Meth addiction touches the lives of over two million Americans every year. This drug, easily manufactured and sold illegally, is one of the most addictive and damaging in existence. A meth abuse rehab center is your best and safest choice if you struggle with a meth use disorder. Meth addiction treatment at Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge (PAATC) can help you. Our highly trained, experienced, and caring clinicians and addiction specialists can take care of you during your detox and rehab. To learn about the signs of meth addiction, meth use treatment, and your personal options, reach out today by completing our online form or calling 844.442.8673.
Signs of Meth Addiction
If you are wondering if you have an addiction to meth addiction chances are you have a meth use disorder. Though no two meth users are the same, there are common warning signs of addiction to this potent and deadly substance.
Physical Signs of Meth Use
Physical signs of meth use include:
- Decayed and damaged teeth referred to as meth mouth
- Damage to the nose and nasal cavities accompanied by chronic sniffles
- Sores, scabs, and skin infections caused by compulsive scratching (excoriation)
- Bald patches from hair-pulling and excoriation
- Premature aging
- Extreme weight loss due to suppressed appetite
Behavioral Signs of Meth Addiction
Behavioral signs of meth addiction include:
- Violent or aggressive impulses or mood swings
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Tweaking
What Is Tweaking?
Tweaking is a term that describes the feelings and actions of people with meth addiction when a binge comes to an end. It happens when the body and brain can no longer feel high because of exhaustion and overload. The sense of invincibility, feeling of boundless energy, and experience of euphoria are gone, and the resulting cravings and sense of doom consume the individual. Tweaking comes with its own set of signs. When those addicted to meth are tweaking, they:
- Are unable to sleep for hours and days at a time
- Become paranoid
- Display erratic behavior
- Feel as if bugs are crawling on their skin
- Hallucinate and can be seen talking to themselves and reacting to events others cannot see
- Enter a psychotic, dissociated state
- May harm themselves, intentionally or by accident
Meth use treatment centers can help you leave this devastating cycle behind you.
Long-Term Effects of Meth Abuse
The brain can become permanently changed after prolonged addiction to meth. Structural and functional changes are similar to those found in people who have experienced traumatic brain injury, and because they involve the death of brain cells, they are often permanent.
Brain effects of long-term meth addiction:
- Prolonged psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
- Inability to regulate emotions, leading to symptoms ranging from aggression to depression
- Difficulty identifying or expressing emotions which can lead to frustration and outbursts of undifferentiated anger
- Cognitive damage, including changes to verbal learning and processing and reduced motor speed
- Struggle with short- and long-term memory
- Permanent cell loss in the area that regulates self-control
It has been found that some, but not all, of the long-term effects of meth can be reversed, at least partly.
Get Help for Meth Addiction at PAATC
The signs of meth use in the short term, as well as the long-term and potentially lasting effects of this addiction, are reason enough to want to find your way to recovery and leave meth behind. PAATC’s evidence-based treatments include:
- Medically managed detox
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing
- Family and group therapy
Let one of our staff members listen to your story, answer your questions, and discuss the best options for you. Call us at 844.442.8673 or use our online form to connect.
