Methamphetamine, usually called meth, is a lab-made stimulant with a high potential for addiction. It speeds up the heart and brain, and even short-term use can cause paranoia, stroke and overdose. Meth use disorder is treatable, and people recover with the right support.
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Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant. Street names include crystal, ice, Tina, crank and speed. Most methamphetamine in the United States is made and sold illegally.
Methamphetamine also has narrow FDA-approved medical uses: a prescription form (brand name Desoxyn) is approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and for short-term treatment of obesity. Because of its high potential for misuse, the DEA places methamphetamine in Schedule II, and it is legally available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. The prescription medicine is tightly controlled; meth sold on the street is unregulated and can contain other drugs, including fentanyl.
How Meth Affects the Brain and Body
Meth floods the brain’s reward system and produces a rush of energy, alertness and euphoria, along with a loss of appetite. The high fades quickly and is followed by a “crash.” Some people take more again and again to avoid the crash, a binge pattern that raises the risk of developing a use disorder.
Even in the short term, meth can cause:
- paranoia and anxiety
- a fast or irregular heartbeat
- high blood pressure
- stroke
- kidney damage
- overdose
Long-Term Risks
Repeated use affects many organs and systems. According to NIDA, long-term effects can include:
- Mental health: anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood problems and psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions.
- Thinking and memory: some studies link long-term use to trouble with learning and slower reaction times.
- Heart and brain: stroke and heart failure.
- Infections: HIV and hepatitis through shared injection equipment or sexual behavior, and bacterial infections such as infective endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining.
- Teeth: severe tooth decay, often called “meth mouth.”
- Sexual health: decreased sexual function in men.
Meth use during pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and placental problems. Stopping at any point in pregnancy can improve birth outcomes, so it is never too late to get help.
Overdose: Signs and What to Do
Meth is one of the drugs most often involved in overdose deaths. The CDC finds it is the second most commonly found drug in fatal overdoses, after synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Many of these deaths involve meth combined with fentanyl or heroin, and opioids may be present in meth without the buyer knowing.
Call 911 right away if someone:
- has slowed or stopped breathing
- cannot be woken or will not respond
- has a seizure or collapses
Because an opioid may be involved, experts recommend giving naloxone (Narcan) to anyone whose breathing has slowed or stopped. Naloxone is sold over the counter. Give it, call 911 and stay with the person until help arrives.
Is Meth Addictive? Dependence and Withdrawal
Yes. NIDA describes methamphetamine as extremely addictive. In recent years, nearly two of every three people aged 26 or older who reported using meth in the past year met the criteria for a substance use disorder. A stimulant use disorder is diagnosed when someone has at least two symptoms within 12 months, such as strong cravings, using more than intended, or continuing despite harm to health, relationships or work. It ranges from mild to severe.
Withdrawal can begin soon after someone stops after repeated use. It usually peaks two to three days after the last use and eases over about a week. Common symptoms include:
- depression and anxiety
- irritability
- trouble sleeping
- trouble concentrating
- strong cravings
Low mood, anxiety and cravings can last for months. Depression during withdrawal can be severe, so medical and mental health support matters. If you or someone you love has thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.
Meth and the Law
Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance under federal law. Outside of a valid prescription, possessing or selling it is a federal crime. Legal problems often add pressure on families, and treatment can be part of a path forward.
Treatment for Meth Use in Florida
There is currently no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine use disorder or any other stimulant use disorder. Treatment relies on behavioral therapies, which do work:
- Contingency management gives small rewards, such as vouchers or prizes, for drug-free tests and staying in treatment. It is the best-studied approach for stimulant use.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you recognize triggers and build skills to handle cravings.
- Motivational interviewing helps you work through mixed feelings about change.
- Group support connects you with people facing the same challenges.
A doctor can also treat related problems such as depression, sleep trouble, dental damage or infections. Where you start depends on your situation. If use is daily, psychosis has occurred, or home is not a safe place to stop, residential treatment provides structure and round-the-clock support. Others do well in an intensive outpatient program with several sessions a week.
You can search licensed Florida treatment programs by location and level of care in our directory, which uses SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov data. If a loved one is in danger and will not accept help, Florida’s Marchman Act allows a court to order involuntary assessment and stabilization for substance use.
Helping Someone Who Is Paranoid or Agitated
Meth can cause paranoia, hallucinations and delusions. If someone is in this state, keep your voice calm, give them space and avoid arguing about what they see or believe. Remove yourself and others from danger if you feel unsafe. Call 911 if they are a danger to themselves or others, or if they have a seizure, trouble breathing or will not respond.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
- A first conversation. A call to a program or to SAMHSA’s helpline is confidential. You will be asked about your meth use, any other substances, your health and your insurance.
- An assessment. A licensed clinician looks at your physical health, mental health and living situation to recommend a level of care.
- A treatment plan. For stimulant use, this usually centers on behavioral therapies such as contingency management and CBT, plus care for depression, sleep and physical health problems.
- Ongoing support. Recovery continues after a program ends, through outpatient sessions, support groups and check-ins with your doctor.
If you are reaching out for someone else, you can call too. Families can ask how a program involves loved ones and what support it offers them.
Getting Help Now
- Emergency: call 911 if someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be woken.
- Crisis: call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
- Treatment referrals: call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. It is free, confidential and open 24/7 in English and Spanish.
- Poison questions: Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions About Methamphetamine (Meth): Effects, Addiction and Treatment
What is meth?
Meth (methamphetamine) is a lab-made stimulant with a high potential for addiction, usually sold as a powder or crystal and also called ice, crystal or Tina. It is a Schedule II controlled substance. A prescription form exists for ADHD and short-term weight loss, but most meth in the United States is made illegally.
What does meth do to your body?
Meth raises your heart rate and blood pressure and can cause paranoia, anxiety, stroke and kidney damage, even in the short term. With repeated use, people can develop psychosis with hallucinations and delusions, memory and thinking problems, severe tooth decay ('meth mouth'), heart failure and higher risk of HIV and hepatitis when equipment is shared.
Can you overdose on meth?
Yes, you can overdose on meth, and it is one of the drugs most often involved in overdose deaths. Some meth is mixed with fentanyl or other opioids without the buyer knowing. If someone has slowed or stopped breathing or will not wake up, call 911 right away and give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it, since an opioid may be involved.
Is meth addictive?
Yes, meth is extremely addictive, and a stimulant use disorder can develop with repeated use. The drug floods the brain's reward system, and over time people may keep using despite serious harm to their health, relationships and work. Addiction is a treatable medical condition, not a moral failing, and recovery is possible with the right support.
What does meth withdrawal feel like?
Meth withdrawal commonly brings depression, anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, poor concentration and strong cravings. Symptoms can start soon after stopping, usually peak two to three days after last use and ease over about a week, though low mood and cravings can last for months. Because depression can be severe, medical and mental health support during this time is important.
Is there medication for meth addiction?
No, there is currently no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine or any other stimulant use disorder. Treatment relies on behavioral therapies. Contingency management, which rewards drug-free tests with small incentives, has the strongest evidence, and cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and group support also help. A doctor can treat related problems such as depression or sleep issues.
How do I find meth addiction treatment in Florida?
You can find licensed meth addiction treatment across Florida, from outpatient counseling to residential programs. If meth use is daily or your home is not a safe place to stop, a residential setting gives structure and round-the-clock support. Browse Florida inpatient rehab, or call SAMHSA's free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357, available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
