Addiction Drug Use Meth Long-Term Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 23, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 27, 2020 Print Larry W. Smith Collection / Getty Images News The long-time effects of methamphetamine use can be more severe than those of some other illicit drugs and some of those effects can be irreversible. One of the negative consequences of meth use is developing an addiction to the drug. People who become addicted to methamphetamine will continue compulsive drug seeking and drug use in spite of negative consequences. This is due to changes in the brain that alter the individual's reward system. How Long Does Methamphetamine Stay in Your System? Tolerance and Withdrawal As with other drug addictions, people who use meth develop a tolerance to the drug, requiring higher dosages to get the same effect, and they experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit. National Institute on Drug Abuse research has shown that the brains of people who use meth long-term are changed to the point that they may find it difficult to experience any pleasure other than that provided by the drug. This provokes even further drug use. Meth Withdrawal Symptoms DepressionAnxietyFatigueIntense craving What to Expect From Meth Withdrawal Other Psychiatric Symptoms Chronic methamphetamine use can also cause poeple to experience other symptoms, including: AnxietyConfusionInsomniaMood disturbancesViolent behavior Psychotic Features Meth use can also produce a variety of psychotic features that can include paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions. Some people who engage in chronic methamphetamine use report the sensation of insects creeping under the skin. Unfortunately, some of these psychotic symptoms can persist for months or years after the person quits using meth. The reoccurrence of these symptoms can be triggered by stress long after the person has stopped using the drug. Emotion and Memory NIDA-sponsored neuroimaging studies have found that meth use alters the dopamine system associated with reduced motor speed and impaired verbal learning. Studies have found that people who use meth show severe damage in the region of the brain associated with emotion and memory. Methamphetamine abuse can also negatively affect non-neural brain cells called microglia, which support the brain by removing damaged neurons and defending the brain against infectious agents. But, too much microglial activity can damage healthy neurons in the brain. Imaging studies have detected double the levels of microglial cells in the brains of people who formerly used methamphetamine, compared with people who never used meth. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Some Reversible, Some Not Some studies have found that some of the brain damage caused by chronic methamphetamine use is partially reversible. Motor and verbal memory have shown to improve after extended abstinence from methamphetamine (14 months, but not six months). However, other brain functions damaged by meth use did not recover even after 14 months, one study found. Methamphetamine use increases the risk of stroke and can lead to a higher incidence of Parkinson's disease, conditions that are irreversible. There are other physical effects that people who use methamphetamine can experience including weight loss, skin sores, and severe tooth decay and tooth loss, a condition known as meth mouth. How Meth Affects the Body Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute on Drug Abuse. What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?. Updated October 2019. Additional Reading Ballard, ME, Weafer, J, Gallo, DA, and de Wit, H. Effects of acute methamphetamine on emotional memory formation in human: encoding and consolidation. PLOS One. 2015;10(2):e0117062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117062 Partnership for Drug-Free-Kids. Methamphetamine. Updated August 17, 2018.