What Happens If I Smoke Meth Everyday? Detox in Spokane

March 26, 2019 9:03 pm - Published by Arianna Kosoglou

What is Crystal Meth?

Meth or methamphetamine is a man-made, highly addictive drug in the stimulant classification. Meth has long term effects on the body. Crystal meth has many street names, including: crystal, ice, speed, crank, tweak, chalk, tina, gak, batu, glass, cristy, blade, shards, quartz, etc.

How It’s Abused

Any way of using crystal meth produces negative short term and long term effects. Meth can be used by way of smoking, snorting (inhaling through the nostrils), intravenously (injected), or orally. Smoking and injecting meth gives users the high more quickly, as the meth is able to enter the bloodstream at a fast rate— causing an intense rush that lasts for a few minutes. Snorting or orally ingesting methamphetamine produces effects that are less intense. Snorting methamphetamine takes about three to five minutes for the effects to take place, while oral ingestion takes about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Methamphetamine Short Term Effects

The short term effects produced by doing methamphetamines include the following:

• euphoria
• increased energy
• hyper-vigilance
• restlessness
• feelings of improved intellect and ability to solve problems
• erratic and violent behavior
• loss of appetite
• significant weight loss
• severe mood swings
• unpredictable behavior
• tremors or convulsions
• elevated blood pressure
• extreme paranoia
• rapid heart rate
• irregular heart rhythm

Continuous or consistent use of crystal meth can cause severe anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, suicidal ideation and even homicidal ideation. Like any illicit drug, methamphetamine is illegal in the United States, but this does not stop people from selling or buying meth. It is very common for users of methamphetamines to show psychotic symptoms when they are high, or after their high has faded. “Tweaking” is a word used to describe this psychotic state of meth users who feel intense cravings, despair, delusions, and altered perceptions of reality. Many meth users follow a binge/crash cycle, where they will continue to take meth to avoid the “come down” symptoms, often going multiple days on end without food, water, or sleep. Even worse than the unsavory immediate effects of the drug, stand terrifying long term effects of using crystal meth.

Long Term Effects of Meth Use

Crystal meth can cause severe physical and psychological damage. With continued use, the negative short term effects of using meth will grow in intensity and severity. Some of the long term effects of crystal meth abuse include the following:

• persistent psychotic symptoms
  • delusions
  • severe paranoia
  • hallucinations
• increased mental health issues (like depression, anxiety, isolation, etc.)
• confusion and erratic behavior
• distorted reality
  • feeling of bugs crawling on the skin
  • picking skin because they feel there is “glass” or something else inside of it
• body sores from users picking at their skin
• breathing problems associated with smoke inhalation
• damage to blood vessels through out the body, including the heart and brain
• destroys body tissue
  • shows outward signs of accelerated aging in users
  • users often develop acne
  • skin loses elasticity
• stroke
• coma
• hinders the body’s ability to heal
• tooth decay (“meth mouth”)

Using meth can also cause sudden death from cardiac arrest or stroke.

Like most substances, using meth signals the brain to flood with dopamine which is a chemical that causes a feeling of reward or pleasure. With continued use, methamphetamine disrupts the brain’s natural creation and release of dopamine— this causes users to feel sadness and depression, because their brains are dependent on the drug to create and release dopamine. This deficit and dependency can cause irreversible cognitive impairments, which is why meth addicts need to enter drug addiction treatment immediately.

Detox

Withdrawal symptoms from crystal meth usually begin around twenty-four hours after the last use, peaks at roughly 7-10 days, and lasts for about 20 days. Crystal meth can cause major symptoms of withdrawal for users who are dependent on it. Withdrawal symptoms from meth include: depression, intense cravings, anxiety, loss of energy/”crash”, itchy eyes, sleep pattern disruption (oversleeping or severe insomnia), jitters, and increased appetite. Withdrawal symptoms are most commonly experienced emotionally and psychologically, with some major physical implications.

Most commonly, psychotic symptoms become present during the detoxification process. Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights is experienced in removing substances from the body safely and effectively. Detoxification from meth is best done in an inpatient detox facility, like Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights. We provide 24/7 direct supervision of our guests by medical professionals, with doctors available around the clock. With the psychotic symptoms that present themselves during meth detox, it is extremely important to detox within a controlled and safe environment.

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment

Using Meth causes serious harm, which is why it requires the safety and support of licensed professionals to provide comprehensive addiction treatment to overcome a meth addiction. Using meth disrupts every aspect of life, including sleeping and eating patterns; this is why meth users need addiction treatment to re-learn life skills, giving them the capability to build a happy, healthy, and successful life in sobriety. Royal Life Centers at Spokane Heights offers treatment programs that are designed to follow guests from medical detox, through the stages of recovery. Our treatment options perfectly transition guests from an inpatient level of care onwards, preparing them for independence. We offer employment specialists and case management services to assist guests with any and all of their needs.

For more information about the meth detoxification services we offer, or about our treatment programs, please visit our website.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a meth addiction, please reach out to our addiction specialists toll free at (877)-RECOVERY or (888) 907-0898. Our team is available to take your call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Because We Care.