The antibody response can take away amphetamine from the cells, which means that a higher dose of the drug is needed. This finding may explain why meth users become tolerant of the drug and need more and more of it to achieve a high. It causes damage to blood vessels and the heart. In the body, meth creates a chemical reaction of both amphetamines and sugar that changes proteins, and creates inflammation and a response from antibodies. They also had more accompanying substance use or psychiatric problems and a higher five-year hospital readmission rate then the average patient with heart failure. In a recent study at the University of San Diego, meth patients with heart failure were 17 years younger than the average patient with heart failure. It can also block blood flow to the heart, which can lead to heart attacks. In addition, meth can induce cardiomyopathy, damage to the heart muscle itself, which can cause the heart to dilate and weaken, diminishing its ability to supply sufficient blood to the body, leading to vascular collapse and strokes. This can manifest as chest pain (angina), heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and sudden death. Non-infectious cardiac complications are related to the neurotransmitter effect of meth on the cardiovascular system and the sudden rush, which can lead to high blood pressure, very fast heartbeats, shortness of breath, palpitations, and the worsening of any pre-existing heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease (strokes).Įvidence shows an association between meth use and premature coronary artery disease. There are two kinds of cardiac complications from injecting meth: those associated with the effects of meth on the heart (cardiotoxicity) and those associated with infections acquired from non-sterile injecting. Cardiac Complications of Injection Meth Use To this day, he remains drug-free despite a very limited lifestyle due to progressive, irreversible heart failure. Mustering what little energy he had, he applied for jobs in another state where he had some contacts and family members.Ī week later, he was offered a job teaching at a state university and moved, leaving behind everything and everyone linked to meth, and started a new life. Finally, he realized that if he didn't leave New York City and separate from the slamming subculture, he would die even sooner. His addiction was stronger than the threat of death. Even simple tasks like brushing his teeth and dressing seemed monumental due to severe fatigue and weakness.ĭespite being told he had fewer than 24 months to live, he felt he couldn't stop slamming. had to leave his job as he couldn't walk more than a few steps before becoming short of breath. This had led to three long hospitalizations for intravenous antibiotics and the development of congestive heart failure and worsening heart function as the valves in his heart broke down.Īmid these health troubles, P.D. He had always had excellent health until he started using, but over the past two years had had several heart infections due to bloodborne staph infections acquired from puncture wounds associated with slamming.
had started using meth two years before entering the study and had slammed since he started.
Take "P.D.," a 49-year-old Hispanic professional gay man living with HIV who took part in a treatment study at Columbia University comparing the combination of bupropion (Wellbutrin) and naltrexone (Vivitrol) to a placebo (sugar pill) in decreasing cravings and use of meth among heavy users.
People slamming meth for the first time often think it is the "cleanest" way of doing the drug and have no clue that taking the drug this way may lead rapidly to death or severe acute or chronic illness - especially if HIV is also in the mix.
In reality, someone's first time slamming may be incredible, but this experience is hardly ever fully reproduced, with subsequent slams often becoming a never-ending quest to relive the first time.