Meth Addiction

Meth Addiction

How to Help Someone with a Meth Addiction

Methamphetamine, meth, is an extremely addictive drug. Meth use and meth addiction are very serious and can lead to lasting physical and mental effects. If you know someone who is struggling with meth addiction, you’re not alone. It’s likely overwhelming to know where to start helping them. Here’s what you need to know about helping them get the support they need.

What is Meth Addiction?

Methamphetamine, meth, is an extremely addictive drug. The stimulant is made in a lab and is usually in powder, pill, or tiny rocks and can be swallowed, snorted, smoked, or injected. Meth affects the nervous system, specifically the brain.

Many people use meth for its short-term effects: it gives people a euphoric feeling, increases attention, and decreases fatigue. Because of the way people experience a high on the drug, some people may use it for days on end instead of sleeping. Often as soon as the high wears off, people experience a deep crash, leaving them wanting to get high on the drug once again.

Consistent meth use can be terribly dangerous. In the long run, people often lose significant amounts of weight, experience high blood pressure, and irregular heart rate. Plus, it is possible to overdose on meth. The drug causes your body temperature to rise so much that you can pass out.

Given the serious nature of meth addiction, it’s important that people who are using get support on a path to recovery.

What are the Signs of Meth Addiction?

Given the long-term negative impact of meth use, it’s important to stay on the lookout for when meth use may transition to addiction. Like other addictions, meth addiction would be considered consistent usage such that someone is unable to stop using for a period of time.

If you suspect someone in your life might be addicted to meth, they may exhibit some of these symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Violent behavior
• Memory loss
• Going without sleep for long periods of time

In the long term, you may notice significant weight loss, rotting teeth, inability to maintain relationships, challenges at work or school, and financial problems.

How Can I Help Someone who is Addicted to Meth?

When a loved one is addicted to a substance, it can be hard to know how to help them. And, when they’re addicted to a dangerous substance like meth, the urgency to get them support can feel even more overwhelming. If you’re looking for ways to support your loved one and help them on a path to recovery, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Learn all you can. Taking the time to learn about meth, why people use it, and how it’s so addictive will help you begin to understand a bit about what your friend or loved one is going through. It’s impossible to fully grasp what it’s like to be fully addicted to a dangerous substance, but learning about how and why it happens may help you build empathy for the choices they make and keep a logical perspective in a scary and frustrating situation.

2. Go in with a plan and commit to listening. Conversations about substance use and addiction are hard. Often, the person you’re confronting may be resistant to what you have to say. For this reason, it’s important for you to go in with a plan. Think through what you want to say. Make sure to elevate that you want to have a conversation with them because you care about them and are concerned about their health and safety. Though, it’s useful to have a plan, make sure to listen, too. Active listening and reflecting back what you hear will go a long way to build trust in this process.

3. Connect them to professional support. Helping them find support is not solely your responsibility. However, if you have a conversation with them about seeking help, it’s important to have a few resources in mind that they can act on fast. Sometimes, the best you can do is point them in the direction of professionals who can provide more tailored and specific support. DynamiCare Health may be a good place to start if you think this person would benefit from customized, personal coaching all on their smartphone.

4. Stick with it If someone is addicted to meth, they may be very resistant to the idea of getting help. Because they are not thinking logically and aren’t seeing the devastating impacts of their addiction, this process may not work exactly as you hoped the first time. It may take several conversations to help them be in a place where they are willing to seek help. Know that as long as you’re listening and pointing them in the right direction, you’re doing everything you can to support them in an impossibly hard situation.