What Drives Meth Use?
Drug abuse and addiction remain significant problems across the globe. While the opioid crisis rightfully has dominated headlines as thousands of people are lost to addiction and overdose, another dangerous drug has also emerged as a growing threat: Methamphetamine. This powerful stimulant is extremely addictive, with users quickly becoming hooked on the “rush” and euphoria of this illegal drug. So, why do people use meth, and what are the factors that lead to meth relapse or put people most at risk of falling into the pit of meth addiction? Some research over the past decade shines a light on what’s driving the use of meth around the world.
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Table of Contents
Who Is Most at Risk for Meth Use and Addiction?
Some overall trends are important to understand when trying to determine why do people use meth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has tracked the overall usage of this drug among the adult population in America, estimating that 1.6 million Americans 18 or older had used methamphetamine at some point in the past year during 2015-2018.
Of those, about 53 percent had a methamphetamine use disorder, or addiction, and more than 22 percent said they had injected meth in the past year. It was common for people who used meth to have co-occurring disorders, meaning they were struggling with mental illness or other substance use while they were using meth.
According to the CDC, certain demographics and categories of adults were more likely to have used meth in the past year:
- Men
- People under 50 years old
- Adults who had lower educational attainment
- People whose annual household income was less than $50,000
- Those who only had Medicaid or no insurance at all
- Adults living in smaller counties
- People who co-occurring other substance use or mental health disorders
A systematic review of research published in 2024 sought to determine the reasons why people used meth, finding several types of motivations were common. Reasons for using methamphetamine include:
- Performance enhancement
- Staying awake
- Increased sexual performance
- Reducing withdrawal effects from other drugs
- Coping with problems
- Socializing or having fun
- Trying to cope with pain and/or discomfort
How Do Mental Health Conditions Contribute to Meth Use?
If you’re trying to understand why do people use meth, it’s crucial to know how mental health struggles can contribute to or exacerbate meth use. According to the CDC analysis, 57.7 percent of people who reported using meth in the past year in 2015-2018 also reported struggling with some kind of mental illness, and 25 percent said they had a serious mental illness in the past year.
Co-occurring use of other substances or drugs was also extremely common, with nearly 70 percent of those who reported using meth in the past year saying they also had used marijuana, 40 percent had misused prescription opioids, 30 percent had used cocaine or prescription sedatives/tranquilizers, 22 percent had misused prescription stimulants, and 17 percent had used heroin. Nearly half of people who said they had used meth in the past year also reported past-month binge drinking or nicotine dependence.
It has long been known that there are strong links between addiction struggles and mental health conditions, with many people attempting to self-medicate by turning to alcohol or drugs.
However, using drugs or alcohol to try to feel better when struggling with mental health is not going to be effective, and usually, people who use substances will end up feeling worse than they were initially. Among those who use meth, addiction can happen quickly, and people who try to quit or stop using the drug will start to experience severe emotional and physical meth withdrawal symptoms that often prompt them to relapse.
Can Prescription Stimulant Use Lead to Meth Addiction?
While methamphetamine is just one kind of stimulant that people are known to misuse or abuse to achieve a “rush” of energy or alertness, using one can lead to using the other for some people. A prescription medication sold under the brand name Desoxyn contains methamphetamine, which is why it’s closely regulated and only prescribed in limited situations as needed.
This medication can be effective in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It can help obese patients lose weight, but it can also cause side effects like rapid heartbeat, panic, and heart failure. It also has a high potential for misuse, abuse, and addiction, which is why it’s typically only prescribed for a short period of time.
While it might seem counterintuitive, some evidence has suggested the effectiveness of using other stimulant medications to help treat people who are addicted to cocaine or methamphetamine. This follows the so-called “replacement” therapy theory, which can also be seen in things like people who are trying to quit smoking cigarettes by instead wearing a nicotine skin patch or chewing nicotine gum. However, stimulants of any kind have a higher potential of abuse and eventual addiction, so it’s not generally the standard form of treatment for meth or cocaine addiction.
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What Are the Early Warning Signs That Someone Is at Risk of Meth Addiction?
Methamphetamine is a potent, powerful stimulant that can quickly lead to severe addiction if used. Over a short period, the way it interacts with and affects the brain can actually change the overall brain chemistry, leading to reinforcing behavior and creating strong urges to use more of the drug to feel the rush and euphoria once again and to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. All it takes is using meth a few times to become hooked on the drug.
If someone you love is showing these symptoms of meth use, it’s time to find effective methamphetamine addiction help:
- Hyperactivity
- Twitching or jerking
- Skin sores
- Severe dental problems (tooth decay, gum disease, “meth mouth,” etc.)
- Mood swings or outbursts
- Reduced appetite and noticeable weight loss
- Paranoia or agitation
- Dilated pupils or rapid eye movements
- Insomnia and anxiety
Key Takeaways on Why Do People Use Meth
- Methamphetamine is a potent stimulant that can quickly cause severe addiction in those who use it.
- To understand why do people use meth, researchers have analyzed who is most likely to try this drug or abuse it.
- Certain demographics are more likely to use meth, including men, people who have a lower level of education, those who live in households with lower income, and people in smaller (less populous) counties.
- People with mental health struggles or other substance use are more likely to have used meth in the past year as well.
- Professional meth addiction treatment can help people get through severe withdrawal symptoms and start to learn how to live without this dangerous stimulant.
Methamphetamine is a dangerous, powerful drug, and there are signs it’s becoming even more widely used. Some research has found that, globally, it’s the second most commonly used illicit drug after marijuana. While the dangers are well-known, many people don’t think they’ll get addicted, and they realize all too late that they’ve become hooked. If you or a loved one is struggling with meth use and ready to get your life back on track, Resurgence Behavioral Health can help. Call our drug rehab center in California at 855-458-0050, and let’s get started on your treatment today.
Resources
- ScienceDirect – Reasons for Using Methamphetamine: Systematic Review
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Methamphetamine
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report – Patterns and Characteristics of Methamphetamine Use Among Adults – United States, 2015-2018
