Palm Trees

Long-Lasting Effects of Meth Keep People Using

Methamphetamine use has more than doubled in the past six years, and a user can become addicted after trying it just once. North Carolina’s News14.com interviewed Amber Gillespie, who works on the prevention side at Anuvia Prevention & Recovery, about the dangers of methamphetamine.

“Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It can be the person next to you using meth and you not even realize it. It can be the truck driver that drives all night long, or the mom that stays at home that has to clean the house and take the kids to school that needs increased energy,” Gillespie said.

For the past three and a half years, North Carolina law has controlled the sale of pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in meth, which is also found in many cold and allergy medications. The law has cut down on the meth labs in the state, but meth use remains high.

Meth is also called crank, crystal, or ice, and it can be smoked, snorted, eaten, or injected. The drug affects brain chemistry and can lead to hallucinations, open sores, loss of bone mass, and deterioration of teeth (often called “meth mouth”).

A meth high can last 10 to 12 hours, which is significantly longer than a drug like cocaine, which can wear off after 20 minutes. The long-lasting euphoria is what keeps people using and also wears out their bodies.

“Addiction, in fact, is actually a disease, and many people do not realize that. So if you have anybody who is addicted to any type of substance, the important steps are to get them the help that they need,” Gillespie said.

Experts agree that while meth addiction happens quickly, the road to recovery can be a long, arduous journey.