What Are Meth Mites & Why Do They Occur?

Drugs can come with a plethora of strange side effects, especially those that are illegal. What if a drug led you to think that everyone was a robot or that your skin was covered in insects? Wouldn’t you stop?

The obvious answer is yes, but even with the most uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms, our Pompano drug rehab knows all too well that this usually doesn’t keep many drug addicts from getting their fix.

What Are Meth Mites?

Meth mites are the name designated for the imaginary bugs that methamphetamine users overwhelmingly believe are under their skin while on the drug. Meth mites are a result of a hallucination specifically called formication that is perceived both through a sense of sight and touch. They can also be called meth crank bugs or crystal meth bugs.

What Are the Effects of Crystal Meth Crank Bugs?

Even with the problematic meth mites, it is estimated that over 14 million people in the United States have tried meth at least once, and it is one of the most commonly abused stimulants in the world.¹ Frequent meth users may be easy to spot as well.

In order to try and alleviate the itch from these perceived meth mites under their skin, meth users will begin to pick and scratch at their skin, sometimes unknowingly. All of this picking leads to meth sores and even scabs all over their bodies. The scabs can range in severity and size but are clearly irritated parts of the skin. Meth face crank bugs can lead to sores on the face that look like acne. These meth sores may also look like scratched chickenpox, bad blisters, or scars. Without proper meth addiction treatment to get the addict to stop itching, these sores can often get so bad that they become infected and even be life-threatening.

Why Do Meth Mites Occur?

The sensation of these creepy crawlers is part of the hallucinations experienced by some meth users, but why these crystal meth bugs specifically? Formication is the name for this particular hallucination and can occur for a number of reasons.

The most common explanation involves sweat. One of the side effects of meth is excessive sweating from increased body temperature. A person on meth will not only sweat more, but their sweat now has an enzyme that removes the layer of protective oils found in normal sweat. When the sweat dries, it leads to incredibly dry skin and severe dehydration. Together, these symptoms can lead to the belief the bugs are crawling under your skin and causes a strong desire to itch.

Whether or not you have experienced meth mites yourself, meth use of any kind is dangerous and can be detrimental to your health. Our PHP in Pompano is designed to help people just like you overcome their addictions and regain control. No more needless itching or wondering when your next hit will come. At Banyan Pompano, we can help you make it stop.

If you or someone you love struggles with drug or alcohol abuse, get help today. Call us at 888-280-4763 to get started and learn more.

If you or someone you love is looking for a rehab, let us help. To get started on your recovery and to learn more about our programs at Banyan Pompano, call us today at 888-280-4763.

Sources:

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse - Methamphetamine