The Destructive Side Effects of Crystal Meth
Popular media has commercialized the concept of crystal meth. Breaking Bad was a global sensation, even leading online chefs to cook candy inspired by the infamous substance. While creative, it should do nothing to detract from the very real dangers using this substance leads to. Today, our luxury drug and alcohol rehab in Palm Beach takes a deeper look at real-life crystal meth side effects.
What Is Crystal Meth Made Of?
What is in crystal meth has become more widely known over the years. The man-made substance methamphetamine is not a new commodity. Soldiers took the stimulant during World War II to stay vigilant despite massive exhaustion. Crystal Meth is typically mass-produced in hidden labs, utilizing cold medicine ingredients such as pseudoephedrine and intensifying the potency of these ingredients by combining them with additional chemicals. This has led the US government to closely monitor the distribution of these medicines. The process of making the drug is just as dangerous as the substance itself. For every pound of meth produced, up to 5 pounds of waste are made as well. Exposure to this waste is harmful in its own right. The chemicals used in this process are potentially explosive and have been known for painfully disfiguring those who cook and create this drug.
How Is Crystal Meth Used?
There are a few different ways that people will ingest meth, including snorting, injecting, and orally ingesting the substance. These all result in different effects and symptom timelines. Crystal meth is frequently ingested through smoking. This is the most common method, and 66% of users will go this route. The blue-white rocks are smoked out of a small pipe referred to as a flute. Coming across these pipes may be a sign that meth has been used recently and can tip off those close to the user of their addiction.
What Are the Side Effects of Crystal Meth?
The hallmark feeling of a meth high is intense euphoria, which typically leads to a spike in alertness, and can last up to 12 hours. As with many substances, this initial rush is short-lived and will pave the way for the more damaging crystal meth side effects, including:
- Weight loss
- Intense mood swings
- Uncontrollable tremors
- High blood pressure
- Irregular heart rate
- Loss of appetite
Consistent usage of crystal meth can lead to detrimental long-term effects, such as:
- Consistent and intense anxiety
- Insomnia
- Visible paranoia
- Respiratory damage from inhalation
- Coma
- The sensation of bugs crawling under the skin
- Visible signs of early aging
- Dental decay, aka “meth mouth”
- Psychosis
How Long Does Meth Stay In Your System?
Coming down from a meth high can be a very intense experience. Usage effects are recorded to be roughly between 8 to 24 hours depending on a variety of factors, including the user’s body chemistry, the quantity of the substance, and how it was ingested. A urine drug screen can detect meth up to 72 hours after last use, although heavy users may find that interval to be longer. It can be detected in a user’s hair for up to 90 days.
Crystal Meth Withdrawal
As one’s body adjusts to the lack of meth it has become accustomed to, a person will begin to present withdrawal symptoms, such as:
- Sweating
- Lack of motivation
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Intense depression or anxiety
- Heightened irritability
The duration of a meth withdrawal will be dependent on various factors but typically lasts up to a month, after which lingering emotions like depression and anxiety should be addressed. If you or someone you love is struggling through any of these symptoms, our drug and alcohol detox in Palm Beach is here to help.
Treatment for Meth Addiction
Seaside Palm Beach is equipped with the resources necessary to tackle withdrawal symptoms and the effects of crystal meth use. Our meth addiction treatment is an excellent step in the direction of sobriety. Highly trained counselors will work to get to the root of the issue to guide their clients through the process. For more information about our residential addiction treatment in Palm Beach, call Seaside today at 561-677-9374 Source:
- ScienceDirect: Demographic and geographic shifts in the preferred route of methamphetamine administration among treatment cases in the US, 2010–2019
Related Reading: Does Meth Cause Erectile Dysfunction? Understanding the Mind of A Meth Addict
