{"id":39,"date":"2013-10-03T12:23:23","date_gmt":"2013-10-03T12:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/?page_id=39"},"modified":"2025-11-27T20:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T20:14:20","slug":"meth-addiction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/drug-addiction\/meth-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Meth Addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"<header><div class=\"contained\"><div><div><\/div><div class=\"content\"><h1>Meth Addiction<\/h1><a href=\"#recoveryModal\" class=\"btn submit\" data-toggle=\"modal\">Reach out now, we can help<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header><div id=\"crumbs\" class=\"contained\" data-is-podcasts=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\">Home<\/a>  \/  <span class=\"current\">Page<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide has-2-columns main-page is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"accordion wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is meth addiction?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>Scientists first began developing amphetamine-type stimulants as early as 1885 when a Japanese chemist studying in Germany, managed to isolate and characterise the active ingredient in the Ephedra plant as ephedrine. Ephedra has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine primarily to treat asthma, bronchitis, and hay fever.<\/p><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><p>Methamphetamine remained difficult to reproduce until 1919, when another Japanese chemist, Akira Ogata, streamlined the process by adding phosphorus and iodine to reduce the ephedrine into a crystallized form, thereby creating the world&rsquo;s first crystal meth.<\/p><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a potent and highly addictive drug that acts on the central nervous system, where it causes the release of dopamine, a substance which acts as a stimulant and euphoric drug. Pharmaceutical methamphetamine is still available legally but it is only rarely prescribed to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit, hyper activity disorder (ADHD) and severe obesity. Meth is readily available and its use has spread rapidly across South Africa, especially in the Western Cape, where it is made in illicit laboratories using inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. Recent research reported that 42% of drug users within the Western Cape used crystal meth as their primary, or preferred drug, with a high prevalence use amongst adolescents.   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Methods of use\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p>Crystal meth is usually smoked in a small glass pipe, but users may also swallow it, snort it, or inject it. Smoking is the most common method of use in South Africa. Tolerance for methamphetamine develops rapidly. The pleasurable effects disappear before the concentration of the drug in the blood falls significantly. This often leads to users trying to maintain the high by binging.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><p>Effects on the user<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>May include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quick rush of euphoria<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elevated confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decreased appetite<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase in libido<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inability to concentrate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased heart rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sweating <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harmful side-effects &amp; health risks\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Impaired judgement and impulsive thinking are a result of the drugs effects on the frontal lobe. The behaviour of crystal meth addicts is unpredictable-violence and rapid mood swings are common. <br><br>Severe use of crystal meth can lead to stimulant psychosis, (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, and delusions). It is these side-effects which often leads users to seek treatment.<br><br>Sustained use can cause a breakdown of skeletal muscle, extreme weight loss, kidney and stomach problems, as well as, seizures and bleeding in the brain.<br>Prolonged usage weakens the immune system, which may lead to eczema, hair loss and so-called &ldquo;meth mouth,&rdquo; (severe tooth decay and gum disease as a result of poor oral hygiene and teeth grinding).<br><br>Symptoms similar to those of Parkinson&rsquo;s disease can result from gradual damage to the nervous system, where users develop tremors in their hands, arms, head and legs. Users are at greater risk of stroke, cardiac arrest, coma or death due to an increase in blood pressure and an irregular cardiac rate. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Withdrawal symptoms\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Methamphetamine is highly addictive and rapidly creates dependence in the user and psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal are to be expected once usage stops. The symptoms are severe enough that individuals, more often than not, fail to quit using the drug on their own. Heavy recreational use of methamphetamine may lead to a post-acute-withdrawal syndrome, which can persist for months beyond the typical withdrawal period.<br><br>Sustained use of the drug affects the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for feelings of pleasure. Long-term meth use can cause a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, making it difficult for the individual to experience pleasure as well as reduced levels of motivation which is a condition known as anhedonia.<br>It is thus recommended that withdrawal from the drug be conducted under the care of trained medical professionals together with experienced, trained, addiction counsellors. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overdose potential\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overdose can occur with any quantity of drug used, and the user is always at risk. Overdose causes seizures, an increase in body temperature, respiratory failure, coma, and\/or death. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<span style=\"margin-top:40px;\" class=\"btn-we-can-help ugb-highlight\">If drugs are controlling your life, we can help.<\/span>\n<a class=\"link-green\" href=\"#recoveryModal\" data-toggle=\"modal\">TALK TO US NOW<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column treatment is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img width=\"636\" height=\"336\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8198\" data-src=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRRC_PageTreatment_Image_02-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRRC_PageTreatment_Image_02-1.jpg 636w, https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRRC_PageTreatment_Image_02-1-300x158.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">12 Steps<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"mce_3\">Drug Rehabilitation &amp; Recovery<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"> The idea of overcoming drug addiction may seem overwhelming, but recovery is possible at Crossroads Recovery Centre&hellip;&hellip; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"\/drug-rehabilitation\">View our treatment program<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"a-call-away\"><div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h2>Addiction Rehabilitation &amp;<br>Treatment is <strong>a Phone Call Away<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centres provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it&rsquo;s just a phone call away. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"contact-details inline\"><div class=\"icon tel\"><div><div>Johannesburg Admissions: <a style=\"color:#A2D23F;font-size: 1.2em;text-decoration: none;\" href=\"tel:+27748951043\">+27 74 895 1043<\/a><\/div><div>Outpatients Admissions: <a style=\"color:#A2D23F;font-size: 1.2em;text-decoration: none;\" href=\"tel:+27824589408\">+27 82 458 9408<\/a><\/div><div>Pretoria Admissions: <a style=\"color:#A2D23F;font-size: 1.2em;text-decoration: none;\" href=\"tel:+27826533311\">+27 82 653 3311<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"testimonials\">\n      <div>\n        <h3>Stories of Recovery<\/h3>\n        <div>\n          <ul>\n                <li data-id=\"1\">\n              <div>The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.<\/div>\n              <div><span>Oliver VG<\/span><\/div>\n              <a style=\"display: inline-block; margin-top: 24px;\" class=\"btn hollow\" href=\"\/testimonials\/oliver-vg\">Read more<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                <li data-id=\"2\">\n              <div>On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.<\/div>\n              <div><span>Johan B<\/span><\/div>\n              <a style=\"display: inline-block; margin-top: 24px;\" class=\"btn hollow\" href=\"\/testimonials\/johan-b\">Read more<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                <li data-id=\"3\">\n              <div>I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!<\/div>\n              <div><span>Carla S<\/span><\/div>\n              <a style=\"display: inline-block; margin-top: 24px;\" class=\"btn hollow\" href=\"\/testimonials\/carla-s\">Read more<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                <li data-id=\"4\">\n              <div>\"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery.  I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build.\"<\/div>\n              <div><span>Angelique J<\/span><\/div>\n              <a style=\"display: inline-block; margin-top: 24px;\" class=\"btn hollow\" href=\"\/testimonials\/angelique-j\">Read more<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n              <\/ul>\n          <div style=\"display: none\">\n            <a href=\"\/testimonials\" class=\"btn hollow\">Read more<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/testimonials-bg.jpg\"><\/div>\n        <div class=\"controls\" data-section=\"stories\">\n            <span class=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/crossroads2019\/img\/arrow-left-circle.svg\" alt=\"Left Arrow\"><\/span>\n            <span class=\"right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/crossroads2019\/img\/arrow-right-circle.svg\" alt=\"Right Arrow\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<div class=\"medical-aids\">\n<h3>Approved Medical Aids<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div class=\"contained\">\n<div>\n<img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Bestmed Logo\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Bestmed-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Bonitas Logo\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Bonitas-2.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"CAMAF Logo\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/CAMAF-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Discovery Health Logo\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/DiscoveryHealth-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Fedhealth Logo\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Fedhealth-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Government Employees Medical Scheme\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/GEMS-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Liberty Corporate\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Liberty-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"Medihelp Medical Scheme\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Medihelp-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Medshield-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Momentum-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Netcare-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/PnP-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Polmed-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/ResolutionHealth-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/SasolMed-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Sizwe-1.jpg\"><img itemprop=\"contentURL\" width=\"100\" height=\"45\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Topmed-1.jpg\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"addiction-types\"><div><div class=\"contained\"><h3>Types of Addictions<\/h3><div class=\"wp-block-columns has-5-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h4>Drug Addiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Is drug addiction controlling your life? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"button\"><a href=\"\/drug-addiction\/\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h4>Alcohol Addiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have a problem with alcohol? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"button\"><a href=\"\/alcohol-addiction\/\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h4>Sex Addiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Is sex addiction controlling your life? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"button\"><a href=\"\/sex-addiction\/\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h4>Gambling Addiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Is your urge to gamble controlling your life? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"button\"><a href=\"\/gambling-addiction\/\">More info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<h4>Food Addiction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Is food your crutch?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"button\"><a href=\"\/food-addiction\/\">More info<\/a>  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><p class=\"button-form\"><a href=\"#recoveryModal\" data-toggle=\"modal\">Reach out now, we can help<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meth Addiction Reach out now, we can help Home \/ Page If drugs are controlling your life, we can help. TALK TO US NOW Drug Rehabilitation &amp; Recovery The idea of overcoming drug addiction may seem overwhelming, but recovery is possible at Crossroads Recovery Centre&hellip;&hellip; View our treatment program<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11903,"parent":31,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-39","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","entry"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth--80x80.jpg",80,80,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth--300x214.jpg",300,214,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false],"large":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false],"alm-thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth--150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Crystal-Meth-.jpg",584,417,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Meth AddictionReach out now, we can helpHome \/ Page What is meth addiction? Scientists first began developing amphetamine-type stimulants as early as 1885 when a Japanese chemist studying in Germany, managed to isolate and characterise the active ingredient in the Ephedra plant as ephedrine. Ephedra has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine primarily to treat asthma, bronchitis, and hay fever. Methamphetamine remained difficult to reproduce until 1919, when another Japanese chemist, Akira Ogata, streamlined the process by adding phosphorus and iodine to reduce the ephedrine into a crystallized form, thereby creating the world&rsquo;s first crystal meth.&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/author\/admin\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}