Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that can cause physical and psychological problems. Effects of meth abuse include skin lesions, bad teeth, heart problems, and psychological issues including addiction, overdose, and death.

1. Meth Scabs Just One of the Drug’s Ugly Consequences
Recreational users target meth because of its pleasurable effects on the brain, including elevated mood
and increased energy. This potent drug causes other effects, ranging in severity from meth facial sores
and bad teeth to overdose and death. Meth is also one of the most addictive drugs in circulation today.
Continuous use of meth causes the body to build up tolerance to this drug, so that the consumer must
take stronger doses more often to achieve the same level of euphoria. Increasing dosages raises the risk
for side effects and toxic overdose. Meth causes other physical and neurological effects, including
addiction.
Addiction to meth develops quickly. Addiction drives the individual to use meth continuously. This
chronic meth use is hard on the body, causing irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, psychological
problems, memory loss and severe dental problems.
Skin lesions are a hallmark characteristic of chronic meth use. Doctors refer to meth face sores
asdermatitis artefacta. This condition can actually affect people who are not drug abusers as the result
of stress or injury, but people who do meth are more likely to have this condition for two reasons. First,
meth destroys tissue and blood vessels, especially those in the skin to cause sores and acne. Meth also
impairs the body’s ability to repair itself; pimples and sores remain unhealed and the skin becomes
increasingly covered in scabs.
Secondly, the meth addict may worsen or prolong skin lesions by picking at her skin. She might do this
because lesions and scabs make her skin itch or she may have imaginary “crank bugs” or “meth mites,”
which are actually intense itching and tingling sensations caused by meth use.
This drug also causes “meth mouth.”Doctors are not completely sure why meth causes black, rotten
teeth but it may have something to do with the way this drug shrinks blood vessels supplying oxygen to
the teeth and gums. Meth also causes strong cravings for sugar, and can dry the mouth in a way that
promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth. A meth user tends to grind his teeth; in time, he can
break off compromised teeth. Dentists cannot save these teeth, even in young patients.
Meth causes mental issues including insomnia, irritability, and mood changes. In extreme cases, meth
abuse causes psychosis the National Library of Medicine calls “indistinguishable from schizophrenia.”
Meth abuse can lead to fatal overdose. Symptoms and effects of an overdose include restlessness,
shakiness and twitching, rapid breathing, and hyperactive reflexes. The patient may seem confused and
aggressive. He may suffer hallucinations, panic states, fever, and breakdown of muscle tissue. He may
feel nauseated and suffer vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. In time, the patient develops fatigue
and depression.He may have irregular heartbeat, extremely high or low blood pressure; his circulatory
system may collapse. In fatal poisonings, the patient frequently experiences seizures or coma.

2. Rehab treatment reduces the dangers and effects of meth abuse, including the risk for fatal overdose.
While meth abuse is difficult to treat, the most effective rehab treatment centers use a multifaceted
approach that includes combines behavioral therapy, family education, individual counseling, 12-Step
programs, frequent drug testing, and encouragement for healthy activities.