Stage 1: Low Intensity Use

People who use meth in this stage are primarily adolescents, Housewives, and Shift Workers. They do not necessarily become addicted to the drug, but use the drug for the following desired effects:

• Stimulation
• Weight Loss

Not all the users become addicted at this level, but with neuroadaptation of the drug, and increased amounts consumed, toxic effects are experienced:

• Psychological disturbances
• Dangerous Weight Loss
• Severe Insomnia

With the abstinence of meth, the following syndromes are common:

Anergia:

Decreased energy.

Anhedonia:

Inability to experience pleasure, boredom: in contrast to the intense euphoria of the drug experience, sharpens the users dissatisfaction with the current state.

Craving:

Endogenous:

"comes from within" or background craving, feelings of dysphoria.

Environmentally Cued:

Immediate, catastrophic, overwhelming craving stimulated by objects, persons, and situations associated with prior drug use.

Stage 2: Binge Use

Effects:

• Aggression
• Violence
• Paranoia
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Hyperactivity
• Weight Loss

Stage 3: High Intensity Use

Effects:

• Extreme Weight Loss (50-100 lbs.)
• Sever Malnutrition
• Aggression
• Violence
• Belligerence
• Toxic Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Hysteria
  • Sleep Deprivation
• Stroke
• Heart Failure

Tweaking:

As you can see, the binge cycles that are being experienced today are truly terrifying, not only to the addicted user, but to all those who come in contact with the user!