Methamphetamine addiction produces a vicious cycle of euphoric-filled high moods as well as the counteracting depressed moods following the drug wearing off. In between these two stages, there is often a period of "tweaking"--days or weeks without sleep or adequate nutrition. According to Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group Drug Task Force, it is in this tweaking stage that meth addicts find their darkest and most desperate hour. Behaviors at this point can elevate their risk for violent involvement with police, other addicts and innocent bystanders.
Dependence
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office suggests that physical dependence pairs with the psychological cravings and motivational forces behind the desire for maintaining the euphoric effects the drug produces. Dependence then is a state of normalcy the body develops around the drug's presence. Soon after tolerance is raised, the addict begins to require the drug to function. However, using for long periods increases the likelihood that the individual will die from complications to lung, liver, kidney and heart functions.
Tweaking
Tweaking is a very serious condition in which the high-intensity, high-use individual falls into a rut of days and weeks without sleep or nourishment from food. The behaviors associated with tweaking include agitation, irritability and violent outbursts. The individual, according to the Honolulu Police Department, can often seem delusional, paranoid, frightened or extremely cautious and skeptical of his surroundings. This often leads to criminal interventions, as the behavior escalates into confrontations with others. The individual is volatile and should be considered a danger to himself or others.
Psychosocial Changes
Meth addiction clearly comes with many psychological changes that can influence relationships, judgments and choices being made with regard to risk behaviors. KCI, the Kansas City Anti-Drug Site, explains that tweakers and meth addicts often withdraw from normal activities they previously enjoyed, experience financial problems, resort to criminal activity and experience thoughts of suicide. Family and long-time friends may feel estranged, while new acquaintances may be the only contact they have with others.
