How Long Does Meth-Induced Psychosis Last? Tips for Helping a Family Member Cope

Co-occurring drug use and psychosis can be tricky to spot, and complicated to confront. Addiction doesn’t always cause psychosis, and psychosis doesn’t always lead to addiction. Knowing what to look for in both cases can help you determine when, and where, to seek help for your loved one.

Signs of Meth Addiction

Even if you know your loved one is using, it can be difficult to know exactly what they’re using. However, there are some behavioral changes and paraphernalia associated with meth that can offer clues. Here are some key behaviors to look out for:

• Aggressive, violent behavior
• Severe paranoia
• Mood swings
• Social isolation
• Risky, impulsive behavior
• Hyperactivity or talkativeness
• Showing an uncontrollable nervous tic or twitch
• Hallucinations
• Weight loss, loss of appetite
• Restlessness, sleep deprivation
• Dehydration
• Elevated body temperature or heart rate
• Skin abscesses caused by injections
• Broken teeth or bones

There are several items associated with meth use, including charred, blackened spoons; aluminum foil, especially with scorch marks; pipes, including water pipes; and syringes. If you find any of these in your family member’s car, closet or bedroom—especially if they are hidden—consider it a major red flag.

Symptoms of Meth-Induced Psychosis

Psychosis, like addiction, comes in many shapes and forms. Psychotic symptoms that are particular to meth-induced psychosis include:

• Paranoia and secretiveness
• Hallucinations and delusions
• Aggressive behavior, often associated with fear of persecution
• Twitchy, restless, or hyperactive attitude
• Obsessions and/or compulsions

Watching a loved one struggle with meth addiction alone is scary; witnessing psychotic behaviors on top of that addiction can make for a terrifying experience. Know that beneath their symptoms, the person you love is still there—but, because of the drug in their veins and the psychosis it’s causing, they are often not in control of their own behaviors and attitude.

Meth-induced psychosis is painful to witness and may become dangerous for both you and the addicted family member, so it’s important to know what to expect.

• Transient psychosis comes and goes. It may last for just a few hours, or up to a week.
• Persistent psychosis can linger up to six months after quitting meth. And if the individual has abused meth repeatedly over a period of time, they run the risk of causing long-term brain damage.
• Psychosis may occur while the user is under the influence of the drug, while they are coming down off a high or whenever they crave another dose.
• In the case of long-term brain damage, psychosis may persist even once they are sober. If you think your loved one may be high and they are having psychotic symptoms, it’s possible the symptoms may pass when the effects of the drug wear off.

If they become violent or have seizures, you should call 911 immediately. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Remember, your safety—and that of your loved one—is the highest important priority of all. Don’t hesitate to contact emergency services if things get out of hand.

Battling meth dependency is a fight for the future of your whole family. Because it’s such a powerful drug, it’s going to take high-quality, comprehensive medical and psychological care to achieve lasting sobriety. The best way to intervene with the cycle of meth abuse, tweaking, and re-use is to get them into an environment where they are safely away from the drug and able to access medical and psychological care from professionals, 24 hours a day. And you’ll only find that at a residential treatment facility.

Your family member needs to have a medically supervised detox and cannot do it alone. After discontinuing meth use, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. Depending upon how long they have been addicted, they may experience these mental and physical symptoms for days or weeks. Starting 24 hours after their last dose, they can experience fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, itchiness, and the psychotic symptoms of paranoia and hallucinations. If they have been using for a long time, there may be damage to the brain’s dopamine receptors, causing a reduced ability to feel pleasure. People often relapse during detox, because all they want is to be able to feel pleasure and happiness again.

With their appetites and sleep cycles no longer suppressed, your family member may regain lost weight and catch up on lost sleep. Unlike the flu-like symptoms of opiate detox, those recovering from meth addiction will likely be very tired and have intense headaches. They will probably be dehydrated, which requires medical treatment. Detoxing without medical supervision is especially ill-advised if your family member has any co-occurring psychiatric complications. They must have psychiatric professionals available there to treat anxiety, depression, and psychotic symptoms.