What Does Meth Feel Like?

Most people who start using meth don’t intend to get addicted. Instead, they decide to try it out of curiosity, to cope with stress, or because they want to feel different. These same people usually believe that meth will give them more energy or help them feel more confident. However, meth isn’t always what people expect, and the way it feels can quickly change from exciting to scary.

In the United States, meth is one of the most widely used illegal drugs. Many people start it early, as young as age 12. Much of the meth circulating today comes from outside the country and is often more potent than in years past, making it that much more dangerous.

Whether you’ve used meth yourself, know someone who has, or just want to learn more about how it works, knowing what it actually feels like can help you understand its risks. The physical and emotional effects are real, and they can be confusing if you don’t know what to look out for.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand:

• What meth is
• What it feels like to use it
• How it affects the brain and body
• What tweaking is and why it happens
• Where to find support for meth addiction

If you or someone you care about is addicted to meth, you don’t have to figure everything out alone. Recovery is possible, especially with the right support. Mandala Healing Center offers evidence-based treatment options to help you get to the root of your addiction and work toward recovery alongside experienced, compassionate staff.

What Is Meth?

Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system, producing an intense and often overwhelming high as dopamine levels climb. When someone uses meth, it kicks the brain into overdrive. Heart rate increases, blood vessels narrow, and body temperature rises. These changes make people using the drug feel more alert and energized, but they also increase the risk of serious health complications, like seizures and heart attack.

Meth is often used by people who want a new way to stay awake, lose weight, or improve their focus. Its chemical structure is similar to medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the intensity and duration of its effects make it far more dangerous, especially outside of a medical setting.

Meth comes in a powder form and can be swallowed, smoked, snorted, or injected. It also comes in crystal form, known as crystal meth, which is typically smoked.

Meth is highly addictive, and even occasional use can lead to serious mental health challenges and long-term changes in how the brain and body function. Because of how quickly it takes hold, many people don’t realize how much it’s affecting them (and those around them) until it’s already a problem.

What Does Meth Feel Like?

After someone takes meth, the high can come on fast—within seconds if it’s smoked or injected. Many people describe it as a wave of energy that makes them feel untouchable, intensely focused, or even euphoric.

During this high, someone might experience:

• A surge in confidence or talkativeness
• Increased energy or physical activity
• Heightened interest in touch or increased sex drive
• Little or no need for sleep
• Suppressed appetite and rapid weight loss
• A false sense of being in control

The high usually lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, depending on how much was taken and how it was used. These effects eventually face, and what comes next can be both physically and emotionally draining.

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Physical and Mental Effects of Meth

Even short-term meth use can cause noticeable physical and mental symptoms. The drug puts a lot of stress on the brain, heart, and internal systems, which can lead to both immediate and long-term effects.

Some of the physical side effects may include:

• Skin picking or infected sores
• Elevated blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Increased body temperature
• Sweating or oily skin
• Weakness
• “Meth mouth”—dental issues due to teeth grinding, dry mouth, and poor hygiene
• Racing heart rate
• Headaches and dehydration
• Tremors
• Risk of heart attack or stroke
• Kidney and/or liver failure

Psychological side effects might include:

• Confusion and difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety or paranoia
• Depression
• Mood swings, irritability, or anger
• Insomnia
• Risky sexual behavior
• Hallucinations or delusions (like feeling bugs crawling on the skin)
• Racing thoughts
• Memory loss, which may become permanent
• Obsessive behaviors
• Aggression or violent behavior

The exact effects of meth can vary depending on how much is used, how it’s taken, and how the person’s body and brain respond to the drug. Over time, meth can alter the way the brain processes emotions. Every day experiences may stop bringing joy, and people often say they feel hopeless when they’re not actively using the drug.

What Is Tweaking?

“Tweaking” is a term used to describe the phase that happens after someone uses meth for a long time. At this point, the initial high has worn off, but the person may keep using the drug, whether to try to stay alert or to avoid a crash. Tweaking can look like:

• Not sleeping for several days, then crashing
• Physical agitation, including pacing or other repetitive movements
• Feeling intensely anxious or paranoid
• Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
• Behaving compulsively
• Difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions
• Binging on the drug, even for days on end
• Experiencing repetitive or obsessive thoughts

Tweaking can be dangerous, especially if someone is also dehydrated, sleep-deprived, or not eating.

Recovering From a Meth Addiction

Quitting meth isn’t easy, but with the right tools and support system, it’s possible to heal. Whether you’ve tried to stop before or you’re just starting to imagine life without an addiction, Mandala Healing Center is here to help.

Our team understands that substance use disorders usually go deeper than the drug itself. That’s why we provide treatments to address both your physical and mental health. Whenever you feel ready, reach out so that we can answer your questions, verify your insurance coverage, and guide your next steps.

Resources:

1. www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3981/3981p.pdf?utm_
2. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/11/the-new-meth/620174/
3. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/methamphetamine
4. https://dhs.saccounty.gov/BHS/Documents/SUPT/Methamphetamine/Coalition-2019/MA-ADS-2019-10-09-Meth-Coalition–Signs-of-Meth-Use.pdf
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535356/