What is Meth Psychosis?
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant substance used by an estimated 14-53 million people worldwide. It is an illegal drug that produces significant mind-altering and psychological effects, especially when dependence and addiction have developed. One of the most dangerous symptoms of meth abuse is meth psychosis. Meth psychosis has become a major public health consequence with research from a 2014 study in the journal CNS Drugs, showing that over 40% of people who use meth, experience psychotic symptoms related to meth psychosis. Meth psychosis is a mental health condition that alters the way a person thinks, feels, and experiences the world.
Regular meth users are an estimated 11 times more likely to experience meth psychosis compared to the general population. Recreational meth users are generally 2-3 times more likely to experience psychotic symptoms compared to the general population. This risk of experiencing meth psychosis is also increased if the user begins at a younger age. In a 2014 study, data found an estimated 26-46% of people with a meth dependence, experienced meth psychosis.
What is Meth Psychosis?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, meth psychosis is diagnosed when hallucinations or delusions develop during or soon after the use or withdrawal of meth, and the psychotic symptoms are not caused by other mental health disorders such as schizophrenia. Meth psychosis can be acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute meth psychosis usually subside soon after substance use has stopped. Symptoms of chronic meth psychosis can last longer and continue long after drug use has stopped.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines the presence of a substance-induced psychotic disorder, such as meth-induced psychosis, when the following symptoms are present:
- There is a presence of prominent hallucinations or delusions.
- The hallucinations or delusions develop during or soon after drug intoxication. It can also develop during withdrawal from the substance that is known to cause psychotic symptoms.
- Psychotic symptoms are not due to a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or another non-substance-induced factor.
- Psychotic symptoms will occur at any time, not only during delirium.
Researchers and clinicians identify two main types of meth-associated psychosis. One type is when users can have a quick resolution of psychotic symptoms with cessation of meth use. In a study, more than half of meth users saw remission of their psychotic symptoms within a week of abstinence from the drug. In other cases, depending on many different factors, the resolution of meth psychosis can be a much slower and longer process. About 26% of these meth users continued experiencing psychotic symptoms after a month of cessation and about 16% of users continued experiencing psychotic symptoms even after 3 months after cessation.
How does meth psychosis happen? In a normal brain, the brain is exposed to small doses of dopamine from everyday life experiences. Events such as exercising, eating, talking to a friend or watching a funny movie all release small amounts of dopamine. When meth is used, it forces the body to release excessive amounts of dopamine that causes a euphoric high. Meth works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine by the body leaving elevated levels of the chemical around. When the brain senses there is an overload of dopamine being released and not being reabsorbed, it sends out neurotransmitters called GABA to help regulate the body and bring it back to normal levels. This period is called a meth crash. A crash is when the body comes off its extreme dopamine high.
With consistent, excessive and prolonged use of meth, it causes the brain to eventually use up all its dopamine as well as GABA and is no longer able to produce either of the brain chemicals. When this happens, it causes confusion where the quick highs and lows of meth symptoms send mixed signals to the brain causing a disconnect. This disconnect between the brain and body is what causes meth psychosis.
Check Your Insurance Coverage for FREE
Find out if your insurance covers addiction treatment in minutes. We accept most insurance!
Symptoms of Meth Psychosis
- Agitation
- Hyper alertness and hypervigilance
- Self-absorption
- Rashes caused by meth mites and picking at the skin
- Violent behavior and hostility
- Confusion
- Delusions
- Intense paranoia
- Feeling self-conscious
- Visual and auditory hallucinations
- Slurred or disordered speech
- Anxiety and fear
- Unpredictable behavior
- Delusional thoughts
- Tooth decay and gum inflammation
- High blood pressure and rapid heart rate
Meth Psychosis vs General Psychosis
Psychosis is defined as a loss of contact with reality. It is a mental state that distorts people’s thoughts, feelings and perceptions making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not real. Meth-induced psychosis and general psychosis are slightly different types of mental health conditions. Meth psychosis has been caused by the use of the substance meth. General psychosis can be categorized as mental health disorders such as schizophrenia. They both present with symptoms such as delusional thoughts, sometimes aggressive behavior and seeing, hearing and feeling things that are not there.
Meth Induced Psychosis
- Meth psychosis is associated with chronic meth use.
- The psychotic symptoms caused by meth can persist for many years, even after a person has stopped using the drug.
- Those who experience meth psychosis are more likely to hallucinate.
- During meth psychosis, the person who is experiencing it never recognizes themselves. They have a disconnect from their reality.
- The duration of meth psychosis is dependent on many different factors with some lasting as long as the drug is within the system.
- On average, the state of psychosis can last for up to a week or longer.
- Meth psychosis can produce physical and psychological symptoms.
General Psychosis and psychosis-related mental health conditions
- For those diagnosed with general psychosis, they often have trouble thinking clearly or concentrating on one thing or experience at a time.
- Sometimes these people are diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or schizotypal personality disorder.
- Those who experience psychosis-related mental health conditions are at a higher risk for developing meth-induced psychosis.
- Schizophrenia can cause issues with social interactions which can lead to difficulty with keeping a job.
- There are generally very few physical symptoms associated with psychosis.
- Schizophrenia-related psychosis can come and go throughout someone’s life. There may even be times when they experience a state of steady psychosis.
Reach out to Hotel California by the Sea
We specialize in treating addiction and other co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD. Our Admissions specialists are available to walk you through the best options for treating your addiction.
How do I know if I am experiencing Meth Psychosis? How do I get help for my Substance Use Disorder?
People who abuse meth often develop meth psychosis, which can lead to crippling paranoia and delusional thinking that can hinder daily aspects of life. Like other mind-altering substances, meth is highly addictive causing dangerous and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are often so severe, users will continue using the drug in order to avoid withdrawal, leaving them in a continuous cycle of meth psychosis. Those who experience meth psychosis are at a higher risk of violence, self-harm and uncharacteristic behaviors. Research, studies and evidenced-based findings have concluded that behavioral therapy is the most effective first line of treatment for meth addiction and meth psychosis.
Hotel California by the Sea provides a well-rounded treatment program touching on all aspects of substance use disorder. Our specialty program for meth addiction offers services to clients at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We offer rigorous treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and group therapy. Hotel California by the Sea believes in creating individualized treatment plans to help our clients understand their addiction and overcome barriers to a difficult disease.
References:
https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/crystal-meth/psychosis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5027896
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6191498
https://zinniahealth.com/substance-use/methamphetamine/psychosis