Meth addiction treatment programs can help you overcome your substance use problems. Contact (855) 607-8758 today to take the first step in your recovery at Liberty Bay Recovery.

Side Effects of Long-Term Meth Abuse

Long-term methamphetamine use impacts the body, mind, and spirit. Aside from the direct effect that the drug has on our health, the lifestyle adopted by methamphetamine users can have serious consequences. Not getting regular sleep, nutrition, exercise, and hygiene all contribute to the long-term effects of meth abuse.

Below, we’ll examine the impact that methamphetamines can have on our physical, mental, and dental health.

Physical Health

A variety of physical health problems can occur due to meth abuse. To list just a few, people who use meth for extended periods often experience the following:

• Significant weight loss
• Macro and micronutrient deficiencies
• Skin lesions and scabs
• Chronic insomnia
• Cardiovascular health problems

This is by no means a comprehensive list. The physical effects of methamphetamine can be severe and become harder to treat the longer a client uses the substance.

The physical effects of meth abuse stem from the excitatory nature of methamphetamine. As a stimulant, using meth causes your heart rate to increase, creates a spike in blood pressure, stifles your appetite, and forces wakefulness even if you haven’t slept in days.

The increased pressure on your heart and liver causes direct damage, but lack of sleep and nutrition means your body doesn’t have the necessary time and energy to recover.

Mental Health

The acute effects of methamphetamine can often resemble serious mental illnesses, such as psychosis. But negative mental health effects can last long after the drug wears off as well. One of the most common side effects of methamphetamine withdrawal is severe depression. After sustained drug use, the brain adapts to artificially high serotonin and dopamine levels produced by methamphetamine and struggles to find joy in everyday life.

Fortunately, our brains have a remarkable capacity for recovery. While methamphetamine causes significant changes in the brain’s reward processing centers, most people can return to neurotypical brain functioning after six months to a year of sobriety.

Dental Health

Lastly, methamphetamine can have a lasting effect on our teeth. Dental decay and tooth loss are irreversible, and prosthetics may be your only option if your teeth have declined beyond a certain point. There are several reasons meth use leads to dental health problems:

• Meth can cause dry mouth, reducing saliva that can protect our teeth from decay
• Bruxism, or jaw clenching and grinding, is a side effect of methamphetamine that can cause teeth to wear down or crack
• Improper hygiene during active addiction allows plaque and bacteria to build-up
• Poor diet and nutrition standards in meth users contribute to tooth decay

These effects lead to what’s commonly referred to as “meth mouth,” significant signs of oral decline associated with the long-term effects of meth abuse.

Meth Addiction Treatment at Liberty Bay Recovery

Fortunately, many of the problems from long-term methamphetamine use are treatable and reversible if you get the proper care and medical attention. At Liberty Bay Recovery in Portland, Maine, our addiction specialists are trained to treat the root cause of methamphetamine use disorders and the side effects that long-term use can bring.

Call (855) 607-8758 today to join a recovery community that can help you overcome your addiction and start a new life clean and sober at Liberty Bay Recovery.

The post Long-Term Effects of Meth Abuse appeared first on Liberty Bay Recovery Center.

If you or a loved one are struggling with meth addiction, Liberty Bay Recovery Center can help. We offer comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment with a well-rounded wellness approach. We believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms of addiction. If you are looking for meth addiction treatment in Portland, ME, you can call us at (855) 607-8758 for more information.

What Is Meth Mouth?

Meth mouth refers to tooth decay and oral disease accompanying a methamphetamine addiction. The compounds in methamphetamine destroy teeth and gums through smoking the drug. Meth consists of many harsh chemicals and toxic substances that can cause abscesses, lesions, and rotten teeth.

Meth mouth can describe a variety of dental problems. Many people addicted to meth experience tooth decay, rotted teeth, crumbling or broken teeth, gum disease, and numerous missing teeth. These conditions can be dangerous for your oral health, as the compounds in meth can lead to oral cancer.

Oral Effects of Meth

Smoking meth degrades your dental health. Some of the oral effects of meth include:

• Sugar consumption
• Excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching
• Failing to perform oral health maintenance
• Damage to teeth and gums through smoking meth

These are impactful consequences that could be catastrophic to a person’s oral health.

Cravings for Sugary Beverages

One of the effects of meth is the craving for sugary, carbonated drinks. This includes soda and alcohol. Sugary, high-calorie drinks have been linked to tooth decay and cavities in all people, not just people addicted to meth—the effects of meth compound the damage that carbonated, acidic drinks cause to your teeth.

Jaw Clenching and Grinding

People addicted to meth often grind their teeth and clench their jaws involuntarily. This is one of the effects of meth due to its stimulating nature. Excessive grinding and clenching of the jaw can lead to tooth damage as your enamel wears away. In extreme cases, teeth may become chipped and jagged due to teeth grinding.

Neglecting Dental Hygiene

During periods of meth-induced highs, most people neglect basic self-care practices. Meth can cause delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia. These psychological effects of meth make it difficult for the person to focus on daily tasks.

Meth use often causes hyperactivity and stimulation, leading a person to think that dental hygiene is an unimportant task. People who are addicted to meth often spend the high period engaged in high-energy activities or their hallucinations. Self-care can fall by the wayside during this time.

Meth Mouth Treatment

Proper dental care can help prevent some of the oral side effects of meth. However, once the teeth and gums are damaged, there is not much a dentist can do to salvage the broken, missing, or rotten teeth.

Periodontal disease can be treated by a professional to restore gum health. There is no guarantee that the gums will return to a perfectly healthy state after meth use. The best way to mitigate the effects of meth on dental health is to avoid meth use altogether.

Liberty Bay Recovery Center Meth Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one are seeking recovery from meth addiction, Liberty Bay Recovery Center welcomes you with open arms. We are a compassionate, empathetic recovery center that focuses on all aspects of your mental health. Addiction often has roots in mental health crises, and we have knowledgeable staff to help with that.

If you want to learn more about Liberty Bay Recovery Center’s meth addiction treatment, visit our website or call (855) 607-8758. It is never too late to reach out for help.

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