What Does Methamphetamine Intoxication Look Like?

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that makes you feel euphoric, energetic, and powerful. These enticing feelings convince many users to keep abusing meth, leading to an addiction.

“Meth can cause physical and psychological dependence, and also increased tolerance. To overcome this tolerance, methamphetamine users frequently need to increase the dose to get to the satisfying high,” Rashmi Byakodi, BDS, tells ishonest Connect to Care.

Methamphetamine intoxication looks different in each person, but users often seem agitated, aggressive, or very high energy. It isn't possible to tell which drug a person is using based on symptoms alone, but here are some signs of meth use.

What Meth Intoxication Looks Like

ishonest
No.333 - Terminate Acne

A person could show any of these symptoms while high on meth:

High energy
Increased attention. They might hyper-focus on seemingly irrelevant or random details.
Excessive talking. They might not recognize normal social cues, causing them to talk for long periods of time or to ignore signs that people are bored.
Aggression
Euphoria and intense feelings of pleasure
Increased interest in sex
Less need to sleep
Psychosis. They may have delusions, hallucinations, unusual beliefs, or seem disconnected from reality.
Low appetite
Rapid heart rate or breathing
A high body temperature. They may sweat or complain of being hot.

Byakodi cautions that meth overdose is common, especially as users chase the high they got with their first few doses. Meth toxicity is an extreme form of meth intoxication that happens when you take enough meth to damage your brain or other organs, potentially causing an overdose.

“Patients with meth toxicity show altered mental status, agitation, suicidal tendencies, and sometimes coma and seizures,” she says.

Meth Use Symptoms

Prolonged use of meth can bring on a number of symptoms that may be visible even when you’re not high. They include:

Sores from picking the skin
Meth mouth, which happens when gum disease and tooth decay cause someone to lose or break teeth, or to develop bleeding gums
Weight loss
Changes in mood or mental health
Loss of interest in hobbies
Financial or legal problems
Stealing to get money for meth
Ignoring loved ones, children, or friends

CLICK TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SKINCARE

Get Help Now

Meth addiction can wreak havoc on your life, your physical health, and your relationships. If you or someone you love needs help managing meth abuse, you are not alone. ishonest Connect to Care counselors can help you find the treatment you deserve.