Stimulant Use Disorder-Methamphetamines

Stimulant use disorder is when your stimulant use disrupts your daily life. It may disrupt your relationships and how you do your job. Stimulant use disorder can be dangerous.

Methamphetamines belong to a group of powerful drugs known as stimulants. Common street names for methamphetamine are meth, speed, crystal, ice, glass, and chalk.

Methamphetamines have some medical uses, but they are often misused because of the effects that they produce. These effects include:

• A feeling of extreme pleasure (euphoria).
• Alertness.
• A high energy level.
• Increased sexuality.

Methamphetamines increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Using them can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Methamphetamines can also make your heart rate irregular and cause seizures. These problems can lead to death.

What are the causes of Stimulant use disorder ?

Stimulant use disorder is caused by misusing methamphetamines for a period of time, such as by taking them for reasons other than to treat a diagnosed problem. Many people start using methamphetamine because they make them feel good. Over time, they get addicted to them. When they try to stop using it, they feel sick.

Methamphetamines work fast, and the good feelings that they produce go away quickly. As a result, people often binge on the drug and take multiple doses over short periods of time.

What increases the risk of Stimulant use disorder ?

This condition is more likely to develop in people who:

• Misuse other drugs.
• Have problems with mood or behavior.

What are the signs or symptoms of Stimulant use disorder?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Using greater amounts of a methamphetamine than you want to, or using a methamphetamine for longer than you want to.
• Trying several times to use less of a methamphetamine or to control your methamphetamine use.
• Craving methamphetamines.
• Spending a lot of time getting methamphetamines, using them, or recovering from their effects.
• Having problems at work, at school, at home, or in relationships because of methamphetamine use.
• Giving up or cutting down on important life activities because of methamphetamine use.
• Using methamphetamines when it is dangerous, such as when driving a car.
• Continuing to use methamphetamines even though they are causing or have led to a physical problem, such as:
  • Extreme weight loss.
  • Malnutrition.
  • Jaw clenching.
  • Severe dental problems.
  • Lung problems.
  • Skin sores.
  • An infection, such as hepatitis or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
• Continuing to use methamphetamines even though they are causing a mental problem, such as:
  • Memory problems.
  • Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (having hallucinations).
  • Violent behavior.
  • Anxiety.
  • Sleep problems.
• Needing more and more of a methamphetamine to get the same effect that you want (building up a tolerance).
• Having symptoms of withdrawal when you stop using a methamphetamine. Symptoms of withdrawal include:
  • Inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia).
  • Irritability.
  • Low energy.
  • Restlessness.
  • Bad dreams.
  • Too little or too much sleep.
  • Increased appetite.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with an assessment. During the assessment, your health care provider will ask about your methamphetamine use and about how it affects your life. You will be diagnosed with the condition if you have had at least two symptoms of this condition within a 12-month period. How severe the condition is depends on how many symptoms you have:

• If you have 2 or 3 symptoms, your condition is mild.
• If you have 4 or 5 symptoms, your condition is moderate.
• If you have 6 or more symptoms, your condition is severe.

Your health care provider may perform a physical exam or do lab tests to see if you have physical problems resulting from methamphetamine use. Your health care provider may also screen for drug use and refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition may involve:

• Immediate care. This treatment addresses your symptoms and immediate needs. It helps prevent or minimize damage from any physical or mental problems that are related to your methamphetamine use.
• Medicines to treat related disorders.
• Long-term substance abuse treatment. This type helps you stop using methamphetamines. It is usually provided by mental health professionals with training in substance use disorders. It usually involves a combination of the following:
  • Counseling. This treatment is also called talk therapy. It is provided by substance use treatment counselors. A counselor can address the reasons you use methamphetamines and suggest ways to keep you from using methamphetamines again. The goals of talk therapy are to find healthy activities and ways to cope with stress, identify and avoid what triggers your methamphetamine use, and help you learn how to handle cravings.
  • Support groups. Support groups are run by people who have quit using stimulants. They provide emotional support, advice, and guidance.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Check with your health care provider before starting any new medicines.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
• Take care of your teeth by:
  • Brushing and flossing your teeth. Do this two times a day.
  • Using an antibacterial mouthwash.
  • Avoiding sugary drinks.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider

Where to find more information

• National Institute on Drug Abuse: www.drugabuse.gov  
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov  

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms get worse.
• You use methamphetamines again.
• You are not able to take medicines as told.

Get help right away if:

• You have serious thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
• You have a seizure.
• You have chest pain.
• You have sudden weakness.
• You lose some of your vision.
• You lose some of your speech.

Stimulant Use Disorder-Cocaine

Cocaine belongs to a group of powerful drugs known as stimulants. Common street names for cocaine include coke, crack, blow, snow, C, powder, and nose candy. Cocaine has some medical uses, but it is often misused because of the effects that it produces. These effects include:

• A feeling of extreme pleasure (euphoria).
• Alertness.
• A high energy level.

Stimulant use disorder is when your stimulant use disrupts your daily life. It may disrupt your relationships and how you do your job. Stimulant use disorder can be dangerous. Cocaine increases your blood pressure and heart rate. Using it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Cocaine can also make your heart rate irregular and cause seizures. These problems can lead to death.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by misusing cocaine. Many people start using cocaine because it makes them feel good. Over time, they get addicted to it. When they try to stop using it, they feel sick.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in:

• People who misuse other drugs.
• People with a family history of misusing drugs.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Using greater amounts of cocaine than you want to, or using cocaine for longer than you want to.
• Trying several times to use less cocaine or to control your cocaine use.
• Craving cocaine.
• Spending a lot of time getting cocaine, using it, or recovering from its effects.
• Having problems at work, at school, at home, or with relationships because of cocaine use.
• Giving up or cutting down on important life activities because of cocaine use.
• Using cocaine when it is dangerous, such as when driving a car.
• Continuing to use cocaine even though it is causing or has led to a physical problem, such as:
  • Malnutrition.
  • Nosebleeds.
  • Chest pain.
  • High blood pressure.
  • A hole between the part of your nose that separates your nostrils (perforated nasal septum).
  • Lung and kidney damage.
• Continuing to use cocaine even though it is causing a mental problem, such as:
  • Schizophrenia-like symptoms.
  • Depression.
  • Bipolar mood swings.
  • Anxiety.
  • Sleep problems.
• Needing more and more cocaine to get the same effect that you want (building up a tolerance).
• Having symptoms of withdrawal when you stop using cocaine. Symptoms of withdrawal include:
  • Depression.
  • Irritability.
  • Low energy.
  • Restlessness.
  • Bad dreams.
  • Too little or too much sleep.
  • Increased appetite.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with an assessment. During the assessment, your health care provider will ask about your cocaine use and about how it affects your life. Your health care provider may also:

• Perform a physical exam or do lab tests to see if you have physical problems resulting from cocaine use.
• Screen for drug use.
• Refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition is usually provided by mental health professionals with training in substance use disorders. Treatment may involve:

• Counseling. This treatment is also called talk therapy. It is provided by substance use treatment counselors. A counselor can address the reasons you use cocaine and suggest ways to keep you from using it again. The goals of talk therapy are to:
  • Find healthy activities to replace using cocaine.
  • Identify and avoid what triggers your cocaine use.
  • Help you learn how to handle cravings.
• Support groups. Support groups are run by people who have quit using stimulants. They provide emotional support, advice, and guidance.
• Medicines.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Check with your health care provider before starting any new medicines.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Where to find more information

• National Institute on Drug Abuse: www.drugabuse.gov  
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov  

Contact a health care provider if:

• You are not able to take your medicines as told.
• You use cocaine again.
• Your symptoms get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have serious thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
• You have a seizure.
• You have chest pain.
• You have sudden weakness.
• You lose some of your vision.
• You lose some of your speech.

Stimulant Use Disorder-Amphetamines

Amphetamines belong to a group of powerful drugs known as stimulants. Common street names for amphetamines include speed and crank. Amphetamines have a number of medical uses, but they are often misused because of the effects that they produce. These effects include:

• A feeling of extreme pleasure (euphoria).
• Alertness.
• Increased attention.
• A high energy level.
• Loss of appetite.

Stimulant use disorder is when your stimulant use disrupts your daily life. It may disrupt your relationships and how you do your job. Stimulant use disorder can be dangerous. Amphetamines increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Using them can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Amphetamines can also make your heart rate irregular, cause seizures, and raise your body temperature. These problems can lead to death.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by misusing amphetamines for a period of time, such as by taking them for reasons other than to treat a diagnosed problem. Many people start using amphetamines because they make them feel good. Over time, they get addicted to them. When they try to stop using them, they feel sick.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in people who:

• Misuse other drugs.
• Have problems with mood or behavior.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Using greater amounts of an amphetamine than you want to, or using an amphetamine for longer than you want to.
• Trying several times to use less of an amphetamine or to control your amphetamine use.
• Craving amphetamines.
• Spending a lot of time getting amphetamines, using them, or recovering from their effects.
• Having problems at work, at school, at home, or in relationships because of amphetamine use.
• Giving up or cutting down on important life activities because of amphetamine use.
• Using amphetamines when it is dangerous, such as when driving a car.
• Continuing to use amphetamines even though they are causing or have led to a physical problem, such as:
  • Unintended weight loss.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Chest pain.
  • An infection, such as hepatitis or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
• Continuing to use amphetamines even though they are causing a mental problem, such as:
  • Anxiety.
  • Sleep problems.
  • Schizophrenia-like symptoms.
  • Depression.
  • Bipolar mood swings.
  • Violent behavior.
• Needing more and more of an amphetamine to get the same effect that you want (building up a tolerance).
• Having symptoms of withdrawal when you stop using an amphetamine. Symptoms of withdrawal include:
  • Headache.
  • Chills.
  • Palpitations or an irregular heart beat.
  • Changes in blood pressure.
  • Chest pain.
  • Dry mouth or changes in taste.
  • Cramping in the abdomen.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
  • Mood changes.
  • Fatigue.
  • Sleep changes or bad dreams.
  • Increased appetite.
  • Restlessness.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with an assessment. During the assessment, your health care provider will ask about your amphetamine use and about how it affects your life. You will be diagnosed with the condition if you have had at least two symptoms of this condition within a 12-month period. How severe the condition is depends on how many symptoms you have:

• If you have 2 or 3 symptoms, your condition is mild.
• If you have 4 or 5 symptoms, your condition is moderate.
• If you have 6 or more symptoms, your condition is severe.

Your health care provider may perform a physical exam or do lab tests to see if you have physical problems resulting from amphetamine use. Your health care provider may also screen for drug use and refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.

How is this treated?

There are two types of treatment for this condition:

• Short-term medical treatment. This type helps you live your life. It helps prevent or minimize damage from any physical or mental problems that are related to your amphetamine use.
• Long-term substance abuse treatment. This type helps you stop using amphetamines. It is usually provided by mental health professionals with training in substance use disorders. It usually involves a combination of the following:
  • Counseling. This treatment is also called talk therapy. It is provided by substance use treatment counselors. A counselor can address the reasons you use amphetamines and suggest ways to keep you from using amphetamines again. The goals of talk therapy are to find healthy activities and ways to cope with stress, identify and avoid what triggers your amphetamine use, and help you learn how to handle cravings.
  • Support groups. Support groups are run by people who have quit using stimulants. They provide emotional support, advice, and guidance.
  • Medicine. Medicines may be prescribed to reduce cravings or to block the good feeling that you get from using amphetamines.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Check with your health care provider before starting any new medicines.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Where to find more information

• National Institute on Drug Abuse: www.drugabuse.gov  
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov  

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms get worse.
• You use amphetamines again.
• You are not able to take medicines as told.

Get help right away if:

• You have serious thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
• You have a seizure.
• You have chest pain.
• You have sudden weakness.
• You lose some of your vision.
• You lose some of your speech.

You can go to your nearest emergency department or call:

• Your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
• A suicide crisis helpline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This is open 24 hours a day.