成瘾

Medically reviewed:06/18/2018
Last updated:03/26/2020
Author:Addictions.com Medical Review

What is Meth Addiction?

除了它导致个人的有害物理，心理或社会副作用，均可不管使用甲状腺，无论它造成任何有害的身体，心理，或社交影响。成瘾是许多美国人面临的成瘾，一个可以克服适当的干预，持续治疗。

Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, or meth, is a highly addictive drug which affects the central nervous system. It comes as clear shiny crystals or hard blue-white rocks. Crystal meth is typically smoked, snorted or injected to provide a lasting high that makes the user feel invincible, upbeat, energetic and euphoric.

Also known as ice, crank, or crystal, meth can be cheaply made by simply mixing together a number of chemicals, many of which are interchangeable. For this reason, this highly addictive substance is often called a bathtub drug. Crystal meth is easy to obtain, and due to the incredibly harsh chemicals used in its manufacture—including battery acid and ammonia—the physical and cognitive effects of the addiction are severe.

如果药物是如此危险，那么令人上瘾，令人衰弱，为什么人们为什么用它？主要是，水晶素易于易于获得，持续多长时间。例如，花费可能十美元的少量水晶均可允许一两个人保持高位，并保持整天或更长时间的派对。其他原因甲状腺素引用寻找药物，包括快速减肥和降低抑制并增加性欲的方式。有些人在他们对不同药物的宽容之后转向水晶甲基，因此它们不能再从那种物质升高。Crystal Meth可以不仅提供高瘾者正在寻找的高度，而且它也成本更低，持续更长时间。

内皮成瘾的风险是什么？

Physically, meth addiction can lead toirreversible damageto the brain and other areas of the body. Those who abuse meth are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or a stroke as a direct result of their drug abuse.

One of the largest and fastest growing epidemics in the nation that is crippling Americans at an alarmingly fast rate iscrystal meth addiction. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people are addicted to crystal meth in the United States alone, and this number seems to be growing.

Unless you or someone you love has been addicted to meth and you have lived in a world of hell that meth addiction causes, it is difficult to grasp the magnitude of the struggle caused by meth fully. Crystal meth addiction leads to some of the most severe consequences of any other drug on the market or on the streets today.

In most cases, abstinence from meth abuse for at least two years can lead to the reversal of many of the negative physical signs of methamphetamine abuse but not all. Motor function and verbal memory will typically repair to some extent after two years of meth abstinence, but some other neurological aspects of prolonged use may not repair themselves even with time.

What are the Symptoms of Meth Addiction?

There are many short-term and long-termeffects of using crystal meth. Some of these effects will naturally subside on their own within a few hours while others could take days or more to go away even after the last dose of crystal meth was administered.

Available in many different forms, meth can be smoked, snorted, injected or ingested orally. Each of the methods of meth use will have a different effect on the user and the amount of time that the drug is active will differ slightly from one method of use to the next.

Below is a look at how each method of methamphetamine use will affect the user:

• Smoking meth –导致将药物的快速吸收到大脑中，并可放大成瘾潜力以及许多不良健康后果，如肺肿瘤和其他问题
• Injecting meth –导致强烈的匆忙或闪光的高度被描述为一种令人愉快的状态，通常只持续几分钟
• Snorting or Oral Consumption of Meth –leads to a less intense rush that lasts anywhere from 5 to twenty minutes and can linger.

Crystal meth affects the psychological system as well as the physical components of the body and can lead to a range of adverse reactions.

Short-Term Effects of Meth Include:

• Erratic behavior
• Violent behavior
• Fascination with repetitive tasks
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• 过度出汗
• Jaw clenching
• Suppressed appetite
• Poor sleeping habits or insomnia
• Mood swings
• Tremors
• Convulsions
• High blood pressure and increased heart rate
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anxiety
• Paranoia

Long-Term Effects of Meth Abuse Include:

• Brain damage
• Coma
• Depression
• Stroke
• 死亡
• Meth mouth (rotten teeth)
• Hallucinations
• Sores on the body
• Boils or infections on the skin
• Psychosis
• 减肥和营养不良

Many of the short and long-termsigns of meth abusecan be fixed once the meth addiction is treated and the user is no longer abusing the drug. Unfortunately, some of the severe complications of meth use, such as depression and severe paranoia, do not go away quickly and are often lifelong effects of having used this dangerous drug.

What are the Signs of Meth Addiction?

There are some tell-talesigns of meth addictionthat you may be able to spot right away or which may become more prevalent as time goes on.

Look out for the following signs of meth addiction:

• Track or needle marks on the arms, legs, hands, feet or neck
• Euphoric states followed by fatigue or depression
• Respiratory problems, sinus infections or lung infections
• 来自吸烟甲基苯丙胺的咳嗽或嘶哑的声音
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Skin abscesses or infections of the skin with no explanation
• Anger or irritability
• Sudden, unexplained weight loss
• Sustained scratching or picking at skin or hair
• 牙齿健康差
• Doing repetitive tasks
• Erratic sleeping patterns
• Deterioration in physical appearance
• Dilated pupils
• 过度出汗
• Changes in body odor
• Constant talking
• Jerky movements or ticks

如果你爱的人滥用了什么，该怎么办

If someone you love isabusing meth, and cannot or will not stop on their own, it may be time to seek professional help. If they are in denial about their harmful behavior, you may want to set up an intervention with an addiction specialist and gather their close friends and family members. This person may also be aware they are addicted but are unable to stop despite trying to ween back their dosage. In this case, it would be helpful for you to support them in their recovery, by finding them a nearby成瘾治疗中心with medical professionals who can assist in their detox, treatment, and recovery.

Which Treatment Options are Available for Meth Addiction?

Inpatient treatmentis always the best option for addicts, especially long-term users who will have more severe withdrawal symptoms. Inpatient treatment allows for close medical oversight, in a safe environment that can prevent triggers, and relapse from occurring. Alongside inpatient treatment, patients can also be involved in therapy programs to help address the underlying causes of their addiction, such problems with their mental health.

最有效的治疗方法治疗that have been found to assist those with meth addiction include behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy methods. Each of these methods of treatment involves helping the patient to combine new thoughts with their behaviors and vice versa to control their outbursts, cravings, and decisions. Contingency management interventions are also acceptable methods of treating methamphetamine addiction for some patients. The following methods are some of the most commonly used in centers for the treatment of meth addiction:

• Behavioral therapy–changing behaviors that would once trigger the use of drugs into behaviors that are now productive and do not include drug abuse
• Family education–teaching others in the family about meth addiction and how they can help their loved one by not facilitating the addiction but to support their recovery
• Individual counseling –providing a safe place for the addict to get help for their addiction without having to worry about the thoughts of others. Individual counseling also allows for a place to talk about potential causes of the addiction such as past or present physical abuse or trauma.
• 12-step therapy–many counseling centers, treatment centers and community programs provide twelve step treatments for those suffering from all types of addiction including methamphetamine addiction. Crystal Meth Anonymous groups are available in communities to provide social support for recovering addicts
• Contingency management interventions –these programs offer incentives to the patient when he or she goes a set amount of time without using meth by providing coupons or vouchers to assist them in finding something that they like as a reward. The coupon may be for a free meal, a special gift or something else of value.