Families from all over North Texas come to us every day asking how to know when someone they love is struggling with drugs. It’s normal to want to recognize problems before they become serious. The challenge with crystal meth or any central nervous system stimulant is that the crisis often occurs before physical signs of addiction are visible. Let’s go over some of the more subtle signs someone you love may be struggling with a substance use disorder.
What Is Meth?
Before we can spot subtle signs of drug use, we need to understand the drug itself. How does it affect the brain and body? Crystal meth, also known on the streets as crystal or tina, is a highly addictive form of methamphetamine that often takes the form of clear, crystalline rocks or chunks.
When ingested, meth causes large amounts of dopamine to be released almost instantly in the reward areas of the brain. Dopamine is responsible for pleasure, movement, and motivation.
Since the dopamine released during meth use is far greater than what your brain is naturally capable of producing, your brain craves the drug to avoid the prolonged crash that follows. Symptomatically speaking, this crash triggers deep depression and exhaustion.
The fact that meth moves from the bloodstream to the brain so quickly explains the immediate rush users feel when they take it. But what they don’t realize is that continued exposure to meth causes permanent changes to the structure and function of the brain regions responsible for emotion and memory.
What does all this mean? If someone you love is struggling with meth use, it literally rewires their brain to need the drug — just to function normally.
Quick Tip | Signs of Paraphernalia in the Home
Keep your eye out for the following items:
- Curved glass pipes with a large bubbled end
- Empty crack pipes or aluminum foil with burn holes
- Hollowed out pens or tiny glass tubes
- Tiny plastic “baggies” that often have residue on them
One of the most obvious signs that someone is starting to abuse meth is a sudden change in behavior. Someone who was once dependable may forget to show up at work, skip meals, or stay awake for days. Meth users tend to “binge” for days or even weeks and then “crash” for extended periods of time.
During their high, you’ll notice they seem oddly preoccupied with repetitive tasks that have no real meaning. Some examples could include tearing a watch apart only to try and reassemble it or wiping the same spot on the floor for hours on end. They may also quickly detach from family or their hobbies and find new friends who use drugs.
Physical Signs of Methamphetamine Abuse
If someone close to you has suddenly taken off their wedding ring or started borrowing your prescription sunglasses at every opportunity, they might be struggling with crystal meth use. Because of its tendency to suppress appetite, crystal meth users can rapidly lose weight.
Combined with endless days of “bingeing” without washing or sleeping it’s common to notice obvious signs of weight loss. Because users will neglect their personal hygiene during these binges, body odor and unkempt hair are also common.
Skin is another major culprit when it comes to meth use. As you can imagine, picking at “crank bugs” all day will leave a users arms and face scabbed and bleeding. Meth mouth is another early sign of crystal meth use. Meth’s acidity combined with chapped lips from neglect cause users to quickly lose their teeth.
Are They Struggling With Meth Use?
Ask yourself these three key questions about the person you’re worried about:
- Have they suddenly lost or gained a noticeable amount of weight?
- Do their toothbrush or dishes display signs of meth use?
- Have they recently become involved with a group of users?
If so, it may be time to seek further consultation. Early detection when it comes to substance use disorders can be the difference between life and death. If you believe someone you know is struggling with addiction, we urge you to seek help at your nearest substance use treatment center.
Behavioral and Psychological Impacts
Visual and audio hallucinations are very common with methamphetamine use disorder. Users often feel like bugs are crawling under their skin, causing them to pick at their skin until they develop sores. This particular feeling is known as formication.
As use progresses, loved ones will notice erratic behavior and unexplained mood swings. Someone who was never once rude or confrontational may yell at you for no apparent reason. Many users grow deeply paranoid that loved ones are involved with law enforcement or conspiring against them.
Some users even report seeing “bugs” or “tiny people” when they’re high. If crystal meth use has gone unchecked for a long period of time, individuals will slowly slip into what is known as drug-induced psychosis. Psychosis is when someone completely loses touch with reality and begins to hallucinate. Ask:
- Has the person suddenly become more anxious or agitated?
- Are they accusing anyone of following or spying on them?
- Do they appear to lack emotion or interest in life?
Visual Signs of Methamphetamine Abuse
When you think of someone abusing meth, what comes to mind? For most of us, toothlessness and erratic behavior spring to mind. And it’s true, “meth mouth” is an early sign of crystal meth use that will only get worse if left untreated. Combined with the loss of appetite and lack of hydration, crystal meth abusers can deteriorate very quickly.
Their hearts can race, body temperatures spike, and they can easily fall victim to heart attacks and strokes. Some signs will be less noticeable than others, but with crystal meth, multiple symptoms are likely visible to you or your loved one.
Early detection when it comes to substance abuse is vital to overall survival. If you or someone you love is struggling with drug abuse, seek substance abuse treatment from a professional as soon as possible. Drug use doesn’t just “go away” when you quit — there’s a process your brain and body need to recover.
Aspire Recovery Center
At Aspire Recovery Center of Frisco, we’ve helped hundreds of people start the path to lifelong sobriety. Our substance abuse treatment center specializes in helping patients discover long-term healing from drug and alcohol abuse. Our unique clinical model caters to each patient’s individual needs. We believe that by using levels of care, including intensive outpatient programming, we can prepare you for lifelong sobriety.
Aspire Recovery Center focuses on treating the whole person. Through holistic healing, we identify psychological triggers while helping patients build a healthier life outside of addiction. Our medical team is lead by our Medical Director and Clinical Director, who are always available for clinical support and consultation. We specialize in working with high-functioning addicts and children struggling with substance abuse. Contact us today to find out how we can help you or your loved one kick drugs for good.
