Is your methamphetamine use causing problems?

While the majority of people who use methamphetamine use it only occasionally, for some people who use it more often, it can cause problems. This article is designed to help you explore how your methamphetamine use might be affecting you.

Methamphetamine is a very strong stimulant drug that can make you feel hyperactive, confident, euphoric, and sexually aroused. It can also make you feel on-edge and irritated, which can grow to feelings of paranoia and aggression for some people. These feelings can last for 4 to 12 hours.  There’s a common phrase that what goes up must come down and this is true for methamphetamine – the more ‘up’ you feel, the more ‘down’ you feel after. It’s common to feel very sleepy with trouble concentrating for a day or two after using methamphetamine. 

 Our drug info page has tips to help you reduce the risks if you're taking methamphetamine.

So how do you know if your methamphetamine use is causing problems?  

This is a great question, and it’s helpful to reflect on this regularly. As methamphetamine can make you feel very confident, it’s common to feel like you’re on top of your life, which can actually make it harder to spot the things that aren’t going well.  

Making a regular time to reflect honestly with yourself can help. It’s also good idea to talk this through with someone you trust - they might have noticed things you’ve missed. 

You can find more information on how to reflect on your methamphetamine use in our support and advice section, or use the questions below to reflect:

Image by Donald Hu on Unsplash

How often and how much am I using methamphetamine?  

Usually, the more you use a drug, the greater impacts on your health and life. The effects and after-effects of methamphetamine can last for a couple of days, and that can quickly become difficult to maintain balance with your life if you’re using a few times a week.

Using bigger amounts of methamphetamine puts more strain on your heart, body, and mental health.  You can find more information about physical health symptoms to look out for in our physical health section.

Image by Deon Black on Unsplash

How are my relationships and sex life?  

Methamphetamine can make you feel extremely horny. If you have a penis, it can delay your orgasm. This can mean you have sex for longer without feeling satisfied, and that can mean you do things you wouldn’t usually do, or have rougher or more aggressive sex. Check in with your partners about how they are feeling about the situation, as rougher sex could be more uncomfortable for them. Rough vaginal or anal sex can cause dryness for the receiver, which can increase the risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection or even an injury. Lube is key here! 

If you start to notice that it's hard for you to feel intimate or sexual without using methamphetamine, this could be a sign of a problem developing.

Image by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

How's my mental health?  

Some common mental health effects from methamphetamine use are difficulty concentrating or remembering, feeling anxious or irritable, or experiencing big mood swings.  

As a stimulant, methamphetamine can also make it hard for you to sleep, which can make mental health challenges worse. 

If you notice that you’re regularly feeling very irritable, paranoid, or aggressive, these are signs that things aren’t going well. It’s also more likely that the people around you will be feeling an impact.  

You could experience methamphetamine-induced psychosis, which can involve seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, feeling like people are out to get you and your thoughts or speech not making sense.

Get help straight away if you are having suicidal thoughts, or seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there. Those are serious symptoms. 

Image by Joshua Chehov on Unsplash

Have I noticed problems with my heart? 

Methamphetamine speeds up your heart rate. The more you use, the greater strain on your heart. You might notice that you’re experiencing chest, shoulder, or jaw pains. Some people may also experience shortness of breath, dizziness, and swelling in their legs and ankles. Over time, the repeated strain your heart can change your heart tissue, making it thicker, and can cause changes in heart rhythms. These could all be signs that your heart is under intense stress, and worth getting a doctor to check it out.  You can read more about heart health in our physical health section.

Image by Henrique Felix on Unsplash

How's my appetite and eating?  

Methamphetamine can stop you from feeling hungry. Skipping meals for a short period of time might not have a big impact on your health, but if this becomes a pattern it can mean that your body isn’t getting enough nutrition. It could be a good idea to set a reminder on your phone to eat, particularly easy-to-eat food like soups.  

Image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Has anyone around me noticed anything that concerns them, or am I worried about the people around me?  

It can be hard to notice when problems first arise. Methamphetamine can also make you feel more confident, so you could feel like you have control over your problems, even when you actually don’t. Asking others what they think of the situation can give you useful info. Try to find a time where both of you will feel comfortable to talk and where you aren’t likely to be interrupted. You could book in a session at a local alcohol and other drug service if you would like to explore your situation together with a professional.

There might be times when you’re personally feeling ok with how methamphetamine use is fitting into your life, but you might feel worried about how it be affecting the people around you. These feelings can be uncomfortable, and that is totally understandable. Still, thinking about the people you care about, and whether any small shifts could benefit them, is a powerful and compassionate act. Be gentle on yourself while reflecting, and be as honest as you can. Talking it through with someone else can help. 

Keep an eye out for the next articles in this series to find out how much methamphetamine you’re using compared to other people and what support you could get for methamphetamine use.