We all know it’s dangerous, but can meth kill you? Make no mistake about it: The answer is yes, and each death is a preventable tragedy. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says drug overdose deaths involving psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine, have increased steadily since 2014. In 2015, 5,716 were reported to have died from an overdose involving psychostimulants. That number jumped to 34,022 deaths by 2022; the trend doesn’t show signs of slowing down. But these statistics don’t tell the whole story of the misery and pain that meth causes for millions of people, including those who are addicted to this toxic drug and their loved ones who are also affected by this substance abuse. That’s why it’s so important to get help now from professionals like the Living Longer Recovery team, who can provide effective meth addiction treatment in California — and prevent you or your loved one from becoming the next person lost to this drug.     How Can Meth Kill You? Methamphetamine, or meth, is a particularly toxic illicit stimulant that has powerful effects on just about every part of our bodies. If you’re still wondering can meth kill you, let’s explore precisely how its effects can lead to death. The Drug Enforcement Administration says this drug can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked, with different onsets of effects and duration of intoxication depending on the dosage and method of consumption. In small amounts, it can increase wakefulness and physical activity, reduce appetite, and speed up breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, in addition to causing the user to overheat. High doses are particularly dangerous because they elevate the body temperature to dangerous or even deadly levels and cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, and death. When someone overdoses on meth, they can die from strokes, heart attacks, or multiple organ failure stemming from their body overheating.   How Much Meth Can Kill You? Now that you know that meth can indeed kill you, you might wonder about the lethal dose. The answer, unfortunately, isn’t simple because it will depend on the method of consumption, the user’s previous tolerance to the drug, and if the meth is laced with something else, especially fentanyl. A Pew analysis of national and state statistics found that meth is increasingly being contaminated with fentanyl, which can be deadly in even the tiniest of doses. The percentage of all fatal meth-related overdoses more than quadrupled from 2015 to 2019, according to Pew, adding up to 31% in 2019. Even if it isn’t laced with meth, the drug’s powerful effects on the body — especially its ability to cause severe overheating — can make it deadly all on its own, leading to heart attacks, strokes, and system failure.   Why Is Meth so Addictive? There’s no denying that meth is one of the most addictive drugs available, but why is it so addictive? To understand this, it’s important to learn about how methamphetamine affects our brains. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, meth has a potent effect on our central nervous system, giving users a brief, intense “rush” or long-lasting high, depending on how it is consumed. Either way, this is a result of meth drastically boosting the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, specifically in the areas of our brain that are related to feelings of pleasure, motivation, and rewarding behaviors. Even low dosages of of meth, over a prolonged period, can damage as much as half of the dopamine-producing cells in our brain, leading to permanent consequences. Simply put, chronic users may no longer be able to feel pleasure or feel good without the drug after a certain point. Because of this, people can become hooked on meth, thinking they require it to feel good again.     How Do You Help a Meth Addict? So, can meth kill you? Yes. But does it have to end this way? No, it doesn’t. Meth addiction is a serious disease that can come with severe long-term health risks, including permanent heart and brain damage, high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, organ damage, paranoia, violent behavior, and much more, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. That’s why evidence-based addiction treatment is so important when someone is hooked on meth. There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications yet to treat someone with met addiction, but help is available in the form of comprehensive addiction treatment, one-on-one and group therapy, and support from professionals. It might seem impossible to imagine a life free from meth, but this is possible — only if you or your loved one gets help.   Overcome Meth Addiction with Help from Living Longer Recovery There’s no avoiding the truth when asking the big question here — Can meth kill you? Yes, in many different ways. But this outcome is avoidable if you get help now from compassionate, experienced professionals like the addiction treatment team at Living Longer Recovery in California. We offer a full range of comprehensive addiction treatment programs, including medically supervised drug detox, inpatient and outpatient drug rehab, aftercare, and so much more. We can help you get better, no matter your circumstances or past history of meth abuse. A brighter future awaits — and we can help you get there. Call us today at 866-714-3294 to get started.   External Sources National Institute on Drug Abuse — Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures Drug Enforcement Administration — Methamphetamine Drug Fact Sheet Pew — Methamphetamine Use, Overdose Deaths, and Arrests Soared from 2015 to 2019 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — Learn About Methamphetamine