hello lovely people - firstly i’m sorry that you find yourself reading this but i hope it’s helpful to some degree (sorry it’s so long)
I’ve decided to crate a non-exhaustive list of some of the most common problems/dangers of meth use to help inform people who are worried about themselves or someone else and aren’t sure if it is an emergency. Or are thinking of trying for the first time but want to know the risks to look out for (or are generally interested?)
I hope this can be helpful for either first time users or even long term veterans as problems can occur at any point in someone’s usage journey.
Without further ado - see subtitles for a summary of each section covered:
EMERGENCYS ACROSS ALL ROAs
Overdose/Overamping
(and when to call an ambulance)
i thought i should cover this first incase anyone is here in an emergency.
overdosing and overamping are interchangeable words that both describe an acute negative physical or psychological response to the drug.
an acute overdose will occur usually during the come up of a high (timings after last use will vary depending on ROA)
in an emergency - call an ambulance before anything else
physical symptoms of meth overdose include:
Coma or unresponsiveness :
(in extreme cases)- someone will be unable to respond to stimuli (i.e. noise, light, touch - even pain)
Heart attack:
symptoms include
central chest pain or discomfort in the chest that doesn’t go away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
pain that radiates down the left arm, or both arms, or to the neck, jaw, back or stomach
unconsciousness
seizures or fitting
difficulty breathing (snoring or rasping)
rapid heart beat
low or undetectable heart beat
blue or pale tingling of knees, hands and lips
chest pain and breathlessness, nausea, sweating or coughing up blood
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
symptoms include :
Blurred or fading vision
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Fatigue
Trouble concentrating
Nausea
if you suspect hypotension, ring an ambulance and discuss with the dispatcher the symptoms and timescale of said symptoms.
Cardiac arrhythmias (Irregular heartbeat)
symptoms include
heart rate is irregular and faster than usual
abnormally fast heart rate at rest
heart beating slower than normal (<60bpm) - this may cause someone to collapse
loss of consciousness due to rapid and disorganised beating of the heart
palpitations - where your heartbeat feels uncomfortable or unusual. You may feel it in your chest, neck or throat.
if you have a palpitation and any of these following symptoms call an ambulance:
Dyspnoea (trouble breathing)
This may be due to several pathologies - ensure to call an ambulance if you experience any of the following:
Hyperthermia (high body temperature)
hyperthermia is an extreme raise in body temperature and can occur from a meth overdose - call an ambulance if you suspect hyperthermia based on the following symptoms:
Blurred vision
Dizziness.
Fast breathing or heart rate.
Fatigue.
Headache.
Excessive sweating (be aware that as their condition worsens, they may stop sweating altogether)
Light-headedness or syncope (fainting).
Low blood pressure.
Muscle aches or cramps.
Nausea and vomiting.
Weakness.
Anhidrosis (dry skin that doesn’t sweat).
Balance problems.
Delirium (confusion or disorientation).
Hot, flushed skin or very pale skin.
Low or high blood pressure.
Seizures.
People with heatstroke can develop shock, slip into a coma, experience organ failure or die.
Renal failure (kidney damage)
kidney failure can occur chronically or acutely due to meth use/overdose
it is an emergency if you experience
Seizures
the symptoms of a seizure include:
Stroke
meth overdose can cause strokes
call an ambulance if you suspect a stroke even if symptoms go away as you wait.
symptoms include
Psychological symptoms of overdose include:
Psychosis
as psychosis can occur due to various things, the timing may be anywhere from during the rush, the high, the binge, tweaking, the crash or even as a withdrawal symptoms. psychotic symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours, to a week, to many months and potentially longer
psychosis is a severe psychological symptom that may come as a result of a meth overdose, there are 3 main components (they’re symptoms are below)
People who have psychotic episodes are often unaware that their delusions or hallucinations are not real, which may lead them to feel frightened or distressed
if you feel that someone is putting themselves, or someone else at immediate, serious risk of harm - call an ambulance
The 3 main symptoms of psychosis are:
OTHER EMERGENCIES WITH ALL ROAs
Suicidal thoughts/actions
this is most likely to occur during the ‘crash’ phase, but may also occur at any point during the comedown and also as a result of withdrawal symptoms
If you have seriously harmed yourself, or someone else has seriously harmed themselves with an intent of ending a life– for example, by taking a drug overdose,– or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, or someone else may be about to harm themselves, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.
Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, but are not at immediate risk of harm, options include calling a hotline, or planning an appointment with your GP to discuss you’re mental health.
Sepsis (infections):
sepsis is most likely to occur at some point while having an active infection. it can get worse extremely quickly
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
You cannot catch sepsis from another person.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
symptoms include:
acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
They may not have all these symptoms
Cellulitis
This is most likely to occur at some point after IV use around the injection site to begin with
This is a common infection caught as a result of IV use
this can be serious if not treated properly and so call an ambulance if you have:
Allergic Reaction
an allergic reaction would occur rapidly after meth was taken by any ROA.
The most common signs to look for in a meth allergy to be mindful of when someone if consuming meth is:
Homicidal thoughts/actions (violence)
this is most likely to occur at a point where someone is tweaking, as they are still high to a point where it is affecting their processing of emotions, but at the same time they may also experiencing paranoia or anxiety which heightened aggressive behaviours
If someone shows clear violent intention towards another person and there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety, call emergency services as soon as possible
meth has many mechanisms by which it can increase aggression, as is mentioned further on in this post
Hypoglycaemia (low sugar)
hypoglycaemia is most likely to occur after a binge where someone has gone several days without eating or drinking much at all.
this is particularly important for people who are also diabetic and take medication for this. this is because their bodies are less able to control sugar levels.
If you have severe low blood sugar you may:
call an ambulance if:
You think someone has very low blood sugar and they're not responding normally or they're unconscious, and:
NON-EMERGENCY DANGERS ACROSS ALL ROAs:
General dangers across all ROAs:
Cardiac Problems:
the cardiac problems mentioned next are usually as a result of frequent use, and may develop chronically over time, getting worse each time you take the drug
meth can lead to severe chronic as well as acute cardiac issues
Methamphetamine can cause blood vessels to constrict and spasm, dangerous spikes in blood pressure, and the rewiring of the heart's electrical system
these problems include:
Lack of nutrition/hydration
this is most likely to occur at the end of a binge by which time people realise they haven’t eaten or drunk in a very long time
Meth reduces your appetite, meaning you probably don’t eat much or at all when using.
The best thing you can do to boost your immune system is eat a balanced diet including fresh, healthy food like fruit, vegetables, dairy, lean meats, chicken and fish and wholegrain cereals and bread. They are high in vitamins and other nutrients which are important for maintaining health.
The better you maintain you’re nutrition not only will the high be more effective, but the comedown will be less intense! (worth it imo)
When using meth, people can become dehydrated.
To avoid dehydration take regular small sips of water, about 250 mL per hour, or if dancing or very active drink 500 - 600mL of water per hour.
However, drinking too much water can lead to over-hydration, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Try to avoid caffeine-based drinks and energy drinks as they can increase blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Drinking alcohol will cause further dehydration and your meth use can mask the alcohol intoxication signs that place you at risk of physical harm including injury and arguments.
Lack of Sleep
this is most likely to occur from the second you ingest the drug until the end of the comedown when you finally fall asleep - associated symptoms caused by lack of sleep will continue to worsen as you stay awake for longer
You probably find that you don’t sleep well, or at all when you’re using meth.
Lack of sleep can affect your mental and physical health. Try to get some sleep daily or at least every second day.
If this isn’t possible, rest in a darkened room for a few hours each day.
The more of the drug you take, the more likely you are to stay awake for longer, and the worse you’re mental and physical symptoms will become, whether that be acute from just taking the drug, or chronic from lack of sleep.
Skin Sores
these are most likely to be caused and appear during the high, but will remain for a long after due to the multiple factors influencing their healing times.
now, this is one of the most visible signs of a meth addiction and is characterised by sores in someone’s skin as a direct result of itching, picking and scratching due to meth use.
firstly, meth is toxic, and any excreted in you’re sweat onto you’re skin has the potential to do damage - this makes the skin weaker and more susceptible to breaking if scratched.
to top this off, the toxicity on you’re skin may lead to an intense itching sensation all over.
at the same time, vasoconstriction as a result of the meth reduces blood flow to the skin which can result in dry, cracked skin
next, there is the fact that meth often reduces a persons pain perception, leading to a higher pain tolerance and so less awareness of damage being done. therefore more harm will be done with each scratch and more scratches will be done
as if this wasn’t enough, one of the most common hallucinations associated with meth use is formication:
formication is a tactile hallucination whereby someone will feel the physical sensation of bugs/insects crawling on or under their skin without the presence of any insects. this results in an intense craving to scratch or pick at the skin uncontrollably - often in a state of distress which heightens the risk of more severe damage
another factor is that the ‘itch-scratch-cycle’ is highly based in your reward centres in your brain, and some say the itch will feel more satisfying while on meth, leading to them itching more.
chronic users of meth will then proceed to scratch/pick/itch at these scabs each time they use, leading to a reduced ability for the scabs to heal properly meaning a higher potential for scarring and infections
Because meth weakens you’re immune system, and these sores are often reopened in chronic users, infection is a serious risk of skin sores
this occurs when the wound is exposed to typically a bacteria, which will basically set up shop and grow.
the symptoms of an infected sore include:
Linking to this poor self care and self neglect can result in pre-existing skin conditions such as excema becoming worse, due to someone forgetting to regularly apply moisturisers or medicated creams to their skin.
Common psychological effects
Due to meths strong psychoactive stimulant properties, it is not uncommon for people to get often strong and negative psychological symptoms from use
below are some common ones and their descriptions:
if someone is experiencing psychotic symptoms, this is considered a mental health crisis and may require treatment - if someone is experiencing these symptoms and is a serious, immediate risk to themselves or others, you will need to call emergency services - refer to the emergency section above
I could talk forever about the effects of certain neurotransmitters and they’re release due to meth and subsequent desensitisation afterwards, but the key point is: depressive symptoms are common after usage of meth, and often will take time to resolve as you’re brain recovers from neurotoxicity effects of the drug.
due to meth being powerful, after use you may not feel you are able to feel happiness without the drug, and this often pushes people towards more frequent use and addiction
paranoia can be defined as unjustified suspicion and mistrust of other people or their actions,
or,
the unwarranted or delusional belief that one is being persecuted, harassed, or betrayed by others.
paranoia is often alongside other psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, and experiencing paranoia greatly increases a users risk of becoming hostile/aggressive/dangerous
if someone is experiencing paranoia, and they are posing an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, contact emergency services
paranoia is associated mainly with the tweaking phase of a meth high, and so if these feelings are particularly unpleasant, as long as you stop taking the drug, you can hopefully be assured and calmed by knowing as time goes on, there will be less of the drug in you’re system, and you’re likelihood of experiencing paranoia will decrease.
if you stop meth after using regularly for a period of time, you are potentially going to have withdrawal symptoms as you’re body adapts to being without the drug, this can also cause paranoia and this has the potential to last longer than acute paranoia.
if paranoia is debilitating to one’s ability to carry out daily tasks, seeking help may provide access to talking therapies, the main and most effective treatment of paranoia.
if violence has occurred, and somebody is injured - seek appropriate medical assistance and ring the police
Specific dangers of each ROA:
oral:
all in all oral meth is often referred to as the ‘safest’ route of action, and the only main risk other than overdose, is stomach and gastrointestinal problems.
for example it is widely unknown how damaging the drug is on the lining of our stomachs, and so there are potential dangers such as peptic ulcers or hypothetically perforation - however i won’t go into too much detail here as it is not common
Sniffing
there are many effects of meth on the nasal passage as mentioned below:
short term use can result in nosebleeds and sinus issues.
Additional short-term effects that meth can cause to the nose include:
Additional long-term effects that meth cause to the nose include:
Hard palate perforation damage, also known as a hole in the palate, can be a result of meth use. It is due to chronic necrosis, or death of tissues in the nose.
A saddle nose is the result of a collapsed nasal bridge. A saddle nose can change the shape of the nose and how it functions. Cosmetic surgery is often needed in order to repair a collapsed nose due to meth use.
Eventually a complete and irreversible loss of your sense of smell is a genuine risk
Smoking
the main risk associated with smoking meth is the development of ‘meth mouth’
Symptoms of meth mouth include tooth decay, inflamed gums and tooth loss.
This may be directly as a result of burns on the mouth from hot pipes or from the caustic properties of the meth vapour. The gums begin to severely recede, and the teeth blacken and fall out. Lesions form on the lips and the inside of the mouth from the chemical burns that meth causes.
As well as this, meth reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, promoting bacterial growth, tooth decay, and oral tissue damage. This oral condition is worsened by meth users' compulsive behavior, including high rates of consumption of sugary drinks, recurrent tooth grinding, and a lack of frequent oral hygiene.
smoking meth can also cause long-term damage to the throat and lungs
Boofing
boofing is often seen as a safer alternative to IV use, however it does carry a few of its own risks as below:
You can accidentally tear the internal tissue of your anus, which may be accompanied by pain and bleeding.
As a result, there’s the risk of contracting an infection, like HIV, hepatitis C, and the chlamydia-related lymphogranuloma venereum from either sharing syringes with others or receiving anal sex.
IV
IV (intravenous) use of meth is where one will dissolve meth in water (ideally saline ‘water for injection’ as a harm reduction tip), and use a needle to inject the solution into a vein. Now, there are many risks with this ROA and so i shall go through as many as i can remember:
Infections:
This is the most common health problem to arise when a person regularly injects crystal meth. When a person continuously re-opens wounds or uses unsanitary needles, he or she is at high risk for infection at the injection site.
Infections that injecting crystal meth can cause include:
staph infections:
(MRSA-this is a particularly nasty staph infection that has antimicrobial resistance to certain antibiotics which can make it difficult to treat)
these infections can spread from the site of entry to the bloodstream and so then quickly around the whole body - a systemic infection is often referred to as sepsis and is a medical emergency (see section on emergencies above)
abscesses:
A skin abscess is a painful lump on the skin that contains pus. Some abscesses go away by themselves, but you may need to get treatment from a GP.
Cellulitis:
Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue. It can be serious if not treated promptly.
The infection develops suddenly and can spread through the body quickly. Severe infections can spread deep into the body, and can be life threatening.
Most cases are successfully treated with antibiotics at home, although sometimes it needs to be treated in hospital.
Cellulitis causes an area of skin to suddenly become:
In more severe cases, cellulitis can also be accompanied – and often preceded – by:
Vein Damage
Many people who inject crystal meth use the same veins over and over again. This can cause severe damage to the veins, including scarring and vein collapse.
Additionally, the stimulant properties of meth can result in the veins contracting or shrinking, which can make it difficult to find a vein after the first few uses of meth.
The substances that crystal meth is made with can also be dangerous for injecting and cause inflammation and burning in the veins.
Bloodborne Illnesses
People who inject crystal meth often share needles and other apparatus used to inject the drug. This can put individuals at an increased for contagious and dangerous viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Hepatitis B:
symptoms include:
Hepatitis C:
Only around 1 in every 3 or 4 people will have any symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection. This stage is known as acute hepatitis C.
If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks after infection. Symptoms may include:
In the remaining cases, the virus persists inside the body for many months or years. This is known as chronic hepatitis.
The symptoms of long-term (chronic) hepatitis C can vary widely.
Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include:
HIV:
symptoms include:
Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs 2-6 weeks after infection. After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years.
It's estimated up to 80% of people who are infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.
The most common symptoms are:
After the initial symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any further symptoms for many years.
During this time, the virus continues to be active and causes progressive damage to your immune system.
This process can vary from person to person, but may take up to 10 years, during which you'll feel and appear well.
Once the immune system becomes severely damaged, symptoms can include:
You should still take an HIV test if you may have been at risk at any time in the past, even if you do not experience any symptoms.
Final word:
now then, i am aware that there will be so many things i haven’t included - however i hope this serves some of its purpose as either:
- e
I’ve decided to crate a non-exhaustive list of some of the most common problems/dangers of meth use to help inform people who are worried about themselves or someone else and aren’t sure if it is an emergency. Or are thinking of trying for the first time but want to know the risks to look out for (or are generally interested?)
I hope this can be helpful for either first time users or even long term veterans as problems can occur at any point in someone’s usage journey.
Without further ado - see subtitles for a summary of each section covered:
EMERGENCYS ACROSS ALL ROAs
Overdose/Overamping
(and when to call an ambulance)
i thought i should cover this first incase anyone is here in an emergency.
overdosing and overamping are interchangeable words that both describe an acute negative physical or psychological response to the drug.
an acute overdose will occur usually during the come up of a high (timings after last use will vary depending on ROA)
in an emergency - call an ambulance before anything else
- if someone is unconscious but breathing, call an ambulance and put them in the recovery position (you will be guided by emergency services if unsure)
- if someone is unconscious and not breathing, call an ambulance and commence CPR (you will be guided by the emergency services if you are unsure)
physical symptoms of meth overdose include:
Coma or unresponsiveness :
(in extreme cases)- someone will be unable to respond to stimuli (i.e. noise, light, touch - even pain)
Heart attack:
symptoms include
central chest pain or discomfort in the chest that doesn’t go away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
pain that radiates down the left arm, or both arms, or to the neck, jaw, back or stomach
unconsciousness
seizures or fitting
difficulty breathing (snoring or rasping)
rapid heart beat
low or undetectable heart beat
blue or pale tingling of knees, hands and lips
chest pain and breathlessness, nausea, sweating or coughing up blood
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
symptoms include :
Blurred or fading vision
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting
Fatigue
Trouble concentrating
Nausea
if you suspect hypotension, ring an ambulance and discuss with the dispatcher the symptoms and timescale of said symptoms.
Cardiac arrhythmias (Irregular heartbeat)
symptoms include
heart rate is irregular and faster than usual
abnormally fast heart rate at rest
heart beating slower than normal (<60bpm) - this may cause someone to collapse
loss of consciousness due to rapid and disorganised beating of the heart
palpitations - where your heartbeat feels uncomfortable or unusual. You may feel it in your chest, neck or throat.
if you have a palpitation and any of these following symptoms call an ambulance:
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- feeling faint or fainting
- any loss of consciousness
Dyspnoea (trouble breathing)
This may be due to several pathologies - ensure to call an ambulance if you experience any of the following:
- Your breathing trouble is sudden and serious
- It doesn't get better when you rest.
- You feel discomfort or pain in your chest.
- Your lips or nails have a blue or gray tint.
- You feel faint or nauseated.
- You're confused or drowsy.
- You cough up blood.
- You have a fever or chills.
- Your heart is beating much faster than usual.
Hyperthermia (high body temperature)
hyperthermia is an extreme raise in body temperature and can occur from a meth overdose - call an ambulance if you suspect hyperthermia based on the following symptoms:
Blurred vision
Dizziness.
Fast breathing or heart rate.
Fatigue.
Headache.
Excessive sweating (be aware that as their condition worsens, they may stop sweating altogether)
Light-headedness or syncope (fainting).
Low blood pressure.
Muscle aches or cramps.
Nausea and vomiting.
Weakness.
Anhidrosis (dry skin that doesn’t sweat).
Balance problems.
Delirium (confusion or disorientation).
Hot, flushed skin or very pale skin.
Low or high blood pressure.
Seizures.
People with heatstroke can develop shock, slip into a coma, experience organ failure or die.
Renal failure (kidney damage)
kidney failure can occur chronically or acutely due to meth use/overdose
it is an emergency if you experience
- nausea or vomiting
- reduced appetite
- increased urination
- urine that is bubbly or frothy-looking
- bloody or dark urine
- extremely itchy skin
- breathing difficulties
- muscle cramps
- insomnia
- swelling in your legs or feet (edema)
Seizures
the symptoms of a seizure include:
- Temporary confusion.
- A staring spell.
- Jerking movements of the arms and legs that can't be controlled.
- Loss of consciousness or awareness.
- Cognitive or emotional changes. They may include fear, anxiety or a feeling that you've already lived this moment, known as deja vu. call an ambulance if someone if having a seizure and
- it's the first time someone has had a seizure
- the seizure lasts longer than is usual for them
- the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if you do not know how long their seizures usually last
- the person does not regain full consciousness, or has several seizures without regaining consciousness
- the person is seriously injured during the seizure
Stroke
meth overdose can cause strokes
call an ambulance if you suspect a stroke even if symptoms go away as you wait.
symptoms include
- Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.
- Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm.
- Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them
- complete paralysis of 1 side of the body
- sudden loss or blurring of vision
- being or feeling sick
- dizziness
- confusion
- difficulty understanding what others are saying
- problems with balance and co-ordination
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- a sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
- loss of consciousness
Psychological symptoms of overdose include:
Psychosis
as psychosis can occur due to various things, the timing may be anywhere from during the rush, the high, the binge, tweaking, the crash or even as a withdrawal symptoms. psychotic symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours, to a week, to many months and potentially longer
psychosis is a severe psychological symptom that may come as a result of a meth overdose, there are 3 main components (they’re symptoms are below)
People who have psychotic episodes are often unaware that their delusions or hallucinations are not real, which may lead them to feel frightened or distressed
if you feel that someone is putting themselves, or someone else at immediate, serious risk of harm - call an ambulance
The 3 main symptoms of psychosis are:
- hallucinations – where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that do not exist outside their mind but can feel very real to the person affected by them; a common hallucination is hearing voices
- delusions – where a person has strong beliefs that are not shared by others; a common delusion is someone believing there's a conspiracy to harm them
- disordered thinking and speaking - a person's thoughts and ideas come very quickly, which can make their speech fast and confusing.
OTHER EMERGENCIES WITH ALL ROAs
Suicidal thoughts/actions
this is most likely to occur during the ‘crash’ phase, but may also occur at any point during the comedown and also as a result of withdrawal symptoms
If you have seriously harmed yourself, or someone else has seriously harmed themselves with an intent of ending a life– for example, by taking a drug overdose,– or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, or someone else may be about to harm themselves, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.
Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, but are not at immediate risk of harm, options include calling a hotline, or planning an appointment with your GP to discuss you’re mental health.
Sepsis (infections):
sepsis is most likely to occur at some point while having an active infection. it can get worse extremely quickly
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.
You cannot catch sepsis from another person.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
symptoms include:
acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
They may not have all these symptoms
Cellulitis
This is most likely to occur at some point after IV use around the injection site to begin with
This is a common infection caught as a result of IV use
this can be serious if not treated properly and so call an ambulance if you have:
- a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
- a fast heartbeat or fast breathing
- purple patches on your skin, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin
- feeling dizzy or faint
- confusion or disorientation
- cold, clammy or pale skin
- unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness
Allergic Reaction
an allergic reaction would occur rapidly after meth was taken by any ROA.
The most common signs to look for in a meth allergy to be mindful of when someone if consuming meth is:
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and face
- Difficulty with vision or vision becoming blurred
- A break out of hives
- Seizures
- Convulsions
Homicidal thoughts/actions (violence)
this is most likely to occur at a point where someone is tweaking, as they are still high to a point where it is affecting their processing of emotions, but at the same time they may also experiencing paranoia or anxiety which heightened aggressive behaviours
If someone shows clear violent intention towards another person and there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety, call emergency services as soon as possible
meth has many mechanisms by which it can increase aggression, as is mentioned further on in this post
Hypoglycaemia (low sugar)
hypoglycaemia is most likely to occur after a binge where someone has gone several days without eating or drinking much at all.
this is particularly important for people who are also diabetic and take medication for this. this is because their bodies are less able to control sugar levels.
If you have severe low blood sugar you may:
- have a seizure or fit
- become unconscious
call an ambulance if:
You think someone has very low blood sugar and they're not responding normally or they're unconscious, and:
- a glucagon injection is not available or you do not know how to use it
- you've given a glucagon injection and they have not recovered within 10 minutes
- they've been drinking alcohol
NON-EMERGENCY DANGERS ACROSS ALL ROAs:
General dangers across all ROAs:
Cardiac Problems:
the cardiac problems mentioned next are usually as a result of frequent use, and may develop chronically over time, getting worse each time you take the drug
meth can lead to severe chronic as well as acute cardiac issues
Methamphetamine can cause blood vessels to constrict and spasm, dangerous spikes in blood pressure, and the rewiring of the heart's electrical system
these problems include:
- Arrhythmia – An irregular heartbeat, which also happens to be one of the most common immediate or short-term effects of meth use. An arrhythmia occurs when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don’t work properly. It may manifest itself through symptoms such as fluttering in the chest, chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, fatigue, and dizziness.
- Vasoconstriction – chronic exposure to methamphetamine constricts blood vessels and may contribute to acute angina. Acute angina is linked with vasospasm of the coronary arteries, thus leading to diminished blood flow to the cardiac tissue. Moreover, methamphetamine promotes the dysfunction of smooth muscle and reduces nitric oxide sensitivity. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator; it works to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow.
- Coronary artery disease – since methamphetamine can harm smooth muscles, coronary artery disease may develop.
- Cardiomyopathy – the degree of fibrosis predicts the functional recovery following quitting meth use. Cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease are linked with one another. In coronary artery disease, these blood vessels have blockages, and cardiomyopathy may develop.
Lack of nutrition/hydration
this is most likely to occur at the end of a binge by which time people realise they haven’t eaten or drunk in a very long time
Meth reduces your appetite, meaning you probably don’t eat much or at all when using.
The best thing you can do to boost your immune system is eat a balanced diet including fresh, healthy food like fruit, vegetables, dairy, lean meats, chicken and fish and wholegrain cereals and bread. They are high in vitamins and other nutrients which are important for maintaining health.
The better you maintain you’re nutrition not only will the high be more effective, but the comedown will be less intense! (worth it imo)
When using meth, people can become dehydrated.
To avoid dehydration take regular small sips of water, about 250 mL per hour, or if dancing or very active drink 500 - 600mL of water per hour.
However, drinking too much water can lead to over-hydration, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Try to avoid caffeine-based drinks and energy drinks as they can increase blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Drinking alcohol will cause further dehydration and your meth use can mask the alcohol intoxication signs that place you at risk of physical harm including injury and arguments.
Lack of Sleep
this is most likely to occur from the second you ingest the drug until the end of the comedown when you finally fall asleep - associated symptoms caused by lack of sleep will continue to worsen as you stay awake for longer
You probably find that you don’t sleep well, or at all when you’re using meth.
Lack of sleep can affect your mental and physical health. Try to get some sleep daily or at least every second day.
If this isn’t possible, rest in a darkened room for a few hours each day.
The more of the drug you take, the more likely you are to stay awake for longer, and the worse you’re mental and physical symptoms will become, whether that be acute from just taking the drug, or chronic from lack of sleep.
Skin Sores
these are most likely to be caused and appear during the high, but will remain for a long after due to the multiple factors influencing their healing times.
now, this is one of the most visible signs of a meth addiction and is characterised by sores in someone’s skin as a direct result of itching, picking and scratching due to meth use.
firstly, meth is toxic, and any excreted in you’re sweat onto you’re skin has the potential to do damage - this makes the skin weaker and more susceptible to breaking if scratched.
to top this off, the toxicity on you’re skin may lead to an intense itching sensation all over.
at the same time, vasoconstriction as a result of the meth reduces blood flow to the skin which can result in dry, cracked skin
next, there is the fact that meth often reduces a persons pain perception, leading to a higher pain tolerance and so less awareness of damage being done. therefore more harm will be done with each scratch and more scratches will be done
as if this wasn’t enough, one of the most common hallucinations associated with meth use is formication:
formication is a tactile hallucination whereby someone will feel the physical sensation of bugs/insects crawling on or under their skin without the presence of any insects. this results in an intense craving to scratch or pick at the skin uncontrollably - often in a state of distress which heightens the risk of more severe damage
another factor is that the ‘itch-scratch-cycle’ is highly based in your reward centres in your brain, and some say the itch will feel more satisfying while on meth, leading to them itching more.
chronic users of meth will then proceed to scratch/pick/itch at these scabs each time they use, leading to a reduced ability for the scabs to heal properly meaning a higher potential for scarring and infections
Because meth weakens you’re immune system, and these sores are often reopened in chronic users, infection is a serious risk of skin sores
this occurs when the wound is exposed to typically a bacteria, which will basically set up shop and grow.
the symptoms of an infected sore include:
- Worsening pain at the site of the wound.
- Lots of swelling at the site of the wound.
- Discharge from the wound, particularly if pus is coming out of the wound (yellow-white liquid).
- The wound, or skin around it, feeling hot to touch.
- Redness that is spreading across the skin around the wound.
- Other signs of infection in the body, like having a fever, having general aches and pains, or feeling generally unwell (having these symptoms may indicate a serious infection, such as sepsis and you should seek emergency treatment as mentioned in the emergency section above)
Linking to this poor self care and self neglect can result in pre-existing skin conditions such as excema becoming worse, due to someone forgetting to regularly apply moisturisers or medicated creams to their skin.
Common psychological effects
Due to meths strong psychoactive stimulant properties, it is not uncommon for people to get often strong and negative psychological symptoms from use
below are some common ones and their descriptions:
- increased aggression or hostility
- agitated, anxious or panicky
- symptoms of psychosis
if someone is experiencing psychotic symptoms, this is considered a mental health crisis and may require treatment - if someone is experiencing these symptoms and is a serious, immediate risk to themselves or others, you will need to call emergency services - refer to the emergency section above
- depression symptoms
I could talk forever about the effects of certain neurotransmitters and they’re release due to meth and subsequent desensitisation afterwards, but the key point is: depressive symptoms are common after usage of meth, and often will take time to resolve as you’re brain recovers from neurotoxicity effects of the drug.
due to meth being powerful, after use you may not feel you are able to feel happiness without the drug, and this often pushes people towards more frequent use and addiction
- paranoia
paranoia can be defined as unjustified suspicion and mistrust of other people or their actions,
or,
the unwarranted or delusional belief that one is being persecuted, harassed, or betrayed by others.
paranoia is often alongside other psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, and experiencing paranoia greatly increases a users risk of becoming hostile/aggressive/dangerous
if someone is experiencing paranoia, and they are posing an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, contact emergency services
paranoia is associated mainly with the tweaking phase of a meth high, and so if these feelings are particularly unpleasant, as long as you stop taking the drug, you can hopefully be assured and calmed by knowing as time goes on, there will be less of the drug in you’re system, and you’re likelihood of experiencing paranoia will decrease.
if you stop meth after using regularly for a period of time, you are potentially going to have withdrawal symptoms as you’re body adapts to being without the drug, this can also cause paranoia and this has the potential to last longer than acute paranoia.
if paranoia is debilitating to one’s ability to carry out daily tasks, seeking help may provide access to talking therapies, the main and most effective treatment of paranoia.
- homicidal or suicidal thoughts
- violence
if violence has occurred, and somebody is injured - seek appropriate medical assistance and ring the police
Specific dangers of each ROA:
oral:
all in all oral meth is often referred to as the ‘safest’ route of action, and the only main risk other than overdose, is stomach and gastrointestinal problems.
for example it is widely unknown how damaging the drug is on the lining of our stomachs, and so there are potential dangers such as peptic ulcers or hypothetically perforation - however i won’t go into too much detail here as it is not common
Sniffing
there are many effects of meth on the nasal passage as mentioned below:
short term use can result in nosebleeds and sinus issues.
Additional short-term effects that meth can cause to the nose include:
- Irritation of the nostrils.
- Irritation of the nasal passages.
- Irritation of the septum.
- Runny nose.
- loss of the ability to smell
- infections
- perforated septum
- runny nose
- tooth decay
Additional long-term effects that meth cause to the nose include:
- Chronic runny nose.
- Chronic bloody nose.
- Sinus infection.
- Hole in the septum.
- Loss of sense of smell.
- Loss of ability to breathe out of affected nostrils.
- Mucus dripping down the throat, also known as postnasal drip
- Runny nose with thick green and yellow mucus
- Stuffy nose
- Pain in the teeth and ears
- Pressure in the face
- Fever
- Coughing
- Bad breath
- Headache
- Fatigue
Hard palate perforation damage, also known as a hole in the palate, can be a result of meth use. It is due to chronic necrosis, or death of tissues in the nose.
A saddle nose is the result of a collapsed nasal bridge. A saddle nose can change the shape of the nose and how it functions. Cosmetic surgery is often needed in order to repair a collapsed nose due to meth use.
Eventually a complete and irreversible loss of your sense of smell is a genuine risk
Smoking
the main risk associated with smoking meth is the development of ‘meth mouth’
Symptoms of meth mouth include tooth decay, inflamed gums and tooth loss.
This may be directly as a result of burns on the mouth from hot pipes or from the caustic properties of the meth vapour. The gums begin to severely recede, and the teeth blacken and fall out. Lesions form on the lips and the inside of the mouth from the chemical burns that meth causes.
As well as this, meth reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, promoting bacterial growth, tooth decay, and oral tissue damage. This oral condition is worsened by meth users' compulsive behavior, including high rates of consumption of sugary drinks, recurrent tooth grinding, and a lack of frequent oral hygiene.
smoking meth can also cause long-term damage to the throat and lungs
Boofing
boofing is often seen as a safer alternative to IV use, however it does carry a few of its own risks as below:
You can accidentally tear the internal tissue of your anus, which may be accompanied by pain and bleeding.
As a result, there’s the risk of contracting an infection, like HIV, hepatitis C, and the chlamydia-related lymphogranuloma venereum from either sharing syringes with others or receiving anal sex.
IV
IV (intravenous) use of meth is where one will dissolve meth in water (ideally saline ‘water for injection’ as a harm reduction tip), and use a needle to inject the solution into a vein. Now, there are many risks with this ROA and so i shall go through as many as i can remember:
Infections:
This is the most common health problem to arise when a person regularly injects crystal meth. When a person continuously re-opens wounds or uses unsanitary needles, he or she is at high risk for infection at the injection site.
Infections that injecting crystal meth can cause include:
staph infections:
(MRSA-this is a particularly nasty staph infection that has antimicrobial resistance to certain antibiotics which can make it difficult to treat)
these infections can spread from the site of entry to the bloodstream and so then quickly around the whole body - a systemic infection is often referred to as sepsis and is a medical emergency (see section on emergencies above)
abscesses:
A skin abscess is a painful lump on the skin that contains pus. Some abscesses go away by themselves, but you may need to get treatment from a GP.
Cellulitis:
Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue. It can be serious if not treated promptly.
The infection develops suddenly and can spread through the body quickly. Severe infections can spread deep into the body, and can be life threatening.
Most cases are successfully treated with antibiotics at home, although sometimes it needs to be treated in hospital.
Cellulitis causes an area of skin to suddenly become:
- red
- hot
- swollen
- painful
- tender
In more severe cases, cellulitis can also be accompanied – and often preceded – by:
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- vigorous shaking (rigors)
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness
- confusion
Vein Damage
Many people who inject crystal meth use the same veins over and over again. This can cause severe damage to the veins, including scarring and vein collapse.
Additionally, the stimulant properties of meth can result in the veins contracting or shrinking, which can make it difficult to find a vein after the first few uses of meth.
The substances that crystal meth is made with can also be dangerous for injecting and cause inflammation and burning in the veins.
Bloodborne Illnesses
People who inject crystal meth often share needles and other apparatus used to inject the drug. This can put individuals at an increased for contagious and dangerous viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Hepatitis B:
symptoms include:
- a high temperature
- tiredness
- pain in your upper tummy
- feeling sick or being sick
- patches of raised skin that may be itchy (hives)
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Hepatitis C:
Only around 1 in every 3 or 4 people will have any symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection. This stage is known as acute hepatitis C.
If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks after infection. Symptoms may include:
- a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- tummy (abdominal) pains
- feeling and being sick
- jaundice.
In the remaining cases, the virus persists inside the body for many months or years. This is known as chronic hepatitis.
The symptoms of long-term (chronic) hepatitis C can vary widely.
Some of the most common problems experienced by people with chronic hepatitis C include:
- feeling tired all the time
- joint and muscle aches and pain
- feeling sick
- problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental tasks such as mental arithmetic – many people describe this as "brain fog"
- mood swings
- depression or anxiety
- indigestion or bloating
- itchy skin
- abdominal pain
HIV:
symptoms include:
Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs 2-6 weeks after infection. After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years.
It's estimated up to 80% of people who are infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.
The most common symptoms are:
- raised temperature (fever)
- sore throat
- body rash
- tiredness
- joint pain
- muscle pain
- swollen glands
After the initial symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any further symptoms for many years.
During this time, the virus continues to be active and causes progressive damage to your immune system.
This process can vary from person to person, but may take up to 10 years, during which you'll feel and appear well.
Once the immune system becomes severely damaged, symptoms can include:
- weight loss
- chronic diarrhoea
- night sweats
- skin problems
- recurrent infections
- serious life-threatening illnesses
You should still take an HIV test if you may have been at risk at any time in the past, even if you do not experience any symptoms.
Final word:
now then, i am aware that there will be so many things i haven’t included - however i hope this serves some of its purpose as either:
- a deterrent for people who are considering trying meth
- an extensive guide to be aware of before using meth as it may help inform you on what to look out for if things go wrong.
- e