Different types of drugs have wildly different effects on the human body. While the effects of some drugs like alcohol are fairly well understood by most Americans, other drugs are more of a mystery. You may have heard that meth can make a user “tweak out,” for example, but what does that actually mean? What is tweaking, and why do meth users do it?
In order to understand this phenomenon, you have to understand the stages of a drug use episode that meth addicts go through. When you understand what is going through the body and mind of a meth user, you can understand just how dangerous tweaking is and what is going on when it happens.
The Rush of First Using Meth
When a user first smokes meth, the drug will quickly enter his bloodstream through the lungs and race towards his brain. This is called the “rush,” and it is the beginning of an exhilarating feeling for the addict. It can go on for a half hour or more, and physiological changes begin happening to the user’s bodily rapidly. His heart will start to race and his blood pressure will shoot upwards. This is just the start, however. Much more is about to happen to the addict’s body and mind.
A Persistent High
After the rush, the addict will go into a longer stage, which is the high. Meth can create a powerful and lengthy high that can last for half a day or longer. During this time the addict gets extremely aggressive as the drug is surging through his body. He can get into irrational arguments and want to fight others during this stage.
Continuing to Binge
As the meth addict starts to come down from the high, he’ll smoke more meth to try to create that feeling again. He can keep the high going, but it won’t be as strong as the first high. Every time he repeats the process it is weaker than the time before. During this binge, he won’t be sleeping much as he continues to ride the rising and falling waves of meth in his system.
Tweaking Out
Tweaking occurs when the meth addict can’t create the high any longer. His body and mind won’t react to smoking any more meth, and he enters a state that is almost psychotic. He is tired from not sleeping for days, but he is in a hungry rage to get back to a state he remembers but can’t reach. Meth addicts are called “tweakers” because they become unpredictable and borderline insane during the tweaking phase.
They can experience hallucinations and think bugs are crawling beneath their skin. They can hurt themselves and others. If you see a tweaker up close, you might notice that his eyes are darting rapidly around and he is almost shaking even though he is trying to stand still. Tweakers will do almost anything to get more meth and to try to get back to the high that they have lost, and this makes them a danger to society.
Crashing Down
It’s impossible to get back to the original high at this point, however, so the addict will enter the crash. This is the phase where his body finally shuts down and he goes to sleep. The meth addict might sleep for multiple days while his body tries to repair the damage that has been done and to make up for all the rest that has been missed.
All of these stages are dangerous for the meth addict as he can become severely dehydrated or starve himself of food. He can even die from a meth overdose or from using a contaminated batch. Don’t wait to get meth users help. Talk to a drug rehab center right away if you know someone using meth.
Patricia October 26, 2015 at 11:37 am
I have a son who is 41 and is staying messed up on meth, he is out of control …. I do not have money for rehab, so what can I do to get him help? He lives with me and I need help, please.
Charles Fuller March 2, 2016 at 2:45 pm
You can’t do anything. He has to do it for himself, as terrible as that sounds. All you can do is love him until you’ve had enough. When you’re sick of it, you have to stick to your guns and not help or contribute to him acquiring or using meth in any way at all. I am a former meth addict myself and I wish you the best in your struggle and I hope against hope that everything turns out ok for you. God bless.
Tanna June 7, 2016 at 7:07 pm
I feel so bad no one ever responded to your comment. Having a family member strung out can be a very scary and dark time. You have to get them to see and care about themselves and their family. Have an “intervention” get them to come down by sleeping for a week or so, cut off all their friends, help them remember what they loved before drugs!! I hope you’re doing better these days, god bless you and yours!!
DERHAM June 14, 2016 at 5:45 pm
What meth or crystal meth does to your brain is this I lived next door to 2 regular users 1 man came at me with a axe and a gun I killed that man dead the woman was in my backyard using needles I killed her to they thought it would never happen to them well I had the gun they didn’t the end
Angel March 28, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Put. Posters on the wall flyers about meth all over thats what i did. And my son got iff weedf
DERHAM June 14, 2016 at 5:46 pm
What meth or crystal meth does to your brain is this I lived next door to 2 regular users 1 man came at me with a axe and a gun I killed that man dead the woman was in my backyard using needles I killed her to they thought it would never happen to them well I had the gun they didn’t the end and I have not already said that about this so post
DERHAM June 14, 2016 at 5:50 pm
And this to the lady that has the son 41 on meth sorry about your son he has 1 shot of getting clean this he will die in your home if you don’t put him in police custody and a rehabilitation centre and have him certified insaine for his own safety because if the ice doesn’t kill him society will
Daniel July 20, 2017 at 6:45 pm
I suggest that you change your focus from helping him and get to an Alanon Meeting.
B.E August 18, 2017 at 6:27 pm
In the UK we call it hitting rock bottom. When the addict can’t get any lower, unfortunately the more support they get of family and friends in any way the longer it takes to get to that rock. Wish you luck
Angel March 28, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Put. Posters on the wall flyers about meth all over thats what i did. And my son got iff weed
blue April 13, 2016 at 9:55 am
I Know so many Meth addicts that don’t become aggresive a lot of them are actually nice And When this article said that they would do anything for more meth that is not completely true for a lot of users. This article isn’t 100% correct at all, I feel like yall should do more research about how meth affects the body and how meth addicts really act.
Cait April 14, 2017 at 10:06 am
Derham – you sound like you’re on meth. True what blue said, not all meth addicts are crazed thieving criminals, they can come across very normal, it’s a case by case basis how people use drugs, how much, how often, how long they choose to stay awake. Can’t do much of a family member/loved one is addicted other than not enable financially, you can’t just tell the police and expect them to help. Getting a drug addict to go to rehab would only work with their cooperation.
Debbie August 27, 2017 at 12:06 am
I have a grandson ,21yrs old. He had gotten on liquor, meth and pot. He was taken to the hospital about a month ago, he was out of control. They let him come home for he seem to be better. Then it happened again. This time he went from the hospital to rehab. He has been there 5 days and now they have him on meds trying to get him straight. This is the first day that he sounds like he is getting normal. They think that he maybe skitofanact . He had never showed signs of that before. He may have to stay on meds the rest of his life.
Angel October 8, 2017 at 10:29 am
I’m so sick of my boyfriend sleep-in in histruck it’s driving me nuts.He always makes a promise he won’t .I’m turning into a twacked phscotic crazy person while he just does another line and is calm..
Christina Lynn March 8, 2018 at 6:17 am
I agree, not all addicts are out of control. What I’m reading here sounds like meth induced phycosis. From the research I’ve done, doctors say the person that develops this, usually has a predisposition to some kind of mental disorder –
more times than not, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. I’ve been living with my bf who believes he has “parasites” and has taken terpintine baths to rid himself. As a child, he saw “shadow people” and had an imaginary best friend. It’s been the craziest thing I’ve ever seen and very traumatic. His mother keeps supporting his habit and his awful behavior by being an endless bank. She believes whatever he tells her, no matter what I say. Its awful! The best way to get them help if you don’t have the money is next time they freak out, call the police and have them 5150’d. The best of luck!
Angel March 28, 2019 at 12:08 pm
meth is a miserable drug and if people on meth do not show any signs of being users they are Hoarders and thier insides are blowing up because u cant posin yourself for ever honestly i think they should all be in jail it only takes three days to sibet up they arent going to do that outside I would certainally take care of yourself not the tweeker They just dont care they will lose thier spoiled brat mind if they dontget a high do u really want to be caught up They have a life outside of normal and do not carr whatso ever !Hello Drugs destroy lives Do u think a meth addict has that on his notmal mind heck no hes chasing the bag honey and hoarding!!!