Amphetamines are very addictive, and have serious consequences that can impair your mental health when taken excessively. If you or someone you care about is experiencing the effects of heavy amphetamine use, seeking treatment as soon as possible is advised.
Even when taken for short-term, heavy amphetamine use has risks, according to the University of Rochester Medical School, taking larger doses during a short-term period can result in heart failure, and may cause death from burst blood vessels in the brain.
What Other Short-term Risks Can Heavy Amphetamine Use Have?
No matter how amphetamine is taken; orally, by injection or smoked, heavy amphetamine use even for short-term (heavy doses as mentioned above), can have serious health complications. Some other effects it can produce include:
- Heart palpitations
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Delusions
- Jaw clamping
- Irregular breathing
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Aggression
Heavy use of amphetamines can cause heart problems.
Thinking that there will be no risk involved during a short-term period is wrong. A healthy person can run into complications, and end up hospitalized just from one heavy dose of amphetamine. Someone that has a heart condition already may have a heart attack and die.
What Are the Long-term Effects of Heavy Amphetamine Use?
Aside from developing an addiction to amphetamines, the long-term effects of heavy amphetamine usecan pose physical and psychological problems. An overdose can occur which can put a person in a coma or cause death. Heavy users may also experience amphetamine psychosis, a psychological state of mind similar to schizophrenia -causing paranoid delusions.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, amphetamines remain in the central nervous system longer and a large percentage the drug stays unchanged in the body, which can produce prolonged stimulant effects.
Other known effects of heavy amphetamine use include:
- Stroke
- Seizure
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Malnutrition
- Violent behavior
- Suicidal thoughts
- High blood pressure
- Hallucinations
These and other effects can happen even on a person that is presumed healthy. Heavy amphetamine usecan deteriorate your health, and weakened your state of mind to where you are no longer who you used to be -happy and healthy.
Also, if it causes you or your loved one to act violent and aggressive, it can result in trouble with the law. Mixing the amphetamine with substances like alcohol, cocaine or other drugs can cause toxic risks to your health too.
Getting Help for Yourself or Someone Else
Treatment for heavy amphetamine use is recommended before it is too late. Do not wait for a devastating moment to occur. The consequences are evident, and seeking professional help can save someone from possible death.
It can also be dangerous to try and abruptly stop using amphetamines. While stopping the addiction is the ultimate goal, doing it alone and instantly can be harmful, and have physical or emotional results.
Since stopping the addiction means that there will be no more drug use, it is important to contact a professional to begin the process. They assist you with the withdrawal symptoms you may experience. This will be a safer choice, and help you or your loved one get your life back to normal.
