Meth Overdose Signs & Treatment The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health

The sooner positive action is taken toward overcoming addiction, the more hope someone has for a complete recovery. When someone begins using methamphetamine recreationally, signs of abuse may soon begin to show. Prolonged misuse can lead to serious negative health consequences, taking a tremendous toll on a person’s mind and body.

• In many tragic cases, meth can be clandestinely mixed with other potent drugs, particularly opioids like fentanyl, without the user’s knowledge.
• This overstimulation manifests as symptoms of meth abuse, including hyperactivity, paranoia, and aggression.
• Therefore, a person who is a new user may overdose even on a small amount of meth.
• When a person abuses this drug, the unknown additives are absorbed into the body.
• Combining meth with other substances, especially other stimulants or opioids, is particularly hazardous and can lead to severe and unpredictable reactions.
• Meth use becomes particularly hazardous when mixed with depressants like opioids, including heroin and prescription painkillers.

Addiction support

While at one time, meth was “cooked” in small labs all over America, criminal organizations have taken over production. They use their long-established drug trafficking channels to bring supplies of methamphetamine to every corner of the U.S. If the person has an elevated body temperature, move them to a cooler environment and use cold, wet towels or ice packs. Do not give the person anything by mouth, as this could lead to further complications.

Meth Overdose Prevention

• As an illegal and unregulated substance, meth has a high risk of addiction and overdose.
• Because disorientation is a symptom of a meth overdose, a person experiencing one should be moved to a quiet, safe place, as stimulation may worsen their disorientation.
• It is crucial to remember that recovery is a continuous process, not a destination, and there may be occasional setbacks along the way.
• Before long, the meth that was being moved into the U.S. was more potent than anything that had been seen before.
• No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor.

On average, the typical dose of meth is somewhere between 5 to 60 milligrams of meth. More than this can often cause an overdose, and around 200 milligrams of meth are typically enough to be fatal. Shooting and snorting meth increase addiction and overdose risks. Learn about these dangers, how to handle overdose, and safe detox options. Meth addiction treatment involves detox, therapy, and support, with detox managing withdrawal and therapies like CBT addressing psychological issues. However, while Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, it won’t do anything for a meth overdose.

Methamphetamine Abuse And Overdose

Staying with the person until professional help arrives is also extremely important. Some people’s bodies may shut down as a result of a methamphetamine overdose. In truly severe cases, a person may pass away as a result of overdosing on methamphetamine. Some individuals who overdose on methamphetamine may experience hallucinations and see, hear, or even feel things that aren’t there.

At first, a person might feel very happy, have some trouble breathing, or feel restless. A methamphetamine overdose happens when you take too much of the drug. This can occur all at once or over time, leading to a harmful reaction. One of the first things that happens during a meth overdose is an elevated body temperature. Because the nervous system is stimulated, the body overheats and a person may be flushed and sweaty. People may also try to treat the difficult “crash” period of meth with depressants like alcohol.

Deaths From Meth

These programs offer vital support for detoxification and long-term recovery, helping individuals end their meth use safely. Methamphetamine addiction is profoundly linked to various co-occurring mental health disorders, creating a complex dual diagnosis that requires integrated care. Many individuals resort to meth abuse not just for the euphoric high, but as a desperate and misguided attempt to self-medicate underlying emotional pain and psychological distress.

Although these stimulants have similar physiological effects, there are some major differences in the way they work. Methamphetamine causes the brain to experience an artificially high level of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This produces the physical stimulation and euphoria that the user experiences. While cocaine is quickly removed from the body, methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action. This results in methamphetamine being present in the brain longer, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects. The purity of illicit methamphetamine can vary widely, making it difficult to gauge the actual amount consumed, which can lead to accidental overdose.

Need Help Getting Addiction Treatment?

Research has shown that stigma about meth may prevent people from reporting their drug use, causing a barrier to treatment. However, treatment is essential in addressing physical and psychological dependence. Knowing the warning signs of meth overdose can help people to act quickly and call for emergency medical services. It’s also important to remember that signs of acute meth overdose can be different than the signs of chronic overdose.

Using large doses of the drug significantly elevates risk, as the body struggles to process the overwhelming amount of the substance. Combining meth with other substances, especially other stimulants or opioids, is particularly hazardous and can lead to severe and unpredictable reactions. For instance, a high percentage of stimulant-related deaths also involve an opioid. There are meth addiction treatment programs available to help a person stop their drug use before it gets to that point.

If there are children in the home of confirmed meth users, families should take effective action as the children of meth users may come to harm due to neglect, abuse or worse. If you suspect someone is experiencing a meth overdose, immediate action is necessary. The most important step is to call emergency services, such as 911, without delay. Describe the person’s behavior to the operator, and remember that Good Samaritan laws often protect callers and overdose victims from drug possession charges.

This drug addiction harms the individual’s life through the loss of signs of a meth overdose and finding treatment connection with family members and possible legal consequences of criminal behavior. The changed brain functions and behaviors put an individual’s health at risk. Meth is restricted in medical settings, being classified as a Schedule II stimulant by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It is prescribed to help treat ADHD however, methamphetamine is rarely prescribed and prescribed in low doses, due in large part to the chance of meth addiction occurring.