The AMC hit show, Breaking Bad, chronicles the up and down life of a crystal meth dealer. The show is hugely popular, partly because Walt’s character is hugely relatable in his familial, social, and emotional situations, but also because we get to see a sneak peak into the seedy and curious side of the crystal meth drug trade.
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Methamphetamine, more commonly known as crystal meth, is a powerful synthetic stimulant. Its street names are “ice,” “tina,” and “glass.” It’s an extremely addictive drug that is abused for its long-lasting, euphoric feel. While Breaking Bad might entertain us with the fictional angle of the crystal meth world, the reality is that it’s an awful world we should all stay away from.
What Is Crystal Meth?
Crystal meth is the crystallized form of the chemical n-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine. It resembles shiny glass rocks of varying sizes. Crystal meth is most commonly smoked out of pipes, much like crack cocaine. It can be snorted and injected, but smoking is the most commonly used method of consumption.
Who Uses Crystal Meth?
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Crystal meth is very popular with young adults on the club and party scene. This is because the effects of crystal meth can last up to 12 hours. The extended high is why some people prefer it to other party drugs like cocaine.
What Does Crystal Meth Do?
Meth boosts the release and stops the reuptake of dopamine in the brain. This results in a build up of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is how the brain experiences and interprets pleasure, motor function, and motivation. A rush of dopamine is what gives the user a feeling of euphoria. Repeated use of meth can cause an individual’s dopamine system to stop functioning correctly. It essentially rewires the brain, causing the individual to quickly become addicted.
What Are the Side Effects of Crystal Meth?
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When an individual becomes addicted to crystal meth, there are clear physical effects, which can be apparent to both the addict and his or her social circles. Anorexia, blurred vision, dizziness, hyperactivity, insomnia, numbness, and twitching are very common with crystal meth addicts. Hallucinations, increased self-esteem, paranoia, and anxiety are some of the psychological effects of crystal meth.
But the most telling physical consequence of crystal meth is meth mouth. Meth mouth is when a meth addict’s teeth start to prematurely fall out. This is a result of the drug’s acidity, of grinding teeth, of dry mouth (depriving teeth of saliva), and of a lack of day-to-day oral hygiene. This is perhaps the most well-known and sad side effect of crystal meth.
What To Do If You Know an Addict?
People can become crystal meth addicts very quickly. The physical signs that we outlined are a very big giveaway. Getting professional help is imperative with crystal meth because it alters your brain’s chemical composition. It’s definitely a mind and body addiction that must be treated as such. Treatment programs that aren’t medical in nature will be difficult for someone trying to recover from a crystal meth addiction.
Prominence Treatment Center is well suited for crystal meth addiction recovery. We have a detoxification program that is medically supervised, as well as trained therapists and doctors to help with the addiction recovery. Recovering from crystal meth is not as easy as talking things through in a room full of other addicts. Both the physical and psychological symptoms must be dealt with.
If you or someone you know is addicted to crystal meth, please call us today. At the very least, we can start to give you more information and more specific tips on how you should handle a situation with a friend or family member. Due to crystal meth’s quick hold on its users, please do not wait to get someone help. Act now. 888-609-3498