Meth is a potent stimulant drug that can lead to severe drug addiction. People who abuse meth do so to experience increased energy and a rush of euphoria. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2.5 million people reported abusing meth in 2021.
Meth is a central nervous system stimulant. Abusing it can cause physical and psychological effects, including high blood pressure. Meth abuse can also lead to insomnia, paranoia, and even malnutrition. If you are worried that your loved one abuse meth, the easiest way to tell is by looking at their eyes.
Meth can lead to serious eye problems, including dilated pupils, dry eyes, blurry vision, and more. To support eye health, you should quit using meth and seek help from a substance abuse treatment program.
What are the Effects of Meth?
Meth causes your brain and body to speed up. When you abuse meth, you might experience increased energy, insomnia, and rapid heart rate. Additionally, meth abuse can lead to aggressive behavior, paranoia, and psychosis.
The common effects of meth include:
- Tons of energy
- Lessened need for sleep
- Decrease in appetite and weight loss
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Elevated body temperature
- A rush of euphoria
- Increased breathing
- Aggressive and violent behavior
- Paranoia and anxiety
- Psychosis
Repeatedly abusing meth will lead to addiction. If you struggle with meth addiction, you should seek help from a substance abuse treatment center. Addiction treatment can help you gain the support you need to achieve long-lasting recovery.
What Does Meth Do to Your Pupils?
One of the most notable effects of meth is dilated pupils. Your pupils become large, almost resembling saucers. Your pupils dilate because of the way meth increases dopamine in your brain.
Meth can cause dilated pupils that last for several hours. While there are other causes of pupil dilation, it can be a telltale sign of meth abuse.
What Happens to Your Eyes When You Do Meth?
While meth causes pupil dilation, it can lead to an array of other eye effects. Long-term abuse of meth can cause significant damage to your eyes. Because of this, you should always seek professional addiction treatment.
The effects of meth on the eyes include:
Dryness or Discharge
Meth abuse can cause your eyes to become very dry. On the other hand, you could experience discharge from your eyes. Either of these symptoms can indicate an underlying eye condition requiring treatment.
Rapid Eye Movements
Since meth is a stimulant, it increases activity in your entire body. This can lead to rapid eye movements. Meth causes restlessness that leads to rapid eye movements.
Glassy Eyes
Meth causes heightened stimulation, which can cause a variety of physical effects. One of those effects is the glassy appearance of the eyes. If your loved one’s eyes look shiny or reflective, they could be under the influence.
Bloodshot Eyes
Meth use can cause blood vessels in your eyes to dilate. As a result, the white part of your eyes might become red. While plenty of substances cause bloodshot eyes, it is an indicator of meth abuse.
Retinal Vascular Occlusive Disease (RVOD)
One of the more serious eye effects of meth is a condition called retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD).
Meth abuse can cause your eyes to form blood clots. If these blood clots prevent blood flow to the retina, you will develop RVOD.
The signs of RVOD include:
- Blurry vision or vision loss
- Floaters or dark spots in your vision
- Pain or pressure in your eyes
You are at an increased risk of developing this condition if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or glaucoma.
What are the Other Long-Term Risks of Meth Abuse?
Abusing meth long-term can lead to addiction. It can also put you at risk of other physical and mental health effects like dental decay or brain damage. Knowing the dangers of long-term meth abuse can motivate you to seek drug addiction treatment.
The risks of long-term meth abuse include:
Addiction
Meth increases dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is responsible for pleasure and reward. When you abuse meth repeatedly, you are training your brain to associate meth as a reward.
Over time, this will cause you to develop an addiction. Unfortunately, this can put you at risk of life-threatening overdoses.
Mental Health Issues
Meth can affect your mental health in a plethora of ways. For example, meth can increase feelings of anxiety or paranoia. People who frequently abuse meth might think people are out to get them.
In addition, long-term meth use can cause psychosis. Psychosis is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and detachment from reality.
If you or a loved one abuse meth, you should seek drug rehab that includes mental health treatment.
Dental Decay
Meth is a stimulant, which means it causes dehydration. If you are dehydrated frequently, there will not be enough saliva in your mouth. This dryness can lead to the loss of enamel, which is important to dental health.
Over time, you can develop severe dental decay and gum diseases like periodontitis.
Malnutrition
Because meth is a stimulant, it causes you to feel less hungry. Many people who binge on meth do not eat for days at a time. After some time, this can lead to severe malnutrition.
If you know someone who abuses meth, you might be familiar with the thinness associated with meth misuse. Thankfully, drug rehab programs offer nutritional counseling to address the malnutrition caused by meth addiction.
Brain Damage
Unfortunately, repeated meth abuse can lead to brain damage. According to NIDA, meth “alters brain structures involved in decision-making and impairs the ability to suppress habitual behaviors.”
Additionally, meth abuse can cause deficits in thinking and motor skills. Thankfully, most individuals who quit meth experience improvements in these areas over time.
Finding Help for Meth Abuse and Addiction
If you or a loved one suffers from meth addiction, drug rehab is vital. Meth use disorder can be complicated to overcome, often leading to relapses. However, addiction treatment centers can offer you relapse prevention services to help you achieve long-term recovery.
The Mandala Healing Center is committed to treating each person as a whole, integrating a healthy lifestyle that will help our patients truly heal from the inside out.
At the core of healing is exceptional clinical care. Our dynamic addiction treatment methods provide a foundation for lifelong recovery by addressing the underlying causes of suffering in today’s families. Our patients are empowered to reclaim their lives and restore their health, free from addiction and substance misuse.
Contact Mandala Healing Center today to learn more about our meth addiction treatment center.