A Clinical Look at Crystal Meth and the Body

Crystal meth is one of those drugs where a person can be hooked or addicted after just one use. Meth addicts explain the high as a prolonged euphoric experience and a sudden rush of pure pleasure. This is followed by an intense feeling of focus, increased energy, confidence, sexual energy from stimulating the “pleasure zone” of the brain, and feelings of desirability. But like most drugs, a user will always chase that “first high” so it takes more and more use to achieve that goal. However, with repeated use of crystal meth, an addict begins taking a toll on the body and mind. It robs people of their physical health and cognitive abilities while making them withdrawn from the public.

Crystal meth releases a huge amount of dopamine in the brain causing an increase in pleasure and euphoria. Over time, the amount of drug use damages and destroys the dopamine receptors making one’s ability to experience pleasure difficult. Chronic use of crystal meth leads to psychotic behaviors like paranoia, aggression, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, and ultimately death.

Chemical Effects On The Brain

During lab experiments, it is shown that sex causes dopamine levels to jump 100 to 200 units. Cocaine caused dopamine levels to increase by 350 units but crystal meth use demonstrated levels of over 1,250. This type of brain activity does not happen to a normal individual. This is why people show excess levels of euphoria when on the drug and a withdrawn and depressed feeling off of it. Through repeated crystal meth use, the drug actually changed the brain chemistry. Although brain tissue can technically regrow and restimulate over time, the process may take years and the actual repair may never be complete. Research done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that after 14 months of abstinence from crystal meth use, users had regrown most of their dopamine receptors but there were no improvements in the cognitive abilities. Most of these individuals showed severe impairment with their memory, judgment, and motor skills. These are signs very similar to someone with Parkinson’s Disease.

On top of the cognitive impairments, the changes in brain chemistry can lead to disruptive and even violent behaviors. Like all stimulants, crystal meth releases high doses of adrenaline into the body. This stimulates the fight of flight mechanism inducing anxiety, wafefulness, and intense focus. Users often call this feeling “tweaking”. When one is tweaking, they show obsessive and hyperactive behavior. Heavy and frequent use causes psychotic behavior like the feeling of insects crawling on or even underneath the skin. Often people pick at their skin and face leading to infections and permanently damaged scars.

Visible Signs Of Meth Use

There are visible signs for a person using crystal meth. Meth causes the destruction of blood vessels and tissue which inhibits the body to repair itself. Acne begins appearing due to the excess release of oils in the skin, sores take much longer to heal due to the constant picking of scabs, and the overall the skin loses much of its elasticity and luster. This causes the addict to look much older than they appear. Poor diet and the constant need for sugary beverages causes meth mouth which leads to tooth and gum decay.

Crystal meth causes the blood vessels to constrict and ultimately weakens and destroys the vessels. This causes tissue to be more prone to damage and inhibits the body to fully heal itself. Stimulants such as meth creates bursts of energy and a decrease in appetite. The user will begin to eat less and less robbing the body of basic nutrients. This results in a very weak, sick and older looking person.

Meth mouth is characterized by discolored, broken, rotting teeth and gums. Crystal meth is made up of a variety of toxic chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia which is used in fertilizers, red phosphorus used in matches, lithium which is commonly used in batteries. When an individual smokes, injects, or snorts crystal meth, it erodes the teeth enamel. Through use, blood vessels shrink causing less blood to circulate into the body and mouth. When blood vessels die so do tissue. The mouth also causes the mouth to become extremely dry which does not allow enough saliva to neutralize the acids produced in the mouth. This excess amount of acid eats away at the teeth and gums causing cavities very easily. The constant grinding of teeth also attribute to the destruction of the teeth and gums.

One of the most dangerous effects of crystal meth use on the body is the increase in sexual drive and the decrease in sexual inhibitions. This puts one at higher risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Although crystal meth is not technically an aphrodisiac, it does trigger the release of brain chemicals responsible for sexual drive like dopamine. This gives the user a sense of well being causing an adrenaline rush and desirability. It gives a crystal meth addict a boost of confidence and stamina. But it really causes impairment in judgment in a person. Unprotected sex is common among crystal meth users and makes it even more dangerous when they share needles. This spreads diseases like HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis at a rampant rate. And because one feels a burst of sexual energy and stamina, users may experience more aggressive sex for longer periods of time. This increases the chances of injury to body tissue which increases the chances of spreading sexually transmitted diseases. In Oregon, the use of crystal meth is mostly injected which has caused a rise in syphilis cases. And health officials in that state are concerned that it will ultimately lead to an increase in the spread of HIV. Using drugs intravenously is like playing Russian roulette.

Crystal meth’s irony is that it causes great euphoria and sexual pleasure but in turn decreases one’s sexual desirability and performance. Chronic meth use leads to impotence known as “crystal dick”. Other users report the inability to reach orgasm despite remaining sexually aroused for long periods of time. Bottom line is that crystal meth destroys the mind and body and an alarming rate. One should find help immediately if they know they’re dependent on the drug. Narconon is here to help.