Meth Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS).1 Meth increases the activity of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, a brain chemical important for motivation and the reinforcement of rewarding behaviors.1
Individuals who use meth report feeling a euphoric “rush,” an intense pleasurable feeling that only lasts a couple of minutes, then fades as quickly as it started. Thus, individuals use repeat doses to maintain the high.1
Similar to other substances, taking too much meth, using it in combination with other substances, or ingesting adulterated meth can result in an increased risk of toxicity or fatal overdose.2
In 2021, nearly 33,000 deaths in the United States involved meth.3 Between 2015 and 2019, the number of methamphetamine-related overdose deaths nearly tripled among U.S. adults aged 18 to 64.2
Read this page to learn more about the signs of a meth overdose, what to do if someone overdoses on meth, and where to get help for meth addiction.
What Is Meth?
Methamphetamine, colloquially referred to as meth, is classified as a Schedule II drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which means it has a high potential for dependence and addiction.4 In 2021, 2.5 million Americans aged 12 or older reported using methamphetamine within the past year. Additionally, an estimated 1.6 million individuals aged 12 or older in the U.S. met the criteria for a methamphetamine use disorder in 2021.5
Though legally available by prescription as Desoxyn—a drug with very limited use for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity—most methamphetamine used in the United States is produced and distributed illicitly and used recreationally.6
When a person uses meth, they experience increased alertness and physical activity, decreased appetite, and an elevated mood.6 However, chronic recreational meth use can lead to a host of health consequences, including but not limited to aggression, mood swings, cognitive problems, severe tooth decay, weight loss and malnutrition, paranoia, and hallucinations.1
What Causes a Meth Overdose?
Meth overdose—without the presence of other substances—occurs when a person takes too much of the drug at once or chronically over time and experiences a toxic reaction to the drug.1 This reaction can result in life-threatening cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attack, as well as organ damage.1
Similar devastating cardiovascular events can take place when an individual mixes meth with other stimulants, such as ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamines.7
A study by the National Institute of Health found that in the 5-year period between 2015 and 2019, the number of overdose deaths involving psychostimulants (mainly methamphetamine) increased 180%.2 However, in that same period, the number of people reporting methamphetamine use only rose 43%. One explanation, according to researchers, involves individuals using methamphetamine and other drugs at the same time.2 In 2020, nearly 24,000 overdose deaths involving psychostimulants (primarily methamphetamine) also involved opioids.8
When an individual takes meth and opioids together, the side effects can be more potent, unpredictable, dangerous, and potentially fatal.7
Opioids are depressants that slow down the CNS; meth, as previously stated, is a stimulant that activates the CNS. Contrary to what some think, combining meth with opioids—or other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines—does not balance the drugs’ effects out. In fact, the opposite happens. Mixing the two substances can modify or even mask the symptoms of one or both drugs, which can lead individuals to think neither substance is producing the desired effect and result in them taking more of one or both substances, which can lead to overdose.7
Others may unintentionally mix opioids and meth. Fentanyl, a potent opioid, is often used to adulterate methamphetamine—and other street drugs—since it resembles meth in its powder form. Overdose can occur when an individual unwittingly uses a drug they believe is meth but is meth laced with fentanyl.9
Signs of Meth Overdose
Though the symptoms of a meth overdose—without the presence of other substances—vary from one individual to the next, understanding general warning signs can help you identify a potential overdose and get the person the help they need. Signs of a meth toxicity, alone, may include:10,11
- Chest pains.
- Rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
- Kidney problems.
- Confusion.
- Altered mental status, including psychosis.
- Heart attack.
- Stroke.
- Circulatory collapse.
- Death
Fentanyl (or other opioid)-involved overdoses can cause slow or stopped breathing and death. When meth is taken in conjunction with another substance—intentionally or not—it may be difficult to tell if the individual is high or experiencing an overdose.7
How to Respond During a Meth Overdose
If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, or if you are unsure, treat it like an overdose and act quickly. It could save their life.
The steps you should take include:12,13
- Calling 911.
- Giving the person naloxone, which will help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose but will not hurt the person if they are not overdosing on opioids.
- Trying to keep the person awake.
- Turning the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Waiting with the person until help arrives.
Getting Help for Meth Use
If you or your loved one needs help for meth use, it is important to note that after using meth long-term, abruptly stopping use can result in withdrawal symptoms that can be physically unpleasant and psychologically taxing. Fortunately, these symptoms are rarely dangerous or life-threatening.14
Treatment for meth addiction can occur in a variety of settings and typically involves evidence-based behavioral therapies—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or contingency management—designed to help you identify the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that led to addiction; help you change the way you think about meth and other substances; and avoid relapse.16
For meth or other stimulant misuse, the Matrix Model—a 16-week comprehensive treatment approach that combines behavioral therapy, family education, individual counseling, 12-step support, drug testing, and encouragement for non-drug-related activities—has been shown to be effective.16
Meth Addiction Treatment Near You
If you or someone you love needs help for meth use or addiction, reach out and speak to one of our Admissions Navigator, who can answer your questions and explain your options. Call American Addiction Centers (AAC) today at to learn more about your treatment options, find a meth rehab near you, and to begin your journey to recovery.
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