I used to smoke ice (crystal meth). What has it done to my brain?

Question

I smoked ice for about a year off and on. I'd say every other week about 4 days of the week. That's a lot. People say it eats holes in your brain. Now that I have been off of it for abut a year I noticed I stutter sometimes and sometimes have little muscle spasms. I'm guessing it's from the ice. Having smoked it for that while do you think I have some brain problems?

Thanks for all your answers so far.

Answer 1

I havent smoked it but watched a Nova series on "The case of the frozen addicts", in which people who took synthetic heroin (MPTP: 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) and it gave them an instant and extreme case of parkinsonism. Stuttering is part of Parkinson's, too.
Meth's formula: C10 H15 N and MPTP: C12 H15 N ...so they are similar....
It (MPTP, and similar compounds presumably) attacks the dopamine producers in the brain- the substantia nigra. Without dopamine, cells cant communicate and signals don't get carried out as they should.
You may think to say "apple" but your mouth just can't quite follow through. Has to do with the nerve paths in between.

I am guessing that your effects are caused in a similar fashion. This can indeed be progressive, though I am not a doctor and cannot say for sure. Medications are available which prevent substantia degradation and enhance dopamine production. You're damage could be of a differnt sort though... this is all I know of... :)

Answer 2

Good job on quitting.
No, I don't think it has killed your brain yet. Judging from your question, you make more sense than some other people on here, and at least you spelled everything ok. As far the spasms go, I had them a while ago, and found out my diet had something to do with it. Better nutrition fixed that. I don't know about the stuttering, though. I hope this has helped. Stay clean, you won't regret it.

Answer 3

It takes at least 2 years for that **** to get completely out of your system. and it does screw up your brain. But it gets better. I smoked all day every day for 5 1/2 years. Been clean 2 1/2. I am a medical transcriptionist and the other day I had to look up a word that I type at least 20 times a day, couldn't remember how to spell it. Some days I'll know how to do something; next day I don't have a clue. It is the price we pay. But it is also life on life's terms. I've learned that I have to accept that I have to ask for help sometimes. I hope you are going to meetings. It helps to know you aren't alone. Good Luck and God Bless.

Ignore the mean people, they just don't understand. I never thought I'd be that stupid either, but it just happens.

Answer 4

I applaud you for your sobriety. I hear that meth is the hardest drug to kick and that the majority of people can not do it. Stay with the program. I was watching a special about ice on one of the cable channels 2 nights ago and there was a doctor who said that it eats away at your brain receptors and it changes you. Why don't you go to a doctor who specializes in drug addiction and recovery. Good Luck.

Answer 5

It hasn't hurt your spelling or grammar. To really answer this question, we'd have to know what your brain was like before you did all the crystal meth. Considering you got off it and are concerned about the impact it may have had on your health, you're a lot better off than most.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 6

Yes. You do drugs, you change your brain chemistry. You damage the neurons that transmit your brain signals as well as the vasculature that feeds blood to your brain cells. Think also the damage to your lungs from smoking the meth. Meth is very caustic to the lungs and prolonged smoking leads to pulmonary fibrosis (thickening and hardening of lung tissue), resulting in impaired lung function. Congratulations for having quit. Please stay clean.

Answer 7

Im not sure if it affected your brain or not, but everyone occasionally stutters and/or has muscle spasms occasionally. If you dont notice anything big, then i wouldnt worry about it too much.

Answer 8

Damn, thats alot...yeah you probably have some brain problems now, just avoid the meth for a few more years and try sleeping an hour or two more that way your brain will have time to fix itself.

Answer 9

Well your spelling, grammar and syntax seem ok so I would say no major damage on that side of your brain - but you have probably frazzled certain other parts of it, lay off the drugs and hopefully it will knit itself back together

Answer 10

yes you have damage, but look at what it would be like now if you kept on smoking it. im glad you got away from it. its a one road trip to hell. and very few people can do a 180 and come back. im proud of you if that means anything. see im a coke head. even tho i have been clean for 20 yrs. im still an addict.