Signs Of Being A High Functioning Meth Addict

What Is A Functional Addict?

High functioning meth addicts keep their jobs and continue to take part in family and community activities. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t need help. It is only a matter of time. Many high functioning meth addicts will be able to work relatively well for a while, but the myth of functioning addiction lies in the fact that an addicted individual will not be able to maintain the facade indefinitely.

Denial is a major element of drug addiction. People who are unwilling to admit to the extent of their problem often convince themselves they have everything under control. In addition, the support of family and friends can play another role in helping the addicted person maintain their functioning status while using drugs. Being able to hold a steady job allows people as well to think they are not really addicted. Often, the high functioning meth addict finds value in regular employment because it provides them with the financial ability to support their drug or meth addiction.

The methamphetamine drug is also known as meth, blue, ice, and crystal. It takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Meth can also be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested.

Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including addiction. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use and accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain.

As is the case with many drugs, tolerance to methamphetamine’s pleasurable effects develops when it is taken repeatedly. Abusers often need to take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change how they take it in an effort to get the desired effect. Chronic methamphetamine abusers may develop difficulty feeling any pleasure other than that provided by the drug, fueling further abuse. Withdrawal from methamphetamine occurs when a chronic abuser stops taking the drug; symptoms of withdrawal include depression, anxiety, fatigue, and an intense craving for the drug. [2]

Meth Addict Behaviour

Experts warn that many people with addictions continue to perform at work. So-called “high functioning meth addicts” exist across all sectors, and workplaces aren’t intervening early enough, which puts those who have addictions at a higher risk of physical and psychological harm, experts argue. [3]

In fact, methamphetamine is a drug that does not allow much room for casual use. Users quickly become addicts. The health of addicts quickly deteriorates, as does their ability to tend to basic personal hygiene. Meth is often referred to as the “dirty drug.” The physical signs of meth abuse that you may slowly notice with a high functioning meth addict include:

High Functioning Meth Addict

Do you know how meth use can affect job performance and cause you problems at work? Even if you or a loved one is a high functioning meth addict now, meth addiction can crash one life so fast that you will likely lose your job one day sooner. How can meth abuse affect your work:

• Poor performance
• Inconsistent work quality. Lack of concentration and focus. Decreased productivity or erratic work patterns
• Increased absenteeism or when on the job or you’re not mentally there while at work.  Unexplained disappearances while at work
• Poor judgment
• No regard for your safety or the safety of others
• Erratic behavior
• Borrowing money
• Customers and co-workers start complaining about you
• Inappropriate personal appearance

All these factors suggest that there is something negative going on in your life. All are factors that can lead to being fired. [5] Don’t risk getting fired.   

Signs of Meth Addiction

Recognizing an addiction problem in someone you know can be harder than it seems. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) [6] defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits. They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires.

General signs of addiction are:

• Lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behavior
• Decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
• Ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
• Physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing a higher dosage for effect

These signs are commonly linked. The degree of intensity for each sign may depend on how long the addiction has been going on. A healthy person can usually identify negative behavior and get rid of it. This is not the case with someone with an addiction. Rather than admit the problem exists, they’ll find ways to justify and continue the behavior.

The first step to getting help is being able to recognize the physical, mental, and emotional signs, like abrupt weight or personality changes in your friends or family members.

High functioning meth addicts need lots of support during treatment programs and as a loved one, you should be prepared for almost any results. You will need to remain patient throughout the journey. Meth addicts experience a wide range of emotions including anger, fear, depression, and anxiety. Many relapses may happen after appearing to be doing well. This is all part of the sobriety process, as hard as it may be to accept.