Pharmaceutical stimulants use chemical variants of amphetamine (e.g., Adderall) to assist individuals with conditions such as ADHD; however, in much smaller (and safer) dosages. Death is the most serious negative consequence of a meth overdose. A June 2017 report from The Conversation states that many of these deaths occur because a person’s heart suddenly stops beating. Some people go on binges, using the drug continuously for several hours or days at a time. This, combined with a person’s poor nutrition if they have been taking meth for a long time, puts a person at risk of overdose. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare.

Once help arrives, the priority for paramedics is to stabilize the person. This will include addressing hyperthermia (high temperature), checking electrolyte levels, and providing medication to stop seizures. If a person is lying down or unconscious, turn them on their side and tilt their head to prevent choking in case of vomiting. Meth overdoses can quickly become fatal, and every minute counts.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Like other drugs that are easy to abuse, meth is known to cause an overdose. People may not show outward signs of overdose that are common with other substances. If you believe someone has overdosed on meth, call 911 immediately. Before calling, be ready to provide the person’s age and weight.

Short-Term Side Effects of Meth Use

These could be telltale signs that a person has taken too much meth. Because meth is so strong, overdose signs may be evident more quickly than with other drugs. Cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational incentives have shown effectiveness in treating meth addiction. CBT assists people in recognizing, avoiding and coping with situations that lead to drug use, while motivational incentives use rewards to promote sobriety. Currently, no drugs are available to counteract the effects of methamphetamines or those caused by long-term abstinence. One study has suggested that people who once took methamphetamine have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (a gradual nerve system disorder that impacts movement).

An overdose involving meth is a medical emergency and can result in life-threatening situations without proper medical interventions. This drug is sold as a powder, and it can be snorted, swallowed, or smoked. Some people create a liquid solution and inject it into their veins. Once the high of meth wears off, feelings of depression take over. People start using meth again to make these negative emotions go away.

Determining the crystal meth overdose amount is not possible. Various factors can influence an individual’s susceptibility to a methamphetamine overdose, including tolerance, route of administration, presence of other substances, and overall health. Psychostimulants with abuse potential are a subset of stimulants that have a higher likelihood of being abused due to their staying motivated in recovery effects on the central nervous system. Psychostimulants with abuse potential include both illegal drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy, as well as prescription stimulants.

1. If possible, turn their head or body to the side in case they vomit.
2. The rapid onset of overdose symptoms is particularly dangerous because it leaves little time for intervention.
3. Doctors may administer a crystalloid intravenously to eliminate the drug through the urine.
4. This high level of toxicity results in several serious conditions within the body, many of which can be life-threatening.
5. Taking meth sends the drug rapidly and directly into your bloodstream, which can increase the risks for a potentially dangerous or life-threatening overdose.

Remember that the first thing you should do during a suspected meth overdose is call 911 and follow their instructions. If Narcan (naloxone) is available, it can be life-saving in cases where opioids are also involved. Methamphetamine addiction is one of the hardest to overcome.

Treatment for an Overdose

Contact 911 right away if the person exhibits one or more of these signs. First-time meth users are at a particularly high risk for experiencing an overdose because their bodies are not used to the drug. They may unintentionally take dangerous amounts of methamphetamine, which can lead to an overdose.

The drug then crosses into your brain, where it causes the release of the brain’s feel-good chemical dopamine. Unfortunately, high levels of dopamine can cause a significant impact on your cardiovascular system, increasing your temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Meth is often sold illegally on the streets, which makes its chemical compound even more dangerous.

Since meth remains active in the body for an extended period, side effects, such as delusional thinking, can last for up to 15 hours. Methamphetamine, known as “meth” or “crystal meth,” is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug and the most widely used amphetamine-type stimulant. These include the high risk of impurities or other substances hidden in meth, like fentanyl, which also increases the risk of a fentanyl overdose.

These symptoms often demi moore sobriety lead to life-threatening situations when experiencing a meth overdose. Crystal meth, a highly addictive stimulant, poses severe health risks, including the potential for fatal overdose. Methamphetamine overdoses can occur quickly, with symptoms ranging from severe agitation and hyperthermia to heart attacks and seizures. A much weaker form of the drug is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medicines that are legally used to treat cold symptoms, such as decongestants, can be made into methamphetamines. Other related compounds include MDMA, ('ecstasy,' 'Molly,' 'E'), MDEA, ('Eve'), and MDA, ('Sally,' 'sass').

How To Recognize A Meth Overdose

Other names for meth (short for methamphetamine) include crystal meth, ice, speed and crank. Injuries during illegal methamphetamine production or police raids include exposure to dangerous chemicals, as well as burns and explosions. All of these can cause serious, life threatening injuries and conditions. Overdosing on meth is a very serious event that can be life-threatening.

More than 100,000 drug overdoses in 2021 were fatal, causing a truly why do alcoholics get red noses devastating amount of loss for many families, communities, and loved ones. While opioid overdoses make up the majority of drug overdoses each year, an overdose can occur when too much of any drug is consumed. People who have been taking meth for some time have already suffered irreversible damage to their cardiovascular system that puts them at risk for death.

This means that taking more meth just after the high wears off can be dangerous since it may inadvertently lead to extremely high dopamine levels in the body. If you believe someone has taken methamphetamine and they are having bad symptoms, get them medical help right away. Take extreme caution around them, especially if they appear to be extremely excited or paranoid.