Meth, short for methamphetamine, is an addictive stimulant commonly abused in the U.S. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or swallowed, and its effects last up to 12 hours, and withdrawing from meth can take days or weeks.
Studies show 1.6 million Americans used meth in one year alone [1]. Meth has become increasingly available: supply has grown, distribution is wider, and the purity of meth has improved. Meth manufacturers have even made the drug available in pill form to target younger customers.
Meth use can be detrimental to your health, relationships, future prospects, and general quality of life. Knowing how long meth lasts, its effects, duration, and withdrawal process can mean seeking help earlier and having a higher chance of recovery.
What Is Meth?
Meth is a human-made drug that’s made in laboratories. It acts on the central nervous system, speeding up activity and increasing the release of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, which makes you feel good. Part of the reason meth is so addictive is because it creates a cycle telling the brain to repeat behaviors that continue the release of dopamine.
Meth has many street names, such as speed, crystal, crank, tweak, ice, glass, tina, and uppers. It normally comes as a white powder or a pill that has no smell but tastes bitter. Crystal meth is often marketed on the street as the purest form of meth and comes as white-blue rocks.
There are many reasons why people use meth. It is common in party settings, especially among non-Hispanic white people aged 26-34 [1]. Men use meth more than women, but more women seek treatment for meth addiction. People using meth have lower rates of finishing addiction treatment than people with other substance use disorders [2].
What Are the Effects of Meth and How Long Do They Last?
The effects of meth are similar to cocaine, which is a stimulant like meth. There are short-term and long-term effects of meth, and how long they last and how intensely, depends on factors such as age, weight, dose, existing SUDs, and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Short-term effects last 6-12 hours and include:
- Having more energy
- Talking fast
- Making quick movements
- Feeling alert
- Breathing fast
- Dry mouth
- Muscle tension
- Chest pain
Long-term effects take more time to surface and can last months or years. These include:
- Weight loss
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Extreme paranoia
- Formication (the feeling of bugs crawling under the skin)
Chronic meth use can also lead to cognitive and neurological deficits, cardiovascular and renal dysfunction, transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, overdose, and death [3].
Withdrawal From Meth
Withdrawing from meth takes 7-10 days to move through the acute phase. Protracted withdrawal, where symptoms linger, can last for weeks.
Common meth withdrawal symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Chills
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Agitation
- Psychosis
- Cravings
- Dysphoria (feeling uneasy, restless, or irritable)
- Anhedonia (being unable to feel pleasure)
- Paranoia
Regular meth users tend to consume meth repeatedly for days and then crash and experience intense withdrawal. During the withdrawal phase, they have a high risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, particularly people with existing mental health conditions [4].
Meth Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawal is different for each person, but the timeline below provides an overview of what to expect when detoxing from meth under medical supervision.
Day 1-7
Withdrawal symptoms can manifest 24 hours after the last dose of meth. In the first week they begin to develop more.
Day 7-10
Symptoms are most severe. Cravings are very intense, and the risk of relapse is high.
Day 10-14
Symptoms start to alleviate but continue: particularly disrupted sleep, mood changes, and cravings.
Day 14-21
The protracted withdrawal phase where symptoms either pass or linger, with depression and oversleeping often reported.
Day 21 – onward
Most symptoms pass, but difficulties with concentration, mood, and energy may persist.
Is There Treatment for Meth Addiction?
Treatment for meth addiction is comprehensive and effective. It not only facilitates long-term recovery, it ensures the person is safe while withdrawing, and they learn critical new life skills.
Treatment includes:
- Medical detox
- Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Wellness activities
- Aftercare
MAT can be useful in the early stages of care to support people with severe withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings. It’s only offered when clinically needed. Meanwhile, ongoing evidence-based therapies have been proven to teach individuals new adaptive behaviors and ways of thinking that build lasting sobriety [5].
People have reported that structured treatment for meth addiction also improved their mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety that often sit underneath drug use. Individuals also said their sleep improved while in treatment [6].
Meth Addiction Treatment at Red Rock Recovery, Colorado
At Red Rock Recovery, we’re a team of licensed medical professionals who don’t judge — we just offer empathetic care to overcome meth addiction and to understand the drivers behind it.
From our centers in Colorado, we have recovery programs spanning medical detox, residential care, and outpatient treatment. We use evidence-based therapies, including CBT to support you as you develop healthy coping skills and emotional regulation. We also have medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings and to reduce the risk of relapse.
We treat co-occurring mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. We host wellness activities such as hiking and yoga, and make the most of the beautiful nature surrounding our centers to ensure you heal both inside and out.
Where you’ve been doesn’t have to be where you’re going. Start a new path. Contact our admissions team.
Sources
[1] CDC. 2020. Patterns and Characteristics of Methamphetamine Use Among Adults — United States, 2015–2018. cdc.gov.
[2] Guerrero, E. et al. 2023. Exploring Gender and Ethnoracial Differences and Trends in Methamphetamine Treatment. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment.
[3] Jones, C. et al. 2021. Methamphetamine use in the United States: epidemiological update and implications for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
[4] SAMHSA. 2006. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville (MD).
[5] Moszczynska, A. 2021. Current and Emerging Treatments for Methamphetamine Use Disorder. Current Neuropharmacology.
[6] Mancino, M. et al. 2012. Characterizing methamphetamine withdrawal in recently abstinent methamphetamine users: A pilot field study. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.