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Meth Overdose: Symptoms, Effects, & Treatment Options

  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Modified:
  • Reading Time: 18 minutes
  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Last Update:
  • Reading Time: 18 minutes

Understanding a meth overdose is critical, as recognizing its symptoms, effects, and available treatments can save lives and aid in recovery.

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Substance use disorders are major issues that are wreaking havoc in our communities. The incidence of deaths from drug overdoses, particularly those involving psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, is fast growing.

For example, the number of fatalities increased from 5,716 in 2015 to 34,022 in 2022. Meth is an extremely potent and addictive narcotic that may destroy both the body and the psyche.

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Overview & Medical Use

What is Meth?

Meth (which is short for the drug methamphetamine), is a highly addictive stimulant. It affects the central nervous system (CNS). It dissolves easily in alcohol or water. It usually looks like a white, crystalline powder that has no smell and tastes bitter.

In the early twentieth century, manufacturers made the drug, and people widely used it in inhalers and decongestants. It has effects like its parent drug, amphetamine (often called “speed”). These effects include less appetite, increased excitement, and more talkativeness.

Meth differs from its parent amphetamine in several ways. One key difference is that, at the same dosages, more meth enters the brain. This makes meth more potent. Meth’s negative effects on the CNS are likewise greater and more prolonged.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) has classified methamphetamine as a Schedule II drug. This means you can only get it legally if you have a prescription that can’t be refilled.

Doctors may prescribe it for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or for short-term weight loss. However, these uses are rare and limited. Additionally, the doses prescribed are much smaller than what people typically abuse.

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Recognizing Acute & Chronic Overdose Symptoms

Can You Overdose on Meth?

Yes, you can overdose on meth. Overdosing can happen even the first time you take the drug. When you are a new user, your system hasn’t yet developed tolerance to the drug.

So, it is easy to ingest a dose that is too high for your body to handle. It can quickly raise blood pressure and body temperature. This puts you at serious risk of organ damage, heart attack, stroke, or even death. People call the kind of meth overdose that occurs from infrequent, single use sudden or acute overdose.

Chronic overdose occurs when you use meth for a long time. This leads to physical damage that builds up over time. Your body’s reaction to meth can depend on several factors. These include your health, your tolerance level, and if you’ve mixed it with alcohol or other drugs.

Because street meth is illegal, you can never really know how strong or pure it is. A dose that might be okay under your doctor’s prescription could be risky if it comes from an unknown source. Both types of overdose, acute and chronic, can cause significant harm to your organs.

What Are the Symptoms of an Overdose?

When you overdose on meth, your symptoms can vary from others. This is especially true if you mixed it with other drugs. However, if meth is the only drug in your system, some typical symptoms of a meth overdose could include:

  • Sweating
  • Increased body temperature
  • Seizures
  • Confusion
  • Skin color changes (for example, a bluish hue due to lack of oxygen)
  • Chest pains
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dilated pupils
  • Psychotic episode
  • Irregular heartbeat/pulse
  • Unresponsiveness
  • Stomach pain
  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
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Causes & Risk Factors

What Causes a Meth Overdose?

A methamphetamine overdose happens when you take too much of the drug. This can occur all at once or over time, leading to a harmful reaction.

As we mentioned before, this can lead to serious health issues. These include damage to vital organs, heart attacks, and strokes. Combining meth with other stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines, or ecstasy can raise the risk of serious heart problems.

Lately, a growing trend has emerged where people who abuse drugs often mix them with opioids, whether they prescribe the drugs or not. And when you throw meth into the mix with any opioid, it can be even more dangerous. Combining the two can seriously up the risk, messing with your body in ways that are hard to predict and often life-threatening. Opioids are depressants that slow down the nervous system, while meth is a stimulant that speeds it up. 

Some believe combining these two creates a balance, but that’s not true. In reality, mixing them can mask or alter the effects of either drug. This can trick someone into thinking they need more of one or both drugs, which can quickly lead to an overdose.

Sometimes, people unknowingly combine meth with opioid painkillers. Fentanyl, a super potent opioid, is often used to cut meth because it looks similar in powder form.

You might think you are using pure meth. However, you could be getting a dose mixed with fentanyl. This greatly raises your risk of an overdose.

What Factors Increase the Risk of an Overdose?

A variety of factors influence whether or not you develop a methamphetamine addiction. Some people can use the substance for a time without becoming severely addicted. However, others may try meth just once and become addicted. The most frequent risk factors linked to addiction are:

  • High dose consumption: Larger doses of meth can stress the heart. They may also overload the body’s ability to handle the drug.
  • Frequent use: The more you use a substance, the higher the risk of addiction, tolerance, and overdose.
  • Genetics: If you have a family member who is addicted to drugs, your risk of addiction may increase. This is especially true if the relative is a close one, like a parent. If your mother or father has faced similar problems, you are also more likely to encounter them.
  • Purity of the meth: The purity of meth can change a lot, especially when it is made and sold illegally. Since it is not regulated, users often do not know how strong the meth is or what it contains. High-purity meth has a higher concentration of the active substance.

This type is more dangerous because even a small amount can have a stronger effect. This raises the risk of overdose, toxicity, and other health problems. Additionally, street meth can be mixed with other drugs, which can change its strength and risks.

  • Polydrug use: Mixing meth with alcohol, opioids, or prescription drugs can greatly increase the effects of each. This also raises the risks involved. This combination can overload your system.

It makes it hard to know how you will respond. This also increases the risk of an overdose. Since every drug affects your body in unique ways, mixing them is a riskier move.

  • Environmental factors: If someone grows up in an environment—whether it’s at home, in their neighborhood, or at school—where meth and other drug abuse are common, they’re more likely to end up struggling with addiction themselves.

The earlier a person is exposed to drugs or sees them being abused, the higher the chance that they’ll eventually fall into the same pattern, and any single time one takes the drug, there is always the risk of overdose. It’s often a matter of what’s normalized around them, making it harder to break away from those behaviors later.

  • Pre-existing health conditions: If you have heart problems, high blood pressure, or other health difficulties, you may be more likely to overdose, even if you take a small quantity. This also applies to those with mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

They may struggle to avoid misusing the substance, which can develop into addiction, tolerance, and an increased risk of overdose, primarily if they use meth in ever-increasing quantities to feel better.

  • Route of administration: How you take meth can make a big difference. Injecting or smoking gets the drug into your system much faster, which can lead to more robust, more intense effects. The quicker the high, the higher the risk of overdose.
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Short-Term and Long-Term Effects

What Are the Effects of a Meth Overdose?

When you overdose on meth, it can impact your body in both the short and long term. At first, a person might feel very happy, have some trouble breathing, or feel restless.

Meth overdose side effects can vary. Some symptoms are temporary, while others need immediate medical help. In some cases, symptoms may go away on their own.

On the other hand, the long-term effects can be harmful. They may cause permanent damage to organs and ongoing mental health issues. There are also other serious health concerns to consider.

What Are the Short-Term Effects?

Since meth is a drug that ramps up your nervous system, it can hit you with some intense effects right away. When people get hooked, they focus on the immediate rush of excitement. They often forget about the serious problems that can arise later. Even though some issues can appear quickly, the temptation to chase that high often outweighs the warnings.

Some of the quick effects of meth include:

  • Euphoria
  • Boosted energy and wakefulness
  • Faster, irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased body temperature
  • Rapid breathing
  • Agitation or anxiety

If these symptoms aren’t addressed and they keep happening every time someone uses them, they can lead to lasting damage or even death.

What Are the Long-Term Effects?

After using meth for a long term, your body will develop tolerance. At this point, you will continue to require larger doses than before to achieve the same euphoric effects.

Some users also resort to other methods of consumption, for example, snorting, to enhance the speed at which they experience the thrill. Effects often seen in someone who has been using meth for a long time include:

  • Cognitive impairment: Long-term meth use can impair memory, slow down cognitive function, and make it harder to control emotions.
  • Mental health issues: The more you use meth, the greater the chance you’ll start dealing with things like anxiety or depression. And it doesn’t always stop when you quit. Sometimes, those feelings can stick around, even long after you’ve stopped using.

Some people end up with lingering psychosis, where they struggle with things like paranoia or hallucinations. It’s a tough cycle, and the longer you’re in it, the harder it can be to shake those effects.

  • Dependence: Continued use increases the likelihood of becoming both physically and mentally dependent, making it significantly more challenging to quit. When you have acquired dependence, your body will need this drug for you to feel “normal.”
  • Organ damage: Meth can severely impact your liver, kidneys, and heart. Extended use may result in irreversible damage to these vital organs.

People who use meth often end up sharing needles with others. It’s not just about the high; new needles can be expensive or hard to come by.

But that habit, sharing needles, is risky. It’s one of the easiest ways to spread blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B and C and even HIV/AIDS.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, and if left unchecked, it can worsen over time. You might start seeing things like jaundice or cirrhosis, and even worse, it can mess with your blood and nervous system.

Add meth to the mix, though, and it makes everything even more dangerous. Meth tightens up your blood vessels, which messes with the flow to your intestines. If that goes on long enough, it can cause parts of your bowel to die.

When that happens, you’re looking at something really serious – a hole in your intestines. This can cause an infection in your abdomen called peritonitis. If it gets worse, it can lead to septic shock. Septic shock is life-threatening if not treated quickly.

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Treatment & Prevention

How is a Meth Overdose Treated?

A meth overdose is no joke—it’s a medical emergency that needs attention right away. When someone overdoses on meth, the priority is stabilizing their vital signs and managing the symptoms that come with it.

What Are the Steps in Treating an Overdose?

Here’s how treatment usually goes:

  • Emergency Care: The first thing you need to do is call emergency services immediately. Speed is essential in these situations, so don’t hesitate. EMS personnel are trained to handle overdose situations, and getting them involved right away can be life-saving.

If the person is conscious, try to keep them calm and monitor their breathing until help arrives. If someone has lost consciousness or stopped breathing, and you know CPR, start chest compressions and rescue breaths right away.

  • Sedation and Medications: If a person is feeling highly restless or anxious or is seeing things that aren’t there, doctors might use sedatives or antipsychotic drugs to help soothe them. Such drugs help get everything back to normal and lessen their symptoms to keep them safe from harming themselves or others.
  • Cooling the Body: If their body temperature shoots up too high, a condition known as hyperthermia, doctors will work to cool them down quickly. They’ll use cooling blankets or ice packs to help lower the temperature and prevent severe damage.
  • Seizure Control: If a person starts experiencing seizures, doctors will administer anti-seizure drugs to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. They want to take control before it becomes riskier.
  • Heart and Blood Pressure Support: Meth can cause your heart to go wild, making it race or increasing your blood pressure. To get things back to normal, doctors may provide medicine or fluids through an IV to help calm your heart and keep your blood vessels in check.

The most important thing is getting help as quickly as possible. The sooner medical intervention happens, the better the chances of avoiding severe damage or life-threatening complications. Time really matters in these situations.

Preventing a meth overdose starts with not using meth in the first place. But if you or someone you know is already using it, the goal is to reduce the risk and recognize the warning signs early on.

How to Prevent a Meth Overdose

If you’ve been using meth for a while, it’s really important to start thinking about how to stop or, at the very least, find ways to stay safe. One of the key steps is never using it alone.

Having someone you trust nearby can make all the difference because the chances of something going wrong are pretty high. They can get help quickly if you overdose or if anything else happens unexpectedly. It’s also crucial to know the warning signs of an overdose so you can get medical help right away if needed.

What are the Warning Signs of a Meth Overdose?

If you can spot the signs of an overdose early, it could make all the difference in saving someone’s life. Here are some of the warning signs to look out for:

  • Severe agitation or aggression
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Uncontrollable restlessness or hyperactivity
  • Excessive sweating or overheating
  • Chest pain or a speedy heart rate

What Can Be Done to Prevent an Overdose?

Here’s how to stay as safe as possible:

  • Avoid Meth Altogether: The simplest and most effective way to prevent an overdose is to steer clear of meth in the first place. It’s not only about avoiding overdose. It’s also about protecting yourself from the long-term harm meth can cause to your body and mind.
  • If you Must Use it (in cases of severe withdrawal symptoms), Use it with Someone Else. Having someone there to watch your back means they can call for help if anything goes wrong.
  • Know What You’re Using: If you are getting meth from someone else, enquire from them about the experience they had with the same batch. Meth can be produced in different concentrations of purity, and it is essential to establish just what you are using before you begin.
  • Test Your Meth: Some states, like New Jersey, have services that can assist you in determining what is in your drugs. Drug testing services or kits may be employed to test for contaminants or increased strength of the substances. Look up to see if these services are provided in your area by any harm reduction organizations.
  • Start Slow: Even if you think you know the strength of your meth, always start with a small amount. 
  • Don’t Mix Meth with Other Substances: Mixing meth with other drugs—including alcohol, illicit and prescribed opioids —can be extremely dangerous as the risks of overdose are pretty high. 
  • Seek Help for Addiction: If you’re struggling with meth addiction, the most important thing you can do is seek professional help. There are treatment programs and specialists who can support you and guide you toward recovery, helping you break free from the dangerous cycle of meth use.
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How to Respond to an Overdose

What to Do in Case of a Meth Overdose?

If someone you care about is overdosing on methamphetamine, it can be terrifying, but acting quickly and calmly can make a huge difference. Here’s what you can do to help.

1. Check for Signs of an Overdose

There are several signs that someone is overdosing on meth, as mentioned earlier. These include:

  • Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Racing heart rate
  • High body temperature (they might feel very hot)
  • Sweating, nausea, and vomiting
  • Shaking, confusion, or inability to stay awake
  • Blue or greyish skin or lips
  • Seizures, or the person just can’t seem to move or talk right
  • Gurgling or snoring sounds (which might indicate airway obstruction)

If you notice any of these signs, don’t wait—call for help and stay with them.

2. Call for Help Immediately (911)

The first and the best thing you can do is ensure that doctors can be in their way. Dial 911 immediately, and even if you were not around when they were taking the drug, and you are not very sure if it is an overdose or not, you just claim that there is an overdose incident. You don’t have to know what drug (or amount) they took, but if you do, tell them it’s meth. It’ll help them prepare.

Do not wait – it is crucial – this is a matter of life and death. You will also want to state your location as clearly as possible so that help can find you soon.

3. Cool Them Down (If Overheating)

If someone’s overdosing on meth, one of the biggest dangers is their body overheating. Meth can spike their temperature, which is serious and needs to be dealt with fast.

If you notice they’re getting hot, red, or dry skin, feeling dizzy, or having trouble staying steady, that’s a sign they’re likely overheating—and you need to cool them down quickly.

Here’s what you can do:

  • First, get them lying down on a flat surface if they can. If it’s possible, lift their feet a little bit. This can help with blood flow and prevent shock.
  • Now, try to cool them down. Use cold, damp towels or cloths on their skin, and if you’ve got a fan handy, use it to help bring their body temperature down. If they can drink, give them some fluids—but don’t force it if they’re having trouble swallowing. Just keep the focus on cooling them off for now.

And remember, while cooling them down can help a bit, this is an emergency, and you still need to call 911 immediately if you haven’t already.

4. Support Their Breathing

Breathing problems can be a major threat to life during a meth overdose. You must respond quickly if you see their breathing slowing down or stopping. Here’s what you need to know:

If They’re Breathing:

  • Stay calm and stay with them. Keep an eye on their breathing—meth can cause it to become irregular or stop completely.
  • Encourage them to breathe, taking slow, deep breaths if they can. Just being there with them and helping them stay steady is really important.

If They’re Not Breathing:

  • Start CPR right away—don’t wait. Here’s how:
  1. Lay them on their back on a firm, flat surface.
  2. Tilt their head back to open the airway. Check if they’re breathing.
  3. If they’re not breathing, or if their pulse is weak or irregular, begin chest compressions. Push down hard and fast—about 2 inches deep, at 100-120 compressions per minute.
  4. After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Pinch their nose closed and give a full breath into their mouth.
  5. Keep alternating chest compressions and rescue breaths until help arrives or they start breathing again.

5. Use Naloxone if You Think Opioids Are Involved

Meth by itself doesn’t respond to naloxone (Narcan), but if you suspect the person has mixed meth with opioids, using naloxone can help. If you have naloxone on hand, administer it immediately by following the kit’s instructions.

However, while Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, it won’t do anything for a meth overdose. If you suspect opioids are involved, it’s still useful, but remember—it’s not going to help with the meth side of things.

6. Give Information to Emergency Responders

When the paramedics or first responders arrive, give them as much info as possible. They’ll want to know:

  • What substances were taken (meth and anything else, if you know).
  • How much was taken, if possible.
  • When it was taken.
  • The person’s symptoms and condition.

The more details you can give them, the better they’ll be able to treat the person quickly and effectively.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

  • If they struggle to breathe, help them—this might mean giving CPR or rescue breaths.
  • Never leave them alone, especially if they’re unresponsive. Keep them as calm as possible.
  • If they can breathe independently, lay them on their side with their head tilted slightly forward to prevent choking. This helps keep their airway clear.
  • If you have a blanket or something similar, cover them to help maintain warmth.

Don’t:

  • Don’t slap or shake them; it won’t help revive them.
  • Don’t try to force them awake; for example, rubbing their chest or pinching them won’t work and could cause additional injury.
  • Don’t put them in a cold bath or shower; it can shock their system and worsen things.
  • Don’t inject anything: Don’t try injecting substances like salt water, milk, or anything else. Naloxone (Narcan) is the only substance that can help—but only if opioids are involved.
  • Don’t try to make them vomit.
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Chester, NJ Meth Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is battling meth addiction, the sooner you start thinking about how to get professional help, the better. Meth is a highly addictive substance, and without the right treatment, it can destroy lives.

Meth addiction is a progressive disease that doesn’t get better on its own, and the earlier you let an addiction expert intervene, the better the chances for long-term recovery.

Here’s what you can expect from a comprehensive treatment plan at Rolling Hills Recovery Center (RHRC):

  • Meth Detoxification Services: Expert services to help clear the drug from the body, easing withdrawal symptoms.
  • Residential Treatment: A structured setting in which you or your loved one may fully focus on healing, free of the distractions of regular life. 
  • Evidence-Based Behavioral Therapies: Proven therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Couples or Family Behavior Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), to help address the underlying reasons of addiction and improve coping abilities. 
  • Holistic Therapies: These are therapeutic techniques that can support mental health and emotional rehabilitation, and they include yoga, meditation, equine-assisted therapy, and mindfulness.

Getting rid of meth from your system doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and effort. A lot of people need months of therapy and follow-ups. That is why meth addiction should be viewed as a long-term illness that requires comprehensive treatment. If help is to be received, it is best to be sought at the earliest stage possible.

Rolling Hills Recovery Center understands just how daunting managing the process of rehab can be. That is why we support you all through the process and develop an individualized plan that attends to the physical, emotional, and social self.

Our team is here to help you overcome addiction and provide the support you need exactly when you need it. Don’t wait—reach out to us today and take the first step toward recovery.

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Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Carl Williams Ph.D., LCADC

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

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