JastaPlace Drug RehabThe Damaging and Deadly Side of Meth Addiction
Meth addiction has been rapidly growing over the past ten years. A survey done in 2000 yielded the result that an estimated 8.8 million American citizens had experimented with meth at least once in their lives. Many people try meth because it brings with it a pleasurable “rush” or “flash” that is then followed by a high that can last anywhere from six to eight hours.
Some individuals start using meth in order to shed pounds while others do it as a means of staying awake longer and also to have more energy if they work long hours. Still others take it in the hope that it will give them more self confidence and will increase their libidos.
Unfortunately the allure of meth can easily turn into a full blown addiction to the drug that then requires the need for drug rehab. Methamphetamine is a drug that is extremely addictive and can cause damage to a person’s physical body, as well as cause emotional and mental problems.
Damaging Effects of Meth
The downside of meth is the many negative attributes that accompany its frequent use. These problems include:
-Increased heart rate, as well as an increase in blood pressure and body temperature
-Insomnia
-Convulsions or tremors
-Problems with breathing
-Problems with memory
-Decrease in appetite (potential for anorexia nervosa to develop)
-Damage to the liver, lungs and/or kidneys
-Irreversible damage to the blood vessels found in the brain which can lead to strokes
-Increased risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS or of transmitting it to other people. The same can be said for hepatitis B and C and any other diseases that are related to sharing needles
The sooner a meth addict can receive addiction treatment the better. Meth addiction does not simply go away on its own. The rate of recovery of the brain after using meth is not entirely understood by the scientific community. What is known is that a meth addiction can cause injury to brain cells that continues to show months after the person stops using the drug. Even mild or moderate use of meth can lead to brain damage that cannot be reversed.