In the beginning, crystal methamphetamine just feels like fun. An incredible feeling that seems to wash away everything negative in your life.
But that initial wedding night quickly turns into a living hell, far more quickly and absolutely than almost any other type of drug in existence.
In a short space of time, crystal meth can exert an extreme physical toll that becomes highly visible. Added to this are the significant emotional/mental deterioration and alteration problems that turn it into a 24/7 personal nightmare.
Some methamphetamines are legitimate and are used completely legally for things like ADHD and narcolepsy. These are scheduled drugs that can be prescribed.
Crystal meth is a different beast entirely. Street meth is typically d-methamphetamine HCI. When it’s crushed, it can be smoked, snorted, injected, or eaten.
Because of its high addiction rating, by the time you realize you are dependent, it’s far too late to stop. You are already in the grips, and your face will almost certainly look like the faces of meth that are routinely shown online.
The physical signs of meth addiction come on rapidly. Typically, beginning within a few weeks, and peaks in a very scarily low number of months.
The Physical Signs Of Meth Addiction
These are some of the physical signs of meth addiction that together give the face and body of meth addiction look:
- Thin and frail body frame
- Meth mouth (rotting teeth and gums)
- Acne and facial sores
- Convulsions
- Drooping and greasy skin
- Increased incidences of disease and illness
- Significant increase in body temperature
- Often intense desire to scratch which can lead to bloody sores
- General gaunt and deathly look (“living dead”)
- Increased libido
Increased libido is not something that is discussed often. Think about the TV show Breaking Bad. It was never really mentioned or shown, other than Jesse occasionally going with an addicted prostitute.
The increased libido is due to methamphetamine stimulating higher levels of sexual arousal, increased adrenaline, and a desire for risk.
Usually, this will mean unprotected sex with other risky people. Worse than that, the open wounds and general lack of health can lead to increased levels of sexual infection, including HIV (even higher if meth is injected).
So even the increased libido, if sexually transmitted diseases and other illnesses are caught, can lead to an even more rapid onset of physical meth symptoms.
Transition From Short-Term Effects To Long-Term Damage From Meth Use
The transition from the short-term effects of crystal meth addiction to the long-term damage that can be permanent can happen quickly.
This creeps up on people because initially they have a huge sense of well-being, higher energy levels, and experiences are generally good.
Apart from taking meth, it means more risk-taking, pushing the body, with less good quality food and fuel going in. On top of this, is the severity of the comedown, the crash, from crystal meth. The significant and rapid onset of the need for more. This becomes overwhelming.
The weight loss which helps to drive that face of meth look, that gaunt and haggard look, also comes on fast.
Within a few weeks, the hunger feelings are so suppressed that some users almost stop eating entirely. It leads to rapid weight loss, that then turns into significant muscle wastage as well. Alongside this will be extreme and increasing insomnia. Disturbed sleep, mixed with hyperactivity, makes the gaunt look even more exhausted.
Alongside these physical signs, there will then be a rapid onset of really bad and nasty mental effects as well.
These can include significant confusion, hallucinations, paranoia and extreme anxiety, delusions of grandeur, a sense of invincibility, nausea and sickness, aggressiveness, constant irritation, and convulsions.
Long-Term Meth Use Is Devastating
Once meth use has become addictive and chronic it very quickly leads to devastating long-term consequences that are irreversible.
These are some of the long-term problems users can develop, and can keep even if they kick the habit:
- Increased heart rate
- Long-term anxiety and paranoia
- Damaged blood vessels in the brain (increased stroke risk)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lung damage
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
- Brain damage & notable cognitive deterioration
- Mood swings
- Permanent life memory gaps
- Respiratory problems
- Lifelong infectious diseases and lowered immune system
- Psychosis
- More chance of developing degenerative brain conditions
So if you’re sitting there thinking that this stuff sounds like the bong, then I really hope you’ll step back for a minute and consider the reality. Sure, in the short term you will feel great. Higher levels of energy, a better sense of well-being, a false sense of security, and higher sex drive; it just seems wonderful.
I’m telling you, that will change in literally weeks with daily use. And it will be daily use, even twice per day if you’re addiction rating is high. Within months you will get the meth look. You will not be able to hide it any longer.
Money will run dry, and life responsibilities like children and housing will vanish from your thoughts.
I have literally known someone who had two children and a beautiful house. They were very middle-class and had a good jobs as a department heads at a private school
When their marriage broke up, they got depressed and tried stuff. One of those things was crystal meth. That was what really grabbed hold. Not cocaine, not heroin, but the crystal.
Within months their demeanor and behavior completely change. They lost their job, then the house, and then custody of the children. With savings still hidden, they managed to rent somewhere. But very quickly, they had to deal to keep getting the hit and paying the rent. It became a drug den, and due to her high level of addiction, she then became a cuckoo for some really shady people.
Long story short, she went on the run because the cops were after her for being a significant source of meth dealing in our city.
On the run for a year, by the time they caught her she was unrecognizable. I remember seeing her picture in the paper and knowing the name, but the gaunt meth face looking back at me was like someone else entirely.
Now in prison for five years, having to go through the hell of cold turkey rehab, having lost her kids forever and her entire life, it’s one hell of a story. Sadly though, a story that is repeated a thousand times a day around the world now.
Wherever you are, the extreme physical stress that meth abuse puts on the body, followed by mental health problems and cognitive loss that lasts a lifetime, means that once it’s got its grip, it never really let’s go even if you manage to get clean months, or even years, down the line.
