The Destructive Nature Of Meth - Prevalent On The Venice Boardwalk

Unfortunately Meth is a popular and easy to “score” drug in Venice Beach. Symptoms of Meth use are often obvious. Loss of teeth, facial lesions, and aged, gaunt skin. There are new image from the “Faces of Meth” series at KTLA.com - a local Los Angeles news station, which show the dramatic physical impact that the drug takes on users.

An excellent treatment center locally for any kind of addiction is Exodus Recovery in Culver City.

Click here to watch an incredibly well produced FRONTLINE feature on Meth.

More information from MethTreatment.org

Meth, or methamphetamine, is a very addictive drug. It causes the brain to release large amounts of the chemical dopamine, which causes an intense high that can be very addictive. Meth can also cause serious health, legal, and social problems, so many people who become addicted to meth find that they want to quit. Because meth causes long-term changes to the brain, however, quitting can be difficult and meth relase happens a lot.

Meth can stay in the body for a number of hours after it is taken. While a person is high on meth, others may notice some signs of meth use such as:

• Dilated pupils
• Breathing problems or very fast breathing for no reason
• Dizziness
• Grinding teeth
• Repetitive behaviors
• High temperature
• Sweating
• Lots of energy and increased activity
• Talking excessively
• Seeming very alert
• Looking flushed even when not doing anything
• Experiencing a high or a sense of extreme happiness
• Lack of appetite
• Paranoia
• Irritability
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Fidgeting
• Not feeling tired and not being able to sleep
• Shaking or jerkiness

Though these symptoms may wear off once the drug is out of the person’s symptoms, meth use has other effects that last once the high wears off:

• Periods of increased alertness and energy interspaced with extreme fatigue and depression
• Insomnia
• Picking or scratching at skin or clothes
• Anxiety or paranoia
• Confusion and loss of mental function
• Lack of interest in food and dramatic weight loss
• Losing interest in favorite activities
• Withdrawal from family and friends or sudden change in friends
• Sudden drop in grades
• Getting in trouble at school or with the police
• Burns on lips or fingers from smoking meth through a glass pipe
• Nosebleeds from snorting meth
• Track marks on the arm, or attempts to cover them, due to injecting meth
• Loss of interest in personal hygiene, like not showering or brushing hair
• Lying or being secretive, beyond the normal teen desire for privacy
• Stealing money or valuables to sell for drug money
• Possession of drug paraphernalia, like razors blades, straws, and mirrors, or needles and surgical tubing
• Violent moods or behaviors
• Psychotic behavior
• Stroke
• Suicidal thoughts and behavior

Teens who abuse meth may also use methamphetamin street names for the drug, including:

• Speed
• Crank
• Zip
• Cristy
• Glass
• Ice
• Crystal
• Quartz

Though recovering from meth addiction is not impossible, it is often difficult. The withdrawal symptoms from meth include a severe craving for the drug and feelings of unhappiness that cause many users to seek meth again, meth relpase often occurs within 6 months of quitting. Between 2 and 4 months after quitting, meth users often hit a wall, where they feel little pleasure in life and crave the drug. Users who make it to 6 months and have made changes in the pattern of their lives are usually well on their way to avoiding meth relapse and staying meth free.

Studies have found that stress is a common trigger in meth relapse. Learning healthier ways to manage stress is one of the changes meth users can make in their lives to greatly increase their chances of making a lasting recovery. Some strategies for managing stress can include:

• Establishing healthy habits like eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising
• Avoid using other alcohol or other drugs, including tobacco
• Finding supportive people to talk to
• Learning to meditate or do a relaxing activity like yoga or tai chi
• Focusing on spiritual inclinations
• Finding activities you enjoy, such as art, music, sports, gardening
• Simply your life by cutting out unnecessary activities that cause stress
• Learn to manage your time well so you don’t get overwhelmed
• Learn to have realistic expectations of yourself
• Keep a journal where you can write about your feelings
• Consider volunteering in a cause you think is worthwhile
• If needed, get counseling to help you change negative thought patterns

Meth addicts and their family members and friends should be patient during the recovery process. While it is best to avoid meth relapse, even those who do relapse can still recover with continued support and persistence.

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