What You Should Know About the Long-Term Effects of Meth

a purpose holding a bag of drugs showing the long term effects of meth

Meth is a powerful stimulant that’s also very addictive. It’s often used in the form of a white and odorless powder that can readily dissolve in alcohol or water. When a person takes meth, they will experience effects like an increase in talkativeness and euphoria, as well as a decrease in appetite. Additionally, there are many long-term effects of meth that can damage your health and make you addicted to the substance. Before you seek treatment for a meth addiction, learn more about the many effects that you can experience from the drug.

How Meth Use Becomes an Addiction

Meth is a drug that’s formed from the less powerful parent drug, amphetamine, which, like meth, directly affects a person’s central nervous system. The main side effects of meth include an increase in euphoria and a sense of well-being. These side effects of meth will often make a person feel much better than they usually do — until the effects wear off. While prescription forms of amphetamine can help with the treatment of narcolepsy and ADHD, taking meth is much worse because more of the drug reaches the brain compared to amphetamine.

Even when it’s taken at the same dose, the effects of meth are considerably more powerful than the effects of amphetamine, which is what makes this drug dangerous to use. Over time, your body will need the drug to function normally, and you won’t be able to stop using meth without going through withdrawal symptoms. Once you have become addicted to a drug, your main goal should be to seek treatment that will help you manage your symptoms. With addiction treatment in Portland, ME, you can reduce your cravings for the drug in a safe and supportive environment.

Possible Long-Term Effects of Meth

There are many long-term effects of meth that you should be aware of, the primary of which is addiction. When you become addicted to meth, you will be more likely to suffer from the other long-term effects. Psychosis is quite common in meth users and may persist for months after you have stopped using the drug. When you have psychosis, you might experience hallucinations and paranoia. Meth use can also cause some changes to the function and structure of your brain. These changes could make it more difficult for your brain to defend itself against infectious agents.

Over time, you may find that your motor skills and ability to think get worse. Many people who use meth regularly get distracted easily. Which may make it difficult to focus on work and complete normal tasks in a timely manner. It’s possible that you could also suffer from some memory loss, which can range in severity. Some other long-term effects of meth include serious dental issues, unplanned weight loss, frequent mood changes, and aggressive behavior. You could permanently damage the blood vessels in your brain and heart. That damage can heighten the risk of a stroke or heart attack. Also, damage to the liver, lungs, or kidneys is possible.

How to Seek Help for Your Addiction

Meth is an immensely powerful drug that will cause you to have intense cravings for the substance.  As such, it’s necessary to obtain comprehensive drug treatment to manage your cravings effectively. By signing up for a detox program to begin your treatment, you will be able to safely get the drug out of your system. Then, you’ll move on to treatments like group therapy, personal counseling, and family therapy.

If you’re currently using meth and feel like you’ve become addicted to the drug, you can get help. It’s possible to manage your addiction by attending a drug rehab facility like the one at the Liberty Bay Recovery Center. Call us today at (855) 607-8758 to start your path to recovery.

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