Meth vs. Amphetamines: Key Differences Between Two Powerful Stimulants

Meth, or methamphetamines, and amphetamines are psychostimulants that release dopamine into the synaptic ridges of the brain. While these drugs have similar names, they differ significantly in their applications, legal status, and potency, which means that meth users may experience disparate outcomes than amphetamine users. Due to a variance in their chemical composition, meth and amphetamines affect the brain and body differently. Both kinds of substances increase energy and alertness by stimulating the nervous system, but methamphetamines have an additional methyl group in their structure that gives the drugs their nickname “meth” and makes them comparatively stronger and longer lasting. This difference gives methamphetamines a greater potential for misuse and addiction.

Methamphetamine vs. Prescription Amphetamines

While prescription drugs like Adderall and illicit drugs like crystal meth are related, they are not the same. Prescribed stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin (which is similar to Adderall but technically not an amphetamine) can be taken legally to treat a diagnosed condition. For instance, Adderall has been used for years to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs are carefully dosed, administered, and consumed on a regular schedule over an extended period of time.

The only FDA-approved prescription methamphetamine is called Desoxyn, a drug doctors sometimes prescribe for ADHD and obesity that can be taken safely if used as prescribed. The illegal street drug known as crystal meth is produced from a combination of toxic chemicals and is generally used to produce a high. Street methamphetamine generally has accidental or intentional variations or impurities that can make it riskier to use and more addictive than prescription stimulants, and it has no acknowledged medical purpose.

How Amphetamines and Meth Affect the Brain and Body

Amphetamines and methamphetamines can both have significant impacts on the brain and body. Drugs like Adderall are short-acting stimulants that increase focus, alertness, and energy in the user. They can also raise blood pressure, diminish appetite, and sometimes cause dry mouth, insomnia, or exhaustion. When amphetamines are misused, they can produce a cocaine-like high. Overdosing on amphetamines can cause hallucinations and even lead to critical injury or death.

Methamphetamines affect the central nervous system more quickly and have longer-lasting effects than amphetamines. They can raise a person’s body temperature and make them feel aggressive and euphoric. These drugs are also associated with extreme tooth decay, or “meth mouth,” which leads to extremely stained or rotting teeth. Smoking crystal meth usually leads to an intense, short-lived high, while snorting methamphetamines can give users a slow-acting high that can last a whole day. With each use, methamphetamines train the brain’s reward circuitry to seek out the drug, which contributes to dependence and addiction.

Prescription Amphetamine Abuse

When people use amphetamines like Adderall as prescribed, they may be able to focus and perform better at work and school while having a low risk of experiencing toxic side effects. On the other hand, using Adderall long-term or taking too-high doses can cause more serious problems and even damage cognitive function.

Taking too much of an amphetamine can cause restlessness, dizziness, headaches, poor sleep, and changes in vision. It can also cause nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Severe adverse drug reactions, like hallucinations, paranoia, and cardiovascular events, are more likely to happen when a person takes too much of the drug. Acute intoxication can cause dry mouth, hyperactivity, dilated pupils, chest pain, disorientation, and symptoms of psychosis.

When a person overdoses on amphetamines, their blood pressure may shoot up to life-threatening levels and cause a stroke or heart attack. They may also have panic attacks, become dangerously aggressive, or experience seizures that lead to coma or death.

Adderall Interactions and Long-Term Effects

It can be dangerous to take Adderall with another drug within a short period of time. Combining Adderall with depressants like alcohol or opioids doesn’t necessarily cause the drugs to cancel each other out; instead, one drug may mask or modify the other drug’s effects, making it easier to overdose. Mixing two or more stimulants like Adderall and methamphetamines or cocaine can compound the effects of the drugs and increase the risk of liver damage, brain injury, heart attack, stroke, or overdose.

Since Adderall modifies the brain’s relationship with dopamine, using it long-term may cause negative effects, including dependence and addiction. Long-term Adderall use can also cause or worsen cardiovascular issues, damage the brain’s nerve cells, and interfere with dopamine production. It can also worsen mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, mania, anxiety, delusions, and psychosis. For some long-term users, taking Adderall can reduce concentration and lead to cognitive decline.

The Risks of Methamphetamine Use

Using crystal meth or similar drugs can be extremely dangerous and damaging to health. They can cause sleeplessness, tremors, anxiety, and paranoia and lead people to commit violent acts. In the case of overdose, methamphetamines can raise a user’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure enough to cause convulsions, strokes, or heart attacks.

The first time a person uses meth, they may get high or simply feel more energized and awake. They may lose their appetite and notice that their heart is beating faster or abnormally. If they mix meth with alcohol, they may not experience the same degree of intoxication, which could lead to alcohol overdose.

Chronic methamphetamine use can lead to addiction, tooth loss, and malnutrition. Meth can also cause cardiovascular problems, hypertension, rapid and irregular heart rate, coronary artery spasm or blockage, and heart attack. It can worsen cardiovascular disease and increase the risk of stroke.

Misusing methamphetamine is also associated with a higher risk of transmitting and contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. People who use illegal crystal meth may be more likely to inject the drug using shared contaminated needles or engage in risky behavior like unprotected sex while intoxicated.

Methamphetamines can also cause changes in brain structure that degrade motor coordination and lead to declines in verbal learning, ongoing anxiety, mood swings, delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations, and memory loss.

Eventually, using drugs like crystal meth can lead to serious mental health problems, including psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. These effects can last for months or even years, even when a person stops taking the drug.

Repeated, long-term methamphetamine use can cause a person to develop a tolerance so that they need to use more of the drug more often to achieve the same high. People who suddenly stop taking crystal meth after prolonged use and develop a dependence may undergo withdrawal and experience depression, fatigue, and cravings.

Treatment for Amphetamine and Meth Addiction

When a person finds themselves addicted to amphetamines or meth, the professional treatments offered at Illinois Recovery Center can help them safely stop using the substances and live a sober life.

Treatment for Adderall Addiction

If a person develops a dependence on or addiction to Adderall, early intervention can enhance the potential for full recovery. If the dependence is mild, a person may be able to reverse it themselves with a doctor’s guidance; otherwise, they may need professional treatment to recover fully. Illinois Recovery Center provides a variety of supportive care modalities that can help a person overcome their Adderall addiction.

Medication-Assisted Detox

People who want to quit using Adderall can limit their withdrawal symptoms by undergoing medication-assisted detox. Prescribed sleeping aids can improve restfulness, anti-nausea medications can reduce discomfort, and IVs can help with hydration. These treatments can be administered on an inpatient or outpatient basis at our facility.

Mental Health Support and Therapy

Detoxing from Adderall can be challenging and difficult. Many people find that the process can bring on intense anxiety, frustration, and depression that are hard to manage. During this stage of recovery, it’s crucial to get perspective, realize that any difficulties can be temporary, and develop coping skills that make it easier to move forward. Illinois Recovery Center provides supportive therapies that give patients a sounding board. Counseling and other mental health treatments help prevent relapse and self-harming behaviors so that patients can look forward to feeling better. Fortunately, studies suggest that the brain can repair itself if the person abstains from using Adderall, with many functions returning to normal.

Treatment for Meth Addiction

When a person is dependent on or addicted to meth, intervention and intensive treatment are needed to reverse the damage and live a fulfilling, sober life. The professional, medically supervised detox and addiction treatment programs at Illinois Recovery Center can help people safely get on a path towards sobriety.

Medical Detox

Getting clean from a meth addiction can be a difficult and uncomfortable experience. The intense withdrawal symptoms are best managed under a doctor’s care in an inpatient medical detox center, although some patients choose to undergo outpatient treatment. As the drug leaves the body, inpatient clients receive around-the-clock care that safeguards their physical and mental health and helps prevent patients from engaging in damaging behaviors. Many clients also take prescription medications that help to ease their symptoms.

Mental Health Support and Therapy

After detoxing from meth, engaging in recovery programs and mental health counseling can play a critical role in helping patients stay clean. Illinois Recovery Center provides several modalities of evidence-based individual therapy and group therapies that can help patients deal with unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help patients develop resilience and a healthier mindset, while support groups can help patients build relationships with their peers. Patients may also engage in meditation, yoga, and other supportive therapies that help them combat issues like anxiety, mood swings, and impulse control. Recovery from meth addiction can be a lengthy process, so treatment programs provide strategies. To prevent relapse and encourage healthy living.

Conclusion: The Importance of Getting Professional Help

If you or someone you care about is struggling with meth or amphetamine addiction, it’s imperative to seek help and support right away. Illinois Recovery Center provides medical detox services, behavioral and holistic therapies, peer support groups, and complementary treatments that can help patients overcome their substance addiction. Our experts provide supportive, comprehensive care in a comfortable environment to help patients achieve recovery. We are dedicated to helping people manage their struggles with amphetamines and methamphetamines so that they can live happier and more fulfilling lives. To learn more, visit our website at Illinois Recovery Center.

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