The High’s And Low’s Of Meth: Always Chasing That First High

1. Chasing Experiences
2. Prevalence of Meth Addiction
3. Why Do People Keep Using Meth Despite Its Awful Consequences?
4. The Low's of Meth
5. I Know That I Can Never Achieve That Same First High- But I Keep Using!
6. Tip: Stopping and Noticing

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Chasing Experiences

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Prevalence of Meth Addiction

Methamphetamines carry with them a very high potential for abuse and are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II substance.^2,3 This indicates that use of methamphetamines has a high potential to lead to psychological or physical dependence and should be considered dangerous.

At this time, methamphetamines are only legally available with a prescription, which cannot be refilled. ⁵ Medical uses for the drug are limited to the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as instances of obesity that have been unresponsive to diet or trials of other medications.

Given that methamphetamines are often prescribed to treat symptoms of ADHD, abuse rates among younger populations may be difficult to discern. ⁶ According to results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Trends in Prevalence of Methamphetamine Use, conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 5.70% of individuals 26 years of age and older have used methamphetamine for non-medical purpose at some point within their lifetime.

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Why Do People Keep Using Meth Despite Its Awful Consequences?

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug whose mechanisms of action are in its effects on dopamine, which is a chemical within the brain responsible for modulating mood.⁹ When the drug is used in high doses (i.e., greater than those typically prescribed to treat ADHD), the brain is flooded with excess dopamine, resulting in intense sensations of euphoria and pleasure. Unfortunately, even just one use of the drug can lead to changes in the brain. ^{9, 10}

The tales of methamphetamine users often refer to the fact that they "can never achieve that same first high."Following this first flood of dopamine from a methamphetamine high, the brain responds by producing additional dopamine receptors, making room for habituation and tolerance to develop.⁹ Subsequent doses of the drug ultimately will not have the same powerful effects as the first, leading the individuals to take more and more of the drug in an attempt to achieve another high similar to their first.⁴ However, the tales of methamphetamine users often refer to the fact that they "can never achieve that same first high."

While using methamphetamine leads to periods of pleasure, increased energy, and well-being, this high is inevitably followed by a crash when the drug wears off.¹ In fact, avoidance of these negative feelings is what motivates many to use methamphetamines over and over again.

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The Low's of Meth

Getting high from methamphetamines does not only involve sensations of pleasure.^{1-3, 8} There are a number of negative and potentially dangerous effects that accompany methamphetamine highs.^{2, 3} Some common adverse effects of a methamphetamine high include^2,3:

Repeated use of methamphetamine can also lead to a number of negative psychological effects, which may be related to changes that occur within the brain following repeated use as the brain's way to accommodate the new chemical present within the body.⁹ As described above, methamphetamines interfere with the body's natural regulation of dopamine.¹⁰ Thus, when the drug is reduced or the body is no longer receiving the drug, the individual will likely experience symptoms of withdrawal.^{1, 12} Common symptoms of withdrawal from methamphetamines include^{2, 3}:

Methamphetamine addiction can also lead to other problems within the body including respiratory problems, liver disease and damage, immune system dysfunction, brain damage, seizures, heart attack, or stroke.⁸

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I Know That I Can Never Achieve That Same First High- But I Keep Using!

While addiction to methamphetamine develops from the desire to achieve a similar experience to the first time a person gets high, most methamphetamine addicts recognize that this is something that they will never be able to achieve. Nonetheless, methamphetamine addicts continue to use the drug, despite a number of adverse consequences.

Individuals who are addicted to methamphetamines generally exhibit signs of both a psychological and physical addiction to the drug. ⁸ Therefore, overcoming addiction to a substance must address these factors in order to be successful.¹³ Indeed, there are many treatment options available for individuals who want to stop methamphetamine abuse that address all aspects of methamphetamine addiction.