable lengths of time. This prolonged sleep deprivation is extremely unhealthy and has lasting negative consequences.
How Long Does Meth Stay in Your System?
If you want to know if someone is abusing meth, it is important to know how long the substance remains in your system. Certain tests will be more effective if several days have elapsed since the last time a person used meth.
Meth remains in the bloodstream for one to three days. Meth is detectable in saliva for up to four days after the last time a person used it. If a person is a light user, a single use of meth remains detectable in urine for up to four days. For heavy users, meth usually remains detectable in a urine sample for up to a week. Hair use is detectable in a person’s hair for up to ninety days.
Signs and Symptoms of Meth Abuse
Meth abuse has many red flags that are, in some instances, more evident than other forms of drug abuse. Those that use meth often stay awake for unusually long periods of time. You may notice that a person is awake at odd hours. They may try to reach out in the middle of the night as if this is normal behavior. They may also engage in atypical physical behaviors in a way that is somewhat compulsive. People who use meth often have intense urges to exert excess physical energy in ways that are strange or nonsensical.
Unconventional behaviors are not all that unusual when it comes to meth use.
Meth use can result in:
- Aggressive or violent outbursts
- Exaggerated mannerisms
- Paranoia
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
Meth use and addiction have the effect of speeding up the physical appearance of aging. This is partly because smoking meth causes permanent skin damage. Many individuals who have meth addictions report the terrifying experience of parasitosis. Parasitosis is a sensation that something is crawling on the surface of or under your skin. This is commonly referred to as “meth bugs.” As a result, those who use meth have the compulsion to scratch and pick at their skin, leaving open sores and wounds.
Overcome Meth Addiction at Fresh Start Recovery Center
Meth addiction is serious and can cause irreversible harm to those who use the drug for prolonged periods of time. Meth use and addiction can destroy a person’s body and mind. The consequences include:
- Brain damage
- Premature aging
- Rapid weight loss
- Heart problems
- Risk of organ damage
- Early cognitive decline
If you or someone you care about is struggling with meth use, reach out to the professionals at Fresh Start Recovery Center to learn more about meth addiction treatment. Our treatment programs and mental health services can help you turn your life around. Contact Fresh Start Recovery Center today by calling 833.625.0398 or filling out our online contact form for more information about meth addiction treatment.
