Long-term, high-dose meth use causes psychosis, organ and brain damage, homelessness, chronic skin wounds, heart problems, and elevated risk of developing infectious diseases. But people start using meth for the same reasons people drink coffee. As a central nervous system stimulant, meth causes feelings of alertness and boosts energy. Unfortunately, self-regulated meth use is almost impossible. People with unhealed trauma, financial hardships, and mental health concerns are at especially high risk for developing methamphetamine use disorder. Contact Rise Above’s Murrieta substance abuse treatment program to learn how residential rehabilitation can provide life-saving treatment for people struggling with addiction.
Stages of Meth Use
Many people try meth with the hopes of experiencing a stimulating high. However, meth is highly addictive, meaning it only takes a few uses to develop a habit. The Drug Enforcement Agency lists methamphetamine as a Schedule II drug, meaning it brings a high risk for abuse and can lead to severe psychological, emotional, and physical dependence. Meth use typically occurs in the following stages:
- Rush
- High
- Comedown
- Binging
- Tweaking
- Crashing
The Rush: Meth Use Stage 1
After smoking, snorting, injecting, or swallowing meth, users experience a release of dopamine, leading to total bodily stimulation. It is almost impossible to convince someone to check into rehab at this stage of meth use. Side effects of a methamphetamine rush include:
- Accelerated heartbeat
- Increased blood pressure
- Whole-body stimulation
- Shallow, quick breaths
- Repetitive movements
The High: Meth Use Stage 2
At this point, users begin experiencing intense euphoria. They have laserlike focus and may experience auditory and visual delusions that boost self-confidence and energy. However, as the brain releases an unnatural amount of dopamine, the body begins to respond physically to the drug. This may include
- Hyperactivity
- Extreme nausea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Intense sweating
- Hot and cold flashes
- Using opioids
- Erratic behavior
- Aggression
The Comedown: Meth Use Stage 3
When left to deal with the imbalance of chemicals, the brain attempts to reestablish its chemical balance. At the same time, the body, worn down from the euphoric high, begins to weaken. Symptoms associated with a meth comedown include:
- Extreme despair
- Sadness
- Muscle weakness
- Insomnia despite exhaustion
- Depression
- Lack of motivation
- Headache from dehydration
- Drug cravings
Desperate to find relief from withdrawal, many users turn to stimulants to provide them with another high or opioids to relieve pain and insomnia. Coming down from a meth high causes a rush of painful emotions, guilt, regret, and depression. This kind of vulnerability often leads people back to the pipe, needle, bottle, or dealer.
The Binge: Meth Use Stage 4
On average, most meth users binge for three to fifteen days at a time with little to no sleep. Every time a user consumes meth, they experience another smaller rush and another less profound high. The more meth you use, the more you need. Using meth provides euphoria regardless of the present circumstances. After prolonged, high-dose meth use, the brain stops producing feel-good chemicals in response to feel-good situations and events. People rely on meth in order to feel functional even though it causes utter dysfunction. A person on a meth binge appears destitute, diseased, and psychotic to an outsider looking in.
Tweaking: Meth Use Stage 5
At the end of a binge, meth users enter the tweaking phase. The rush is over, and the high has ended. This leaves the user with a feeling of absolute emptiness and hopelessness. Cravings and erratic behavior increase followed by problematic, sometimes dangerous physical and psychological reactions, including:
- Itching and skin picking
- Paranoia and psychosis
- Aggression
- Open wounds
- The feeling of insects crawling beneath the skin
- Vivid hallucinations
- Anger, irritability, and hostility
- Feeling suicidal
Tweaking may last 3 to 15 days.
The Crash: Meth Use Stage 6
Eventually, users experience a crash when the body physically shuts down. After being alert and sleepless for so long, people experiencing a crash may sleep for two or three days—the crash or shortly after that is often the best time to get someone into drug rehab.
Find a Murrieta Rehabilitation Center
At Rise Above, our drug treatment center gives people new hope for the future and the life skills they need in order to maintain their recovery. Contact an experienced drug rehabilitation professional by calling (877) 641-0717 or by reaching out to us online.
