Methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or meth, is a powerful and highly addictive drug. While the vast majority of meth users begin using the drug by smoking it, many graduate to using other, more dangerous forms of administration, such as insufflation (snorting) or injection. Shooting meth is extremely dangerous and can increase the risks associated with using the drug.

 

Meth Abuse and Addiction

In the 1950s, methamphetamine was used to treat depression, obesity, and other health conditions. However, the medical community quickly began seeing the astonishing rates at which people were abusing and getting addicted to meth.[1] Today, it is an illicit substance that is abused illegally.

There are many ways people use meth. These include swallowing, smoking, snorting, or shooting. Each method of administration can make a person high. When abused, meth is highly addictive. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) nearly 1.6 million people – equal to 0.6% of the U.S. population, reported using meth at least once in 2017. Furthermore, the NSDUH estimates that 964,000 people aged 12 and older had a meth addiction in 2017.[2]

Why Do People Begin Injecting Meth?

Meth abuse of any kind is dangerous and can pose a variety of health risks. The most popular way to use meth is by smoking it. However, people who have abused meth over a long period of time will develop a tolerance to it. Tolerance causes people to need to take increasing quantities of a substance to achieve the desired effects.

Since shooting meth causes a more intense and faster high compared to snorting or smoking it, many people who are addicted to meth end up injecting it once they develop a tolerance. Upon injection, users will feel a rush of euphoria and a jolt of energy in less than a minute – usually within seconds. The rush is powerful and intense, so much so that many people get addicted to injected meth after the first time they try it.

The high produced after intravenous meth use can last for several hours. When the high wears off, however, users will begin to come down or “crash.” They may feel depressed, irritable, fatigued, and uneasy. These feelings are the early onset of withdrawal – a terribly difficult process to go through. People who are addicted to injecting meth will typically continue shooting it until they receive professional help because it is so difficult to quit.

What Are The Risks and Dangers of Shooting Meth?

When injected directly into the bloodstream, the immediate effects can speed up the amount of time it takes an addiction to develop. It can also increase a user’s tolerance rapidly, causing them to need to take the drug in higher doses than before. When users begin using increasing amounts of meth, the damage inflicted on their mind and body becomes progressively concerning. The risk of overdose increases dramatically, as well, because it is difficult to gauge how much meth a person is using when they are injecting it.

The dangers of shooting meth exceed those related to drug addiction. Meth abuse can interfere with every aspect of a person’s life, affecting their mental and physical health, their family, their job, and so much more.

Physical Dangers of Injecting Meth

Shooting methamphetamine can lead to vein damage, vein scarring, and vein collapse. IV drug use can also cause veins in the extremities to shrink, making it difficult to locate a healthy vein for both users and medical professionals. In addition, the vast array of toxic chemicals and additives in meth made vein inflammation and burning extremely common.

People who inject meth may reuse their dirty needles or share needles with other people, increasing the list of possible dangers. Sharing needles can transmit blood borne illnesses like HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C. Using dirty or dull needles is also more likely to cause vein damage or abscesses on the skin.

In the long term, people who shoot meth are susceptible to several health consequences. These include:

• Inability to sleep through the night
• Nerve damage
• Overdose and death
• Seizures
• Anxiety, paranoia, or depression
• Tooth damage and decay
• Sores and skin infections
• Heart problems
• Liver or kidney damage
• Stroke

Mental and Emotional Consequences of Intravenous Meth Use

Like any other substance of abuse, meth can have dire consequences on mental health. For instance, some users get addicted to the drug in an attempt to self-medicate an underlying condition or cope with trauma. However, drug abuse inevitably worsens mental health issues.

Meth abuse directly impacts the way the brain produces and processes dopamine, a feel-good chemical responsible for mood regulation, decision making, and memory. Long-term abuse can permanently affect the reuptake of dopamine, putting people at risk of the following:

• Brain damage
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations and paranoia
• Mood or personality changes
• Violent/aggressive behavior
• Depression and/or suicidal thoughts
• Inability to experience pleasure

Legal, Financial, and Social Repercussions of Shooting Meth

Injecting meth doesn’t only hurt a person’s health. It can affect every area of their life. Possessing and selling meth is illegal, so if a person is found guilty of going so they may face time in jail, community service, mandatory drug court, or hefty fines. At the same time, people who are under the influence of meth are known to commit some irrational, yet serious crimes. These include, but are not limited to, theft, assault, robbery, sexual assault, or driving under the influence.

Meth can also drain a person’s finances. While the drug is cheaper to manufacture and buy compared to many other drugs, shooting meth can become an expensive habit – especially in the late stages of addiction. At the same time, drug abuse and intoxication can encourage poor spending habits or the inability to maintain or find employment. This can lead to significant, long-term financial hardships.

Lastly, meth addiction and abuse can negatively impact a person’s relationships. They may break the trust of family members, lie to or steal from friends, or lose the confidence of their employer. This can lead to intense struggles with relationships and difficulties in the home.

Find Help for Meth Addiction Today

Meth is one of the most addictive drugs out there. Oftentimes, people who shoot it once are bound to shoot it again and again until they get help. Fortunately, there are thousands of drug and alcohol rehab centers across the United States that can help people overcome meth addiction. Call now to find an addiction treatment center near you.

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10908000/
2. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-scope-methamphetamine-misuse-in-united-states