Abuse of methamphetamine in the United States is one of the fastest-growing of all substance abuse problems. Fed by the manufacturer and smuggling of meth from Mexico, it began on the West Coast and is spreading inexorably eastward. Meth is a stimulant, so highly addictive that some users get hooked on the first use. Meth abuse is one of the hardest of all addictions to treat, and has a devastating and often permanent effect not only on the user’s body, but on relationships, careers, and emotions.

Over 1.6 million people had tried meth in the United States as of 2006. It is a favorite of young people under age 25, where the average age of first use is 19. Admissions for treatment of meth addiction nearly tripled nationwide between 1997 and 2007 and continue to climb. Also referred to as “speed” or “chalk,” meth is easily distilled from legal cold medicines, prompting many states to crack down on sales of over-the-counter medicines in 2004 in an attempt to stop the explosive spread of meth labs. The speed with which meth abuse spread from its origins in the Pacific Northwest came in part because it was cheap and easy to obtain and provides an intense “hit” and a euphoric high that lasts 6-8 hours.

Meth abuse is particularly dangerous because of the intense cravings it induces in users, but also for the danger it can cause to bystanders. While a person is high on meth, he feels great, energized, but the initial rush is followed by high agitation, which in many people can lead to violent behavior. Sudden manic swings in mood are one sign of meth abuse.

In part, methamphetamine abuse is so dangerous because meth has an incredible ability to release dopamine in the brain, which creates intense feelings of pleasure. It also blocks the brain’s natural ability to reabsorb dopamine, creating the lasting high. However, chronic meth abuse dramatically changes the way the brain functions, including reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning. Longtime users generally have noticeable emotional and cognitive problems.

In addition, sustained meth abuse has physical effects on the human body, including extreme weight loss, which unfortunately makes meth use attractive to women, rotted teeth (“meth mouth”), anxiety, insomnia, and confusion as well as paranoia and delusions such as the feeling of insects crawling under the skin. This in turn leads to skin lesions from addicts picking or itching.

Treatment for meth abuse and addiction should be sought at the first indications of use. Currently there are no drug treatment options like methadone for meth addiction as there are for heroin or opiate addictions. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the best treatments for a methamphetamine addiction are comprehensive cognitive-behavioral interventions such as the Matrix Model, a behavioral treatment approach that combines behavioral therapy, family education, individual counseling, 12-step support, drug testing, and encouragement for non–drug-related activities. There is no way to simply stop using meth and walk away. Professional treatment through a coordinated drug program specializing in meth abuse is the only way to beat this particularly insidious addiction.