Why Is Meth So Addictive?

April 12, 2019

drugs in the form of crystals on a black background, methamphetamine in a plastic bag

Methamphetamine, known more simply as “meth”, is a stimulant drug that’s been tried by over 13 million people in the United States. It’s one of the most highly addictive drugs and is also one of the most dangerous because of that.

But why is meth so addictive? What about meth makes people go from trying it once to becoming junkies?

In this article, we’re going over how meth affects your body and exactly what makes meth so addictive.

How Meth Affects the Brain

As we said earlier, meth is a stimulant drug. When ingested, usually via injection, smoking, or snorting, the drug goes directly to your brain.

Once in the brain, it will stimulate your neurons to release huge amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is what’s known as a “feel good” chemical, which means that the release of a huge amount (like you get when you use meth) will cause you to feel:

Euphoric
Energetic
Alert
Feel a “rush” of confidence and happiness.

That sounds all fine and good. But the problem with meth is that you build up a tolerance quickly. You’ll need to use more and more meth in order to get those same happy feelings you got with your first use.

Not only that, but your brain will eventually “forget” how to produce dopamine on its own. Your brain becomes dependent on meth to release dopamine, which means that you need to use the drug in order to feel normal, not just feel high.

The Highest of Highs…

So why is meth so addictive? For one, the high you get from meth is intense and extremely pleasurable. People describe a math high as the happiest they’ve ever felt.

So when those effects wear off, people want to feel it again and again. And, as we said earlier, when you use meth, you’ll build a tolerance. If you want to feel that euphoric high, you’ll need more and more, which quickly leads to addiction and abuse.

…And the Lowest of Lows

Not only will you feel the highest of highs, but the lows after the high wears off are as low as you can get.

People report feeling anxious, depressed, low energy, and even suicidal. Read some more info. on these and other signs of meth use in order to understand how a meth addict thinks and acts.

As your brain learns to depend on meth for dopamine, you’ll also have trouble feeling happy or normal at any time, not just after a meth crash. In order to escape those feelings, people feel the need to use meth again just to get back to “normal”.

They become addicted to meth in order to feel happy and function normally, not just to feel high.

Meth Is Cheaper Than Other Similar Drugs

While meth is known to be dangerous and addictive, people use it more than other stimulants like cocaine because it’s cheaper and easier to get. If a drug is cheap and easily attainable, it’s no wonder it’s so addictive.