Posted by Larry Hoover on June 30, 2007, at 22:16:46
In reply to Question about meth use, posted by Worry Girl on June 20, 2007, at 15:13:04
> Someone very close to me has had numerous addictions. Lately I have noticed that this person has what looks like very bad pimples on their face that have bled and scabbed over, then been picked at.
>
> I have heard that using meth can do this. Are there any other drugs that could cause the same thing? If someone is at the point where the poison is coming out through their skin how bad is the addiction? How often are they using it? This person has never had a problem with pimples or bad skin, so I am seriously concerned. They have also lost a ton of weight.Sounds like a classic case of chronic methamphetamine use. The sores are quite itchy, so they are often scratched and can become infected. Street names I've heard are "meth mites" and "crystal critters", because the appearance is something like a scabies infection. Sometimes doctors misdiagnose it as a mite infection, so it's not too much of a stretch.
The only "treatment" is abstaining from the drug, I'm sorry to say. About all you can do is provide some objective discussions about what you see happening, and be supportive of any positive behavioural changes that might occur.
I'm sorry for your friend, and your own involvement.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:764505
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20070626/msgs/766970.html