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How does chronic meth use affect the body? methamphetamines MethamphetaminesMethamphetamines are dangerous stimulants that have a high potential for abuse and addiction. meth-addiction Meth AddictionMethamphetamine addiction causes serious physical damage to a user and can cause mental impairments. meth-abuse Meth AbuseScabbing (from relentless itching and scratching) and oral damage are signs of chronic meth abuse. |
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The body is one thing, the mind is another. Socially, methamphetamine use leads to high-risk behavior of all kinds. Dangerous behaviors such as sharing injection “works” lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C. In addition, meth increases the brain and nerve damage in people infected with HIV. With parental use, it frequently leads to child neglect, family violence, and other kinds of abuse. Children have often been exploited sexually to obtain methamphetamine for their parents. When used during pregnancy, it can cause mental retardation, premature birth, slow growth, and developmental disorders in the baby before birth. |
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Chronic use of methamphetamine alters brain function in the reward center, eventually making it difficult for the user to feel any pleasure at all, even when using the drug. Addiction leads to loss of appetite, malnutrition, weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), insomnia, confusion, mood disorders, anxiety, hallucinations, prolonged paranoia, and delusions (the feeling that something is happening when it is not, such as bugs crawling on the skin). |
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Prolonged use reduces motor skills and impairs the ability to learn. The changes that meth produces in the brains of addicts sometimes persist for more than a year after they cease using. In extreme cases, complete recovery may not be possible. |
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In children born to mothers who used during pregnancy, it doesn't only cause developmental disorders in babies before birth. Those children usually have ongoing emotional and developmental problems throughout their lives. |
Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive psychoactive drug that, when used in high doses, creates feelings of euphoria, increased self-esteem, and boundless energy. It was originally introduced as a stimulant to keep soldiers alert in WWII and has been used to treat ADHD (though not nearly as much anymore). Meth activates the brain's reward/pleasure center, making the drug desirable on the streets.