Meth ~ How to Recognize a User
What can meth do for you?
Crank bugs: Crank bugs are sores on a user's body that are created by scratching and digging.
The scratching will often continue for hours, and eventually create open sores. The most common are sores on the upper extremities, face, and neck. These sores can become infected if the user continues to dig, decreasing their health even more.
Physical Symptoms:
Rapid weight loss
Abnormal sweating
Shortness of breath
Nasal problems or nosebleeds
Sores that do not heal
Dilated pupils
Burns on lips or fingers
Track marks on arms
Behavioral Symptoms:
Withdrawal from family and friends
Change in friends
Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
Increased activity
Long periods of sleeplessness (24-120hours)
Long periods of sleep (24-48 hours)
Incessant talking
Irritability
Twitching and shaking
Itching
Decreased appetite
Erratic attention span
Repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin, pulling out hair, compulsively cleaning, grooming or disassembling and assembling objects
Aggression or violent behavior
False sense of confidence and power
Convulsions
Carelessness about appearance
Mental Symptoms:
Paranoia
Anxiousness
Nervousness
Agitation
Extreme moodiness
Severe depression
Hallucinations
Delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin.
Paraphernalia:
Rolled up paper money or short straws
Pieces of glass/mirrors
Razor blades
Burned spoons
Surgical tubing
Syringes/needles
In all cases of meth use, a user may experience a loss of inhibitions and a false sense of control and confidence, which can lead to dangerous behavior.
**The list of symptoms may be the warning signs for abuse of other drugs also. Change in behavior doesn't always indicate drug use, and the list above doesn't necessarily include all possible behavioral and physical symptoms. In many cases a combination of many of the factors above and severe change in behavior is a common indicator that a person may be using drugs.