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Oregon lost two people every day in 2020 due to overdose. 21% of those overdose-related deaths involved methamphetamines. 88% of those overdoses were found to be unintentional. At Serenity Lane, we take this very seriously. We want to help educate people on substances and their potential side effects to help reduce the damage they can do in the long run.
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a type of amphetamine. It causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and an enhanced feeling of happiness. While it can be found in crystal form, it primarily gets changed in powder form, which is white, odorless, and very bitter-tasting.
Meth can be made using a type of ammonia commonly found in farm fertilizers. Because of this, rural areas tend to have a much higher rate of meth use than urban areas. With most of Oregon being largely rural, it might not be a surprise to learn that Oregon ranked second for substance use disorders across the nation.
The effects of methamphetamines and how long it stays in your body vary depending on many things. One of the most important variables is how the substance was taken and whether it was smoked, injected, taken orally, or even snorted.
The effects of meth can be felt in as little as a few minutes, or as long as four hours. It can take up to four days for meth to fully leave the body.
Here are some other things that can affect how long methamphetamine stays in your body:
Methamphetamine has an average half-life of 10 hours, meaning it takes about 10 hours for half of the substance to fully leave your body. This doesn’t mean, however, that the effects of methamphetamine are fully gone within that time, nor does it mean you feel the effects of meth for all 10-20 of those hours.
In fact, some people stop feeling the effects of meth within a few hours, even if the drug is still in their system, which can lead to them consuming more. A tolerance to methamphetamines can be developed as well, which leads to people taking higher doses.
Meth affects more than just your brain and mood, though the other things it affects aren’t always as easily noticeable by the patient themselves. Here are some signs to look for in yourself or your loved ones:
Short-term effects of meth:
Long-term effects of meth:
A combination of these factors can lead to more risks. With less blood traveling through the body due to dying or dead blood vessels, the immune system can take a dive, making those with methamphetamine use disorder more susceptible to infections and illness. Organs can also be damaged from long-term meth use, most commonly the liver.
According to the CDC, nearly 40% of people that reported using methamphetamines were also using other substances like opioids or alcohol. This can lead to even greater complications, as long-term meth use already carries risks of stroke, convulsions, and potential heart failure.
The withdrawal symptoms of methamphetamines can start to occur as early as 24 hours after the last use. There are two stages of withdrawal, the first is “acute withdrawal” which happens the first week of withdrawal. After that, while the symptoms of withdrawal are lessened severely, cravings can still occur up to 5 weeks after the last use.
These are the most common symptoms of meth withdrawal:
When taking any substance against medical recommendations, overdose is always a possibility. Methamphetamine overdoses can be fatal, so it’s important to know what to look for in order to react quickly and help your loved one if they are overdosing.
Signs of a methamphetamine overdose include:
If someone has been using meth for a long period of time, looking into a medical detox could be beneficial. Detox can safely get the substance out of someone’s body. Even with a medically-assisted detox, it can still take a while for the side effects to go away.
If you or a loved one is looking for assistance in detox and recovery, Serenity Lane is here to help.
There are three primary forms of tests used to check for methamphetamine use in a patient. The three tests are usually a saliva and sweat test, a hair follicle test, and a urine test. Each test varies when it comes to revealing how long meth has been in someone’s system. It’s also important to note that if someone were to take two methamphetamine tests, one could show up negative and another positive, and both could be correct. Each test is useful within its own time frame and also has its own parameters it measures a positive against. The levels needed to get a positive in saliva, for example, might not be the same as the levels needed in a urine test.
There are also many reasons you might be asked or required to take a test. Many jobs require drug testing as part of the hiring process. Another common place for substance tests is in the ER when staff is assisting patients who are struggling with an overdose. They may perform a test in order to provide adequate care for them. Drug tests are also performed in rehab programs as needed, depending on the facility.
It’s important to note that other variables, such as an individual’s metabolism, can affect the results and efficiency windows of drug tests.
Saliva tests are becoming more popular over the past few years, due to how easy they are to perform. But how reliable are they? On average, a saliva test can detect the use of methamphetamines for up to 24hrs after they were taken.
Sweat patches, on the other hand, are attached to the body and stay on there for days before they’re taken off to be tested. They test over a longer period of time. It’s not uncommon to have a sweat test be positive when other tests come back negative due to the nature of how sweat is collected over time.
Hair follicles can hold information for a long time. It is possible to get a positive test result from a hair test up to three months after the substance was taken.
Blood tests are more commonly used in legal cases where sobriety is in question. They’re more accurate than urine tests, as they cannot be tampered with. Unlike urine tests, though, positive blood test results tend to be detected in the 4-8 hour window after use.
Urine tests are the most common drug test. Even if it’s only used once, meth can show up three days later. The most common window of time in which you can receive a positive result is within 1-3 days after use.
If you or a loved one is struggling with methamphetamine use disorder, Serenity Lane is here to help. We offer many programs, from detox to inpatient, to help you through your recovery journey. Call us today at 800-543-9905 to learn more or read more about our meth treatment options here.
How long does it take to get addicted to meth?
Addiction isn’t black and white. There is no set time for when someone suddenly goes from not addicted to addicted. If you or a loved one has noticed feelings of dependency towards a substance, or if your daily lives are being impacted by your substance use, these are common signs of a substance use disorder.
What side effects does meth have in the body?
While side effects can vary depending on how long a person has been using meth, some of the most common side effects include paranoia, difficulty sleeping, weight loss, tooth decay, and hallucinations.
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