Understanding Crystal Meth – The Other Substance Use Disaster

 

Crystal Meth - Worse Than Opioids?

Understanding Crystal Meth: The Other Substance Use Disaster

Written by and for people with Lived Experience

Today’s Learning Moment – 09 01 20 Issue (Revised July 2024)

Imagine a wildfire, relentless and consuming everything in its path. This is crystal meth, also known by street names like Crank, Chalk, Wash, and Rocket Fuel. If your loved one has a substance use disorder, there's a high chance they've encountered meth. In the April 2024 BC Coroner’s report, meth laced with fentanyl was responsible for 40% of overdose deaths. Meth is cheap and dangerously easy to make, turning it into a rampant problem in our communities.

The Dopamine Explosion

Methamphetamine is all about hijacking our brain's reward system. Normally, dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is released in moderate amounts to encourage life-sustaining behaviours like eating or sex, giving us a pleasurable sensation. For instance, eating doubles dopamine levels to about 100 units, while sex quadruples it to 200 units. Now, picture this: heroin and cocaine increase dopamine to around 300-400 units. But meth? It skyrockets dopamine levels to a staggering 1200-1500 units, with a high that can last twelve to fifteen hours. It's like a never-ending rollercoaster ride compared to cocaine's brief thirty-minute thrill.

The Meth Magnet

Every person with a substance use disorder has their poison of choice. This often depends on their brain chemistry or their first encounter with drugs. Studies show that some people prone to substance use disorders have brains that either don't produce or absorb normal levels of neurotransmitters. Now, imagine a brain already struggling with neurotransmitter imbalance being flooded with thirty times the normal level of dopamine for over twelve hours. Even someone with a "typical" brain would find it hard to resist the allure of meth.

The Dark Side of the High

People using Meth have reported experiencing physical orgasms when injecting meth. This drug is one of the most addictive substances on the planet, leading to both overdose deaths and long-term health damage. One reason meth is so addictive is the brain's adaptation to the dopamine flood. Our bodies strive for stability, so when overwhelmed with dopamine, the brain reduces its natural production. Without meth, users feel unbelievably depressed, as normal activities no longer bring pleasure. It can take months for the brain to recalibrate, leaving individuals feeling listless and depressed, often driving them back to meth to "feel" again.

The Toll on Body and Mind

Meth use doesn't just mess with your brain; it wreaks havoc on your body too. Users often experience extreme paranoia, aggression, insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, and anxiety. They might push their bodies beyond their limits, leading to severe weight loss and malnutrition. After the high wears off, users face a severe "crash," a physical and mental breakdown that drives them to reuse meth as soon as possible. Long-term use can cause permanent damage to the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs. It can also lead to severe tooth decay, disorientation, psychosis, depression, and even conditions similar to Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.

The Visible Scars

One of the most visible signs of meth use is the sores that appear on the skin. Some users develop psychosis, feeling like bugs are crawling under their skin, leading them to scratch until they tear their skin off. Combined with malnutrition, this results in abscesses, infections, and long-term sores.

The Worst of the Worst

Of all the substances used by individuals with substance use disorders, meth is arguably the worst. It rivals the opioid crisis in terms of destruction, frequency of use, long-term health impacts, and social harm.

Recovery and Brain Healing

Yes, we have painted a pretty grim picture, however, not all is lost. There's hope for recovery. Recent research suggests that there may be signs of healing in the brains of people who have used Meth after extended periods of abstinence. This potential for brain recovery could offer hope to those struggling with Meth addiction.

Emerging Treatment Options

Research into new treatment approaches is ongoing. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working on developing new treatment methods, including medications to address methamphetamine use disorder. This is particularly important given the current lack of approved medications for meth addiction. (check out some of the references at the end of this article)

Polysubstance Use and Opioid Interaction

A well-established trend is the increasing use of methamphetamine in combination with other drugs, particularly fentanyl. These days, in the unregulated market, there is no such thing as a pure substance. People whose drug of choice is Meth will almost always end up with products contaminated with fentanyl, and a host of other drugs. This increases the risk of overdose death substantially. Methamphetamine is also a potentiator of opioid analgesia, (a potentiator is a substance that enhances or increases the effect of another substance) and people may use opioids to self-medicate while undergoing methamphetamine withdrawal. This combination significantly complicates treatment and again, increases the further risk of overdose.

Socioeconomic Factors

Social and economic determinants of health play a crucial role in drug-related harm. Factors such as childhood trauma, mental health conditions, like anxiety, depression, lower socioeconomic status, high poverty rate areas, unemployment, education level, and incarceration all affect substance use patterns and treatment outcomes. Substance disorders are incredibly complex.

Prevention and Harm Reduction

Prevention strategies and harm reduction approaches are crucial in addressing the meth crisis. These include education programs, access to new needles, supervised consumption sites, and overdose prevention resources. In Canada, several nationwide services are available, including helplines, support groups, and naloxone distribution programs

A Call to Compassion

Understanding meth and its devastating effects is crucial in our fight against substance use disorders. Knowledge is power, and by sharing this information, we can better support those affected by this relentless drug.

Author: Ron Merk, Ron is a person with family lived experience. He advocates for all families living with members suffering from mental health and substance use disorders.

Families Helping Families is an initiative of the Port Alberni Community Action Team. We send out “Learning Moment” articles regularly to help folks understand substance use disorders. Knowledge is vital in understanding the illness of our family members. You may copy, distribute, or share our articles as long as you retain the attribution. You can be added to our distribution list by dropping us a note at albernihelp@gmail.com.

Research/References

Moszczynska, D. A. (2016). Neurobiology and Clinical Manifestations of Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity. The Psychiatric Times, 33(9), 16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135110/

Prasad, S., Mathew, P. S., Piper, B. J., Kaur, K., & Tian, M. (2023). The Neurobiology of Methamphetamine Addiction and the Potential to Reduce Misuse Through Conjugate Vaccines Targeting Toll-Like Receptor 4. Cureus, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40259

Li, M. J., Chau, B., Belin, T., Carmody, T., Jha, M. K., Marino, E. N., Trivedi, M., & Shoptaw, S. J. Extended observation of reduced methamphetamine use with combined naltrexone plus bupropion in the ADAPT-2 trial. Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16529

Karila, L., Weinstein, A., Aubin, J., Benyamina, A., Reynaud, M., & Batki, S. L. (2010). Pharmacological approaches to methamphetamine dependence: A focused review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 69(6), 578-592. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2010.03639.x

(2009). Neuroplasticity in addictive disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 11(3), 350-353. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2009.11.3/cpobrien