Understanding Meth Abuse
Methamphetamine is one of the most powerful and addictive substances known today. Methamphetamine was originally developed as a treatment for narcolepsy and was used widely in World War II to help soldiers stay awake.
In rare cases, methamphetamine is still used as a medical treatment — typically for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder under the brand name Desoxyn, though the number of prescriptions for methamphetamine has dropped dramatically in the last few decades.
Today, people are much more likely to use illegal methamphetamine, typically produced in illicit drug laboratories and sold on the street. Meth has a variety of street names, including crystal meth, crank, speed, clear, shard, or glass. Meth use has a wide range of effects that make it a commonly abused substance, including:
- A burst of restless energy
- A feeling of euphoria
- Increased focus
- Appetite suppression
- Insomnia
Meth produces these effects through a complex set of drug actions. When meth enters the bloodstream, either through smoking, snorting, swallowing, or injecting methamphetamine, it quickly passes through the blood-brain barrier and releases the brain’s reserve supplies of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
But meth abuse comes at a cost. The high from methamphetamine may last several hours, but it is typically followed by a debilitating crash, which may include:
- A feeling of fatigue
- Lack of motivation
- Depressed mood
- Hypersomnia
Furthermore, methamphetamine is highly addictive. The surge of dopamine release triggers the brain to associate meth use with reward, leading to intense meth cravings and a desire to return to meth use. Meth users can develop an addiction to meth extremely quickly, resulting in chronic meth use and a wide range of negative health consequences.
Meth Addiction
When a person becomes addicted to meth, they become both physically and mentally dependent upon the substance. People with a methamphetamine use disorder may experience intense drug cravings, severe physical and mental withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop using, and a wide range of personal, social, occupational, and physical health consequences.
Just a few of the common symptoms of methamphetamine addiction include:
- Poor dental health, commonly known as meth mouth
- Frequent meth binges, followed by debilitating crashes
- Mental health symptoms such as paranoia, depression, anxiety, or hallucinations
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that used to be important to them
- An inability to cut down or stop meth use on their own
- Continued meth use despite mounting consequences
Importantly, meth addiction is not a choice. When a person develops a substance use disorder, they experience lasting brain changes that make it extremely difficult for them to stop on their own. Yet there is hope for people living with a methamphetamine addiction; evidence-based addiction treatment can help people break free from substance abuse and live happier and healthier lives in recovery.
Meth Addiction Treatment Program
Treating methamphetamine addiction happens in stages. The varied consequences experienced by people with a meth addiction all need to be treated in turn, and this is typically done in a step-by-step process.
Medically Supervised Detox
The first stage of treating meth addiction ismedical detoxification.The goal of detox is to help people rid their bodies of toxic substances, overcome physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, and achieve a state of mental clarity before continuing meth treatment.
Detox has three main steps to accomplish this goal:
Assessment
The first step is a detailed assessment and diagnosis. To treat any mental health concern in an evidence-based manner, it’s important to first identify the problem at hand, including any co-occurring mental illness or physical health concerns. When people have received an accurate diagnosis of their problems, they can work toward overcoming them in a systematic way.
Stabilization
The next step is stabilization; in this phase, people receive medical treatment to help them overcome their withdrawal symptoms. Most withdrawal symptoms resolve in a week or so but can be incredibly uncomfortable during the interim. The stabilization phase can alleviate these symptoms and help you stay on track.
Transition
The final stage of detox is the transition of care. While medical detox is an important first step, it must be followed by evidence-based meth addiction treatment in order to produce long-term results.
Residential Treatment
Aresidential programis the next logical step for meth treatment. At residential treatment, clients live on-site at their treatment facility and receive targeted therapies and treatments to help them overcome substance use disorders. This includes therapies such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Interpersonal therapy
- Mindfulness therapy
- Contingency management
Together, these therapies can help former meth users learn the tools of recovery, build strong and healthy coping skills to use in their everyday life, and resist future relapse.
Support groups play an important role during the treatment process as well. Group therapy options bring several people struggling with meth use together to collaborate on overcoming drug use, share their challenges and success with one another, and support each other on the road to recovery.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatmentoptions offer the same services as residential treatment but in a more relaxed format. Clients live at home during outpatient treatment and attend their treatment center a few days a week. This makes it a great way to step down from more intensive treatment, providing long-term accountability and support for recovery.
Start Meth Addiction Treatment at Luxe Treatment Center Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with a meth addiction, reach out to the experts atLuxe Treatment Center by calling (725) 215-3017 or filling out our confidential online contact form You can recover from meth addiction, and our team has the experience and training to help you succeed.
