New Studies Show Long-Lasting Effects of Meth Addiction

Drug addictions can have long-lasting effects on a person's mind and body. Even years after a person has become sober, they may still experience the temptations of drug use, and their brain may function differently because of it. Quitting drugs and becoming sober is a process, and it is difficult. A drug addict cannot simply wake up one day, decided to abstain from drugs, and go on to lead a normal life. Recovery can take years, and even after becoming sober, the effects of prior drug use can come to haunt recovering drug addicts.

Long-Term Effects of Meth Addiction

Recent studies conducted by the University of Florida have revealed that even long after people that are addicted to meth quit using the drug, their brain may still function differently. From research done on lab mice using the crystal meth drug, researchers found that mice that had been given the drug had impaired brain activity and problems remembering things two weeks after stopping use. Two weeks in the life of a mouse is equal to about a year in the lifespan of a human, indicating that even one year after stopping the use of meth, recovering addicts may still suffer from impaired brain activity.

In addition, researchers attributed this impaired brain activity to withdrawal. Even one year after quitting people with drug addictions to crystal meth can still suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This can be disconcerting to hear for meth users that are trying to become clean and sober. Withdrawal can be dangerous and painful, especially from a drug as harsh as crystal meth. In recent years, meth use has become a nationwide epidemic. It is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture, and it is highly addictive. Withdrawal from the drug can include symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, depression, nausea, and insomnia. Depending upon how long a person has been using the drug and how much they have been taking influences how serious their withdrawal symptoms can be.

Drug Addiction & The Brain

When people develop substance abuse problems, their brain chemistries change. The patterns in which their brains function are altered due to the increased levels of serotonin and dopamine that are released upon drug use. As discovered by the researchers at the University of Florida, this can have long-term effects on a person's brain activity. They stated that the way that a meth addict's brain functions during recovery and long after becoming sober is similar to that of a person with Parkinson's disease.

These findings further strengthen the argument and idea that drug addiction is a chronic disease, and recovery can be a lifelong process. Even years after a person with meth addiction has gone to rehab treatment and participated in the standard drug rehab programs, they may still suffer from the consequences of their drug use. The best way to avoid this is to simply not use drugs in the first place. Drug prevention programs, especially at a young age, are essential in teaching young people the dangers of drug addiction. Not only can meth addiction and other drug problems ruin lives, they can also have serious effects on recovering drug addicts long after they have ceased use.