Signs of Meth Use

Methamphetamine is highly addictive psychoactive stimulant drug. There are several hallmark signs of drug abuse, and the signs of meth use are very specific. When it comes to the signs of meth use, there are several red flags that will be noticeable from the very first time someone uses the drug. Not every individual will display every one of these signs of meth use, and it should be noted that other illicit drugs may cause similar signs.

Early signs of meth use can include but are not limited to:

• Euphoric "high" state (excessively happy)
• Paranoia
• Decreased appetite
• Increased physical activity. For instance, the individual may exhibit obsessive, fidgety behavior. This may be displayed as symptoms which are more commonly associated with OCD (like compulsive hand-washing, cleaning), and the meth user will repeatedly perform the same task over and over again
• Anxiety, shaking hands, nervousness
• A meth user often engages in constant, rambling conversation and incessant talking
• Rapid eye movement
• Increased body temperature (can rise as high as 108 degrees and cause death)
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating which is not related to physical activity
• Continued signs of meth use include the above as well as the following symptoms:
• Weight loss. Sadly, the goal of weight loss has actually motivated people to start using meth. However, chronic meth use can cause severe and unhealthy weight loss, and eventually leads to physical degeneration that is sometimes unbearable to witness
• Strong body odor
• Shadows under the eyes
• Dry or itchy skin
• Pale complexion
• Acne/Acne-type sores
• Irritability and moodiness, mood swings
• Picking at skin or hair resulting in skin lesions and frequent sores that take a long time to heal. Meth also naturally inhibits the body's ability to fight off minor infection, so a small lesion or sore can turn into a serious health concern in no time.
• Chronic meth users are often troubled by hallucinations that they have insects crawling beneath their flesh
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Depression (withdrawal/tolerance effect). During these periods of withdrawal, meth addicts often suffer from depression that remains until their next fix
• Severe nail biting
• Nose bleeds, nasal perforations
• Dermatitis around the mouth
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Bouts of wakefulness that can last for days or more than a week. This is accompanied by a kind of nervous, high-energy behavior. This is commonly known as "tweaking," in which an user will take repeated doses of meth, foregoing sleep for days at a time.
• Advanced signs of meth use include all of the above in addition to the following symptoms:
• Hair loss
• Tooth decay resulting in discolored, rotten or missing teeth, commonly referred to as "meth mouth". This occurs because meth abuse causes nervous tooth grinding, saliva deficiency, and extreme lapses in hygiene.
• Corneal ulcerations
• Severe mental illness symptoms which may seem similar to schizophrenia including anger, panic, paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, repetitive behavior patterns
• Absence from work or daily routine