Meth overdose deaths explode five-fold

An earlier version of this article appeared on News Break.

Methamphetamine overdose deaths increased five-fold from 2012 to 2018 in the United States, according to a research letter published today in JAMA Psychiatry.

The study showed the highest death rates come from the American Indian and Alaskan Native populations. The fastest increase in death rates occured in the black male community.

Next to American Indians and Alaskan Natives, more white people died of meth overdoses than other ethnic groups.

Across the board, meth deaths occur more frequently in men than in women.

Meth overdoses among men overall climbed from 1.8 to 10.1 per 100,000, the study reported.

Among women overall, the overdose rate jumped from 0.8 to 4.5 per 100,000.

"Methamphetamine use is highly toxic," the researchers concluded. "Its use is associated with pulmonary and cardiovascular pathology and frequently co-occurs with other substance abuse and mental disorders."

The researchers hailed from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"Our results highlight the urgency to support prevention and treatment interventions for methamphetamine-related harms, especially among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals who experience cultural disadvantages, but whose cultural strengths can be leveraged to improve addiction outcomes."

Why meth is death no matter how you ingest it

Most people agree that injecting meth represents the highest level of meth addiction. It also comes with additional risks such as HIV and Hepatitis C transmission from sharing needles.

According to medical researchers, snorting drugs is becoming icreasingly popular. But over the long term, snorting drugs like methamphetamine is just as bad as other forms of use. Snorting drugs also comes with its own set of problems.

Most experts agree that snorting methamphetamine represents the least addictive method of use. It’s still extremely addictive.

When you smoke the drug, the body absorbs it quickly. That's how those who smoke meth become addicted faster than those who snort it. Smokers tend to consume more of the drug to remain high.

They also are more likely to exhibit the drug’s detrimental effects sooner than people who snort it.

Methamphetamine has a paradoxical effect in people with ADHD. It slows down those with attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

Methamphetamine works similarly to ADHD medications including Adderall or Cylert. Both help people focus on a task, especially people who may have ADD or ADHD. But methamphetamine is illegal and extremely dangerous.

People who snort the drug need more and more over time to get high. In most cases they graduate to smoking the drug. From there many go on to injecting it.

That’s why you should stop now, no matter how you do it.

Methamphetamine use explodes nationwide

Methamphetamine use has exploded nationwide. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, 1.6 million Americans per year on average used the drug from 2016 to 2018.

Of those, a quarter reported injecting the methamphetamine. Half the sample met the definition of methamphetamine addiction but only a third sought treatment.

The snapshot of the epidemic offered by the CDC highlights challenges in delivering treatment to rural areas. Many who suffer from a co-occurring mental health condition are not getting proper treatment.

Most people who abuse methamphetamine also abuse other drugs. Methamphetamine addiction can be one of the most challenging substances to treat for that and many other reasons.

Methamphetamine ravages the body and the mind

No matter how a person ingests methamphetamine, it curbs their appetite. Methamphetamine will make people forget to eat. The body needs food and water to survive.

While high on methamphetamine, a person will have more energy while eating less. It’s a recipe for eventual exhaustion. Over time, malnourishment leads to hair and teeth falling out.

It does not matter whether you snort or smoke methamphetamine, the appetite-suppressant effect is the same.

The other harsh reality of using methamphetamine is the crash. It doesn’t matter whether you snort it or smoke it, the crash is severe.

If you use methamphetamine, you may feel depressed a day or two later. “The longer the use, the harder the fall” is a reliable mantra.

Nasal ingestion can result in permanent damage

The chemicals in crystal methamphetamine make it a painful choice for those who snort. Snorting the drug burns the lining of the nostrils. It can cause permanent damage to the membranes in addition to nosebleeds.

Sense of smell can be diminished. Some people even develop a deviated septum. A 2015 study in the medical journal Allergy and Rhinology spelled out these problems and others.

People who snort methamphetamine may have difficulty talking and swallowing. They may become dehydrated and hoarse.

A 2013 case study in an Iranian medical journal told the story of a woman who snorted meth for three years. She developed a deviated septum, among other problems.

“On examination her nasal cavities were filled with necrotic debris and extremely sensitive to touch,” the author wrote. “In addition, deformity in the form of saddle nose was observed.”

Smoking methamphetamine bad for the lungs

Just as snorting methamphetamine is bad for the nose, smoking the drug is bad for the lungs. Methamphetamine is loaded with carcinogen-causing chemicals. The vapor alone can damage the lung’s lining and cause irritation.

But regardless how you use the drug, eventually it won’t make you feel high anymore. People still use it to avoid unpleasant withdrawals. It becomes a miserable spiral.

The drug keeps its users up for days on end. Lack of sleep leads to hallucinations, irritation, and other problems.

It’s a lose-lose situation when you use methamphetamine.