Internal organs can be damaged. Smoking can damage the lungs. Drinking can damage the liver. Unhealthy eating can lead to fatty liver. Like any other internal organ, the brain can be damaged by what a person ingests.
One of the substances that can harm the brain when ingested is meth. Long-term use of it can alter a person’s brain chemistry and structure. These alterations can be a major part of why overcoming addiction is so hard, and they can also lead to long-term, if not permanent, effects.
At Luxe Recovery, we can offer addiction treatment that can help them recover from chronic meth use and mitigate its effects to give people a chance at living a good and healthy life.
What is Meth?
Methamphetamine, also known as ice or crystal meth, is a highly addictive and highly potent central nervous system stimulant that can be snorted, smoked with a unique glass pipe, ingested orally, or it can be injected.
When a person takes meth, they trigger a rush of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure, in the brain. This euphoria can be incredibly addictive and drive people to want to use the drug over and over again.
What Is Methamphetamine Addiction?
Methamphetamine addiction is a medical condition in which a person loses control over their use of the drug. When a person is affected by methamphetamine addiction, they will be unable to stop using the drug or even reduce their drug use. They can try to do so, but the compulsion to use meth will eventually win out.
People who are affected by this compulsion to use meth can often spend an excessive amount of time either using meth, thinking about the next time they will get to use the drug, or trying to acquire the drug. The adverse consequences that are associated with misusing meth will not be enough to deter a person’s behavior.
How Meth Use Causes Brain Damage
Meth is a drug that can have several detrimental effects on the brain. Some of these effects include:
Circulatory System Damage
Meth can cause circulatory system damage by constricting blood vessels, which can reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to the tissues. Coupled with its stimulant effects, such as increasing heart rate and blood pressure, meth can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and aneurysm.
Damage to the Cytoskeleton
Meth can damage the cytoskeleton by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting the protein balance necessary to maintain its structure. This damage can lead to neuron damage, altered cell signaling, and cell death.
Neurotoxic Effects
Meth causes the brain to release excessive amounts of dopamine and serotonin. This can damage the neurons that produce and regulate them. This can result in cognitive impairment, emotional disturbances, and impaired brain function.
Increased Glutamate Calcium
Meth can lead to an influx of calcium in the neurons. This can contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments and increase the risk of neurological disorders.
Deterioration of Gray Matter
Meth can lead to the deterioration of gray matter in the brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. These areas of the brain involve decision-making, memory, and emotion. This loss of gray matter can contribute to cognitive impairment, emotional dysregulation, and executive dysfunction.
Decreased Gliogenesis
Meth can disrupt the process by which new glial cells are formed in the brain. This disruption can impair the brain’s ability to support and protect neurons, maintain homeostasis, and repair damage.
Treating meth addiction can mitigate or even reverse some of the damage it does to the brain. Some of these effects, however, may be permanent. Early intervention, comprehensive treatment, and long-term support are crucial for recovery, and these can vary among individuals.
Long-Term Effects of Meth Use on Your Brain and Body
Meth can have many long-term effects on the brain and body that include:
Loss of Motor Control and Slowed Reflexes
Meth’s impact on the nervous system can slow a person’s reflexes and disrupt their motor control. Long-term use can impair a user’s neural processing speed, decreasing coordination, motor control, and slower reflexes.
Anhedonia
Chronic meth use can deplete the brain’s dopamine levels and receptors. This can lead to a dulled ability to experience pleasure from activities other than meth use.
Psychosis
A severe meth addiction can result in a user developing psychosis. People with this condition may experience hallucinations such as the aforementioned meth mites, delusions, and they may become paranoid. This condition can linger after meth use is stopped and may require long-term support to address correctly.
Signs of Meth Addiction
Being addicted to meth can come with a number of outward signs, as the drug can sometimes alter a user’s appearance. Many people who use meth can often neglect their hygiene, leading to an unkempt appearance.
Speaking of their appearance, meth can cause noticeable sores, some of which may spew pus. These sores can often appear in clusters. Many meth users may also have missing teeth, as meth can cause oral health problems.
Treatment Options for Meth Addiction
A meth addiction is a treatable condition. Meth addiction treatment often consists of a combination of detox, holistic treatments, evidence-based therapies, and medication. In severe cases of addiction, a person may need the intensive support and continuous monitoring found in residential treatment.
Given the potential severity of withdrawal symptoms, detox should also be attempted in a center where a patient can receive immediate medical care if necessary.
Seek Treatment for Meth Addiction at Luxe Recovery
The chronic use of meth affects the brain in several ways, and some of these ways may be long-lasting or even permanent, and an affected person will need long-term support to have a good quality of life.
At Luxe Recovery, we help people overcome the use of methamphetamine so they can recover from some of the brain damage caused by long-term meth abuse. We can also help educate loved ones on the nature of addiction and recovery, as well as how to support best someone affected by meth addiction. Contact us now, and we can help you or a loved one heal your mind and body.
