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Why Is Meth So Dangerous?

There are so many drugs out there being used recreationally, and each one has their own set of dangers. Any time you ingest some type of controlled substance without a doctor’s supervision to know exactly what it is that you are taking, the potency of the drug, as well as the amount and frequency, you are already taking a huge risk with your health. Some drugs are much more destructive than others, though. So why is meth so dangerous?

Brutally Addictive

Meth by any name is one of the most addictive of the recreational drugs. Some people are hooked after the first time they use it. Whether you use crystal meth, ice, blue, speed, or any other form, methamphetamine is a very powerful stimulant that creates increased energy and alertness for relatively short periods of time. You might initially take it to stay up all night for work or for school, but you could easily lose control of your choice and become addicted, which is a horrible consequence for one all-nighter. But once you have taken methamphetamine, the cravings and withdrawals are so strong that you will be caught in the brutal web of meth addiction.

Intense High…and Low

One of the things that people like about meth is the intense sense of euphoria that a meth high brings. Unfortunately, that high is going to come crashing down, and you will feel as miserable when you crash as you felt good when you were high. The two sides of meth are so extreme, you would think that people would realize the high wasn’t worth the crash. 
You are also likely to experience extreme nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, on top of a sharply decreased appetite. Many people experience intense itching sensations, and they scratch themselves so much they create sores all over their bodies. When you crash, you might sleep all day and night, because when you’re high, you often don’t sleep at all. Then there are the binges, where you use the drug repeatedly every few hours to try to sustain the high for longer. During this time, you probably wouldn’t sleep or eat at all, possibly for days. And when you stop taking it, the crash can last even longer.

Many Methods of Delivery

One of the other factors that makes meth so dangerous is that there are so many different options to ingest it. Meth can be smoked in both crystal and powder forms, or it can be snorted in the powder form, too. Methamphetamine comes in pill form, as well. Perhaps the most dangerous method is by injection. The powder form can be dissolved in alcohol or water and then injected with a needle. This, of course, creates a whole new level of risks, because sometimes people share needles. Sharing needles, combined with the risky behaviors associated with meth use, puts you at high risk for Hepatitis B and C or even the HIV virus.

Deadly Side Effects

Contracting a life-threatening disease due to sharing needles is only one of the potentially deadly side effects of meth use. Because methamphetamine is a stimulant, it increases the temperature of your body, your blood pressure, as well as your breathing. It can make your heart race, so if you have any kind of heart problem, either diagnosed or not, the drug itself can cause a heart attack or stroke. That is to say nothing of the potential for overdose, which can also be fatal.

Permanent Damage

Even if you did not have any heart problems, some of the long-term risks of using meth are also high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. In addition to that, meth can severely damage your liver and kidneys, also to the point of causing death. Meth can also permanently damage not only the dopamine system within your brain, but also cause lifelong impairment of your memory, ability to speak, your coordination, as well as emotional issues.
Behaviorally, both initially and long-term, you may experience memory loss, confusion, anxiety, or insomnia. Methamphetamine can also create psychotic symptoms, including mood changes, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and aggressive and violent behavior. These symptoms are not only when you are using the drug, they last for long after it is out of your system and can even last for years after your last use of methamphetamine.

So Hard to Quit

One of the side effects that is more unique to meth is what it does to your teeth. It absolutely destroys them. There is even a term for this phenomenon, it’s called “meth mouth.” But not even knowing that risk makes it easier to quit. Meth withdrawal symptoms are some of the worst, inducing intense cravings, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and psychosis. No matter how dangerous or destructive meth is, it can feel harder to quit it.
Why is meth so dangerous? The addictive nature alone means you give up your choice when you ingest it. Once it is in your body, it will wreak havoc on you mentally and physically, but it will seem impossible for you to quit. There isn’t just one way to die by using meth, there are so many ways that it can kill you. If not quickly, then along the way, from an infection, or from permanent damage. This is not a drug to mess with. 

Protect yourself from the dangers of methamphetamine. Stay safe and heal your pain by calling Embark Behavioral Health 1-855-809-0409 today. 

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Embark Behavioral Health

Embark Behavioral Health is a leading network of outpatient centers and residential programs offering premier mental health treatment for preteens, teens, and young adults. Dedicated to its big mission of reversing the trends of teen and young adult anxiety, depression, and suicide by 2028, Embark offers a robust continuum of care with different levels of service and programming; has a deep legacy of over 25 years serving youths; works with families to adjust treatment in real time to improve results; treats the entire family using an evidence-supported approach; and offers the highest levels of quality care and safety standards. For more information about Embark or its treatment programs, including virtual services, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), therapeutic day treatment programs, also known as partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), residential treatment, and outdoor therapy, visit embarkbh.com.