Signs of Meth Use

When it comes to the signs of meth use, there are specific red flags that will be noticeable from the very first time someone tries the drug. Not every user will display every one of these signs of meth use. It should also be noted that other illicit drugs may cause similar signs.

 

Early Signs of Meth Use

• Euphoric "high" state (excessively happy)
• Paranoia
• Decreased appetite
• Increased physical activity. Obsessive, fidgety behavior. As a stimulant, one of the signs of meth use is that it causes users to suddenly start exhibiting behavior more commonly associated with people who suffer from OCD (like compulsive hand-washing, cleaning). Sometimes a meth user will repeatedly perform the same task over and over again
• Anxiety, shaking hands, nervousness
• Incessant talking. Loquaciousness. A meth user often engages in constant, rambling conversation
• Rapid eye movement
• Increased body temperature (can rise as high as 108 degrees and cause death)
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating not related to physical activity

 

Continued Signs of Meth Use:

The above symptoms, plus:

• Weight loss. Tragically, the goal of weight loss has actually motivated people to start using meth. But extended meth use can cause severe and unhealthy weight loss. The drug that many take in order to look more attractive ultimately 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
• Irritable and moody (mood swings)
• Picking at skin or hair. Another one of the signs of meth use include skin lesions and frequent sores that take a long time to heal. Not only does meth naturally inhibit the body's ability to fight off minor infection, but it can also cause meth addicts to nervously pick at their skin until it bleeds. Chronic meth users often suffer from the hallucination that they have insects crawling beneath their flesh
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Depression (withdrawal/tolerance effect). During withdrawal stages, 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
• Wakefulness that lasts for days, or perhaps more than a week. If your neighbor, roommate, or family member doesn't sleep for days, during which time you observe the kind of nervous, high-energy behavior described above, there's a distinct possibility that meth abuse is the cause. Meth abuse often manifests itself in waves of "tweaking," in which an user will take repeated doses of meth, foregoing sleep for days at a time

Advanced Signs of Meth Use:

The above symptoms, plus:

• Extreme weight loss
• Hair loss
• Discolored, rotten or missing teeth. Tooth decay (commonly referred to as "meth mouth"). Meth abuse over a period of time causes nervous tooth grinding, saliva deficiency, and extreme lapses in hygiene. The result is dramatic tooth decay
• Corneal ulcerations
• Severe mental illness symptoms, similar to schizophrenia (including anger, panic, paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, repetitive behavior patterns)
• Absence from work or daily routine. The inevitable crash follows this kind of tweaking. Users will often sleep for long periods of time, their body drained of energy

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