Meth addiction in Naples is not as severe as the rest of the country. Meth addiction in South Florida is on the rise combined often with Viagra in the Gay population for sexual enhancement. Report of the Florida Medical Examiners reports there were 58 methamphetamine-related deaths throughout the state. Crystal methamphetamine, with high purity levels, is transported from Atlanta into northern Florida and then distributed throughout the state. There has been a significant increase in crystal methamphetamine use within the South Florida club scene.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance since it has rapid access to the brain and high tolerance requiring more use to achieve the so call "high" effects. It is for this reason that meth addicts dissapear for days and go into binges. The binge is the continuation of the high. The abuser maintains the high by smoking or injecting more methamphetamine. Each time the abuser smokes or injects more of the drug, a smaller euphoric rush than the initial rush is experienced until, finally, there is no rush and no high. During the binge, the abuser becomes hyperactive both mentally and physically. The binge can last 3-15 days. It is for this reason that meth become difficult to treat. One treatment that seems to have shown the most promise PROMETA® . In my practice I have seen rapid recovery within one treatment from patients.

Tweaking occurs at the end of the binge. Tweaking occurs at the end of the binge when nothing the abuser does will take away the feeling of emptiness and dysphoria, including taking more methamphetamine. Tweaking is very uncomfortable, and the abuser often takes a depressant to ease the bad feelings. The most popular depressant is alcohol, with heroin a close second.

Tweaking is the most dangerous stage of the methamphetamine abuse cycle to law enforcement officers and other individuals near the abuser. If the abuser is using alcohol to ease the discomfort, the threat to law enforcement officers intensifies. During this stage, law enforcement officers must clearly identify the underlying dangers of the situation and avoid the assumption that the tweaker is just a cocky drunk. It is also during this stage that the person is very psychotic experiencing a phenomena called  "meth bugs". People often disfigure themselves beyond comprehension