Stimulants How to tell if a newbie crystal meth user is getting addicted

[Durrman]

Hi, so firstly I will admit that yes I have tried Meth, iv snorted and smoked but found that the drug really wasn't for me (more of a Ecstasy Person).
Recently a best mate of mine has been acting a bit off (last 2-4 weeks) and she confessed to me that she had been buying a small bag a week and snorting a little bit when she felt she needed to.

Since then I have been keeping a real close eye on her (Work and live together ) and have found out through a mutual friend that she is sometimes smoking it, as well as snorting, and only smokes it with our mutual friends and never alone , also she is buying bigger bags more frequently, I know she has been sharing a fraction but is using the majority on herself, she hasn't said anything to me about the fact it's getting worse as I don't want her to flip out so an waiting for her to come to me, these are the things that I have been noticing changing of late.

Loss of appetite
High energy levels and no sleep
Getting tongue tied easily
Forgetting conversations
She told me today that she has a very sore tongue and only water is soothing
Dry lips
She has also been diagnosed with a form of sleeping problem as it is.

Our mutual friend is an addict but has it under control as they know when they need to cut back ect.
I have asked them not to share there Meth with her if she has none cause she has finished her bag, they agreed and also told me they won't smoke in front of her or let her borrow the pipe. Even tho they are hooked they are going to do there best to stop her getting to were they are at.

I am starting to get very worried and concerned about her, as I'm not sure if she is getting addicted and if she is how addicted is she. And how do I tell her that she may need help ect

 

[Dunno]

"She hasn't said anything to me about the fact its getting worse as I don't want her to flip out.
You don't want her to flip out or she doesn't want you to flip out?

 

[bunge]

It sounds like your friends well on the slippery slope.
Doing a drug to the point of physical health problems developing..and then continuing said drug, is a big warning sign of psychological dependancy and the start of addiction.
Have you tried having a candid discussion with her? Sometimes people dont realize how much their lifestyle is slipping until someone notices and tells them, it can be a very effective wake-up call.
The important thing is not to be judgmental, just concerned and supportive.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

If somebody is doing meth on a regular basis... they are getting addicted..

 

[Durrman]

I ment I don't want her to flip out

 

[blight12]

lol. How to tell a newbie meth user is getting addicted? Answer: "When they are using meth".

With meth there is no "If, maybe, possibly, perhaps". There is only "How well and how long with this specific person be able to handle and manage the addiction before it starts having a directly noticable negative impact on their life." In this people can vary greatly but nobody is immune to the addiction itself.

 

[angeleyes]

Be a supportive friend and help her get through this dark time in her life, she may be (ab)using due to some psychological shit, you never know.

Just do what you can and be a good guy, it is her life after all.

 

[Shefatasfukc]

I agree with blight12, methamphetamine is highly addictive and once the habit of using regularly sets in, there is no question that addiction has began. Virtually nobody is immune to addiction.

I suggest you speak to her about it, explaining how terrible it can be to be reliant on substances, and the health consequences of amphetamines particularly meth are not good.

Wish you luck!

 

[clash_the_crash]

Once she starts to use it not to make her feel good, but too keep her from feeling shitty, thats when you have a bad problem.

Good luck

 

[tweex]

If somebody is doing meth on a regular basis... they are getting addicted..

I'd say not necessarily. I've only ever used regularly at non-recreational doses, and more recently only used when stacked with neuroprotective/anti-addictive agents like selegiline, clonidine and modafinil... but I've never remotely run into addiction problems despite using a few times a month, and very occasionally a few times a week. I credit using it orally and at doses prescribed for ADHD as the biggest factor aside from the aduvants and perhaps my own personal biochemistry.

I'm one of those cases where doing low doses of meth (and more so a bunch of nootropics, actually) had a big positive impact on my life. And I don't have ADHD either.

That said, I think OP's friend is clearly at the beginning of addiction.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

^^^

We aren't talking about "non-recreational" dosing. For the majority of people.. using meth means using meth.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I'd say not necessarily. I've only ever used regularly at non-recreational doses, and more recently only used when stacked with neuroprotective/anti-addictive agents like selegiline, clonidine and modafinil... but I've never remotely run into addiction problems despite using a few times a month, and very occasionally a few times a week. I credit using it orally and at doses prescribed for ADHD as the biggest factor aside from the aduvants and perhaps my own personal biochemistry.

I'm one of those cases where doing low doses of meth (and more so a bunch of nootropics, actually) had a big positive impact on my life. And I don't have ADHD either.

That said, I think OP's friend is clearly at the beginning of addiction.

I don't believe I was ever addicted to meth. No withdrawal.

Heroin ruined me though.

 

[dopemegently]

I guess looking for signs of addiction to meth is comparable to other addictions....manipulative behaviour, compulsive lying, weight loss, poor hygiene etc. but of course, much of this shit comes later; it wouldn't necessarily apply to a new user.