How Long Does Crystal Meth Stay In Your System?

What Is Crystal Meth?

Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of d-methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic (man-made) stimulant. Crystal methamphetamine typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white “rocks” of various sizes. Like powdered methamphetamine (another form of d-methamphetamine), crystal methamphetamine is abused because of the long-lasting euphoric effects it produces. Crystal methamphetamine, however, typically has a higher purity
level and may produce even longer-lasting and more intense physiological effects than the powdered form of the drug.

Crystal Meth Detection Time

How long does crystal meth stay in your system? and how long it can be detected in a drug test depends on several factors, including the amount of meth used and frequency of use. It also depends on the type of drug test being used. Though some tests only detect crystal meth for up to three days, others can detect it for up to three months.

Crystal Meth Stages

According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, there are 7 stages of crystal meth addiction. The foundation has been sharing information about drug abuse with different law enforcement agencies across the globe. [4]

1st Stage: The Rush

A rush is an initial response the abuser feels when smoking or injecting methamphetamine. During the rush, the abuser’s heartbeat races, and metabolism, blood pressure, and pulse soar. Unlike the rush associated with crack cocaine, which lasts for approximately two to five minutes, the methamphetamine rush can continue for up to thirty minutes.

2nd Stage: The High

The rush is followed by a high, sometimes called “the shoulder.” During the high, the abuser often feels aggressively smarter and becomes argumentative, often interrupting other people and finishing their sentences. The delusional effects can result in a user becoming intensely focused on an insignificant item, such as repeatedly cleaning the same window for several hours. The high can last four to sixteen hours.

3rd Stage: The Binge

A binge is the uncontrolled use of a drug or alcohol. It refers to the abuser’s urge to maintain the high by smoking or injecting more methamphetamine. The binge can last three to fifteen days. During the binge, the abuser becomes hyperactive both mentally and physically. Each time the abuser smokes or injects more of the drug, he experiences another but smaller rush until, finally, there is no rush and no high.

5th Stage: The Crash

To a binge abuser, the crash happens when the body shuts down, unable to cope with the drug effects overwhelming it; this results in a long period of sleep for the person. Even the meanest, most violent abuser becomes almost lifeless during the crash. The crash can last one to three days.

6th Stage: The Hangover

After the crash, the abuser returns in a deteriorated state, starved, dehydrated, and utterly exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. This stage ordinarily lasts from two to fourteen days. This leads to enforced addiction, as the “solution” to these feelings is to take more crystal meth.

7th Stage: Withdrawal

Often thirty to ninety days can pass after the last drug use before the abuser realizes that he is in withdrawal. First, he becomes depressed and loses his energy and the ability to experience pleasure. Then the craving for more methamphetamine hits, and the abuser often becomes suicidal. Since meth withdrawal is extremely painful and difficult, most abusers revert; thus, 93% of those in traditional treatment return to abusing methamphetamine.

Crystal Meth Withdrawal Timeline

Crystal meth withdrawal can be categorized into two phases, the acute phase lasting 7-10 days during which overall symptom severity declined in a linear pattern from a high initial peak, and a subacute phase lasting at least a further 2 weeks.

The acute phase of withdrawal is characterized by increased sleeping and eating, a cluster of depression-related symptoms, anxiety, and craving-related symptoms. Following the acute withdrawal phase, most withdrawal symptoms remained stable and at low levels for the remaining 2 weeks of abstinence. [5]

How To Detox From Crystal Meth?

We Level Up treatment tailors the program to the individual and the individual to the program of recovery. We begin by assessing our client’s history of mental health, drugs, and alcohol-related past. The needs of each patient are specific and personalized because we aim to provide comprehensive support for mental health, addiction, and dual diagnosis treatment. The supportive environment is designed accordingly to give patients 24-hour care for meth detox. Most importantly, we hope to have our clients live comfortably within the facility during this crucial and fragile time.

How We Can Help? Searched for “How long does crystal meth stay in your system? and meth detox near me? ” or are you seeking a national inpatient rehab destination?

Some of the many modalities applied and practiced within our residential treatment facility are:

We Level Up prioritizes removing temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline. We Level Up finds that when clients are living in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.

How long does crystal meth stay in your system and are you looking for inpatient treatment? If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse and in need of meth detox, reach out to We Level Up because we may be able to help you explore treatment options.