Additional Resources – Methamphetamine Toxicity

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Check out the following infographics that were put together by a group of University of Guelph students!

Infographics were provided by:
- Shanzay Zamar, Elizaveta Shpilevaia, Zara Ahmed, Mallory Silverthorn, and Mayuri Kirupakaran

An infographic that says "Methamphetamine Toxicity: Signs, Symptoms, and Effects. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that can create a false sense of well-being but repeated use or high doses can cause overdose and toxicity. Users who use the method of injecting are the most susceptible to toxicity. Chest pains, rapid respiration, hallucinations, hypertension. Experiencing these symptoms after methamphetamine use can indicate toxicity. Severe headache, gastrointestinal discomfort, extreme euphoria or aggression, hyperthermia.
Major effects of Methamphetamine use: psychosis - repeated use can induce paranoid psychosis with visual, tactile, or olfactory hallucinations.
tweaking - A compulsive behavior that follows initial euphoria after the use of large or repeated doses. Commonly manifests into excessive skin picking.
meth mouth - The high acidity of meth contributes to severe decay and loss of teeth through oral ingestion.
overdose - Cause cardiovascular and respiratory systems overload with a risk of heart attacks, strokes, system shut down, and death. Need help? Call Wellness Together Canada 1-866-585-0445. "

Other Useful Resources:

An infographic that says "Methamphetamine use treatment and recovery. Meth is one of the hardest drugs to overcome. Recovery requires an extensive treatment plan of detoxification, counselling, and therapy. Methamphetamine abuse can be cyclical and relapsing. Repeated interventions may be needed for significant change. Step 1 Evaluation. Professionals assess addiction and other health conditions and create individualized recovery programs. Inpatient program: Designed for chronic, long-term meth users and typically lasts 30-90 days. Outpatient rehab: 10-12 hour flexible treatments per week for detox and counselling. Step 2, Detox. Detox is a safe removal of methamphetamine from the body. There is no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine withdrawal. Medical professionals must be present to monitor safety and provide a safe and supportive environment for withdrawals. Step 3 counselling. Individual therapy and group counselling provides emotional support and coping skills. Common types of therapy for meth addiction include: The Matrix Model: 16-week behavioral treatment that includes family education and individual counselling. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Effective for addiction and co-occurring depression and anxiety. Know someone who needs help but don't know how to approach them? Non-judgmental and respectful tone. Do not make assumptions (background/gender/sexuality). Use of neutral/non-discriminatory language (use I and avoid you). Approach when an individual is sober. Support - identify the support system like family and/or others. Provide avenues for support (especially if not inpatient). Reward abstinent behavior. Be supportive if relapse occurs. 61% of meth users will relapse within 1 year of finishing substance abuse treatment. Recovery from meth addiction is a lifelong process that requires ongoing treatment, dedication, and support. Ready to get help? Call Wellness Together Canada: 1-866-585-0445. 24 hours, free service. Service available in other languages, chat service. "

An infographic that says "Methamphetamine use demographics. Anyone can be at risk for meth use. Although there are some demographics more likely to abuse methamphetamine, anyone is susceptible to becoming a meth user. Incidence of methamphetamine possession has increased in Canada since 2010 by 590%. This suggests the availability of methamphetamine has been increasing rapidly in recent years. Methamphetamine possession is a criminal offense in Canada, with a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison. The 'Typical' User: Caucasian ethnicity, Male, between ages 19 and 39. The average age of new users is 23.3. 3,728 people around the world in 2014 died as a result of methamphetamine overdose. 0.2% of the population in Canada uses methamphetamines. The prevalence of methamphetamine use in Canadian students in grades 7-12 is 1.2%. 70% of users obtain methamphetamine from their friends or family. 24.6 million people worldwide use methamphetamine every year. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please ask for help.
Wellness Together Canada 1-866-585-0445."

An infographic saying "Methamphetamine toxicity: Harm reduction and prevention. Harm reduction strategies for methamphetamine and other stimulant users: Have access to clean needles before every use and do not re-use or share needles. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious foods and engaging in regular exercise. Prevent from rubbing meth on gums and tongue to avoid mouth ulcers. Avoid using a credit card to buy meth and budget for bills and groceries before purchase. How to prevent methamphetamine toxicity and overdose:
1. Avoid injecting meth. The riskiest way to use meth is by injecting. Meth users can snort, swallow, smoke or mix meth in drinks such as coke or juice to avoid higher doses.
2. Avoid mixing substances. It is dangerous to mix meth with other drugs and substances. Mixing meth with alcohol, weed, or other drugs can increase severity of behavior and neuronal reactions and prolong health effects.
3. Avoid 'Bad' meth. Be cautious of the type of meth you are using. Find a reliable dealer and always start with a little for new batches to avoid overdose on meth laced with other substances.
4. Take a break. Reduce the frequency of meth use. Frequent use of meth can result in prolonged irritability, hallucinations, and psychosis and the need of higher doses is more prone to toxicity. If you or someone you know is suffering through substance abuse, call for help: Wellness Together Canada 1-866-585-0445"