Methamphetamine Addiction: Treatment, Symptoms, and Causes
Methamphetamine, also known as meth, chalk, speed, and crystal meth, is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant drug.
While meth is chemically identical to amphetamines, it has far more powerful effects and has a far greater impact on the human body and brain than amphetamine. When used, meth produces a powerful high that includes euphoria, extreme energy, and feelings of pleasure. These pleasurable effects are what make meth so addicting since they can cause people to return to the substance over and over, leading to destructive meth addiction.
Methamphetamine use disorder can have a wide range of devastating consequences, including fatal overdose, and must be treated by an addiction specialist. Meth may be used in various ways, including snorting, swallowing, and injecting, all of which can lead to health problems.
Treatment Services
The thought of overcoming a methamphetamine addiction may be overwhelming, but know that there is hope and that complete recovery is a reality. Individuals may recover from drug addiction and live healthy, balanced lives with the right treatment plan.
If you or someone you care about is addicted to meth, there are various evidence-based treatment options available for methamphetamine use disorder. Recovery is often not a straight line, and it is important to try different treatments until you discover one that works.
Medical treatment of meth addiction usually consists of the following services:
- Initial assessment
- Developing a customized treatment plan
- Medical detox
- Individual therapy sessions, group sessions, or family therapy sessions
- Outpatient treatment program
- Support groups
- Aftercare program
- Inpatient treatment program
Symptoms of Meth Addiction
The signs and symptoms of meth addiction differ from person to person and depend on various factors, such as the level of an individual’s meth use, the method of usage, and others. Following are all common physical, psychological, and behavioral/social symptoms that show that a person has developed a dangerous addiction to meth.
When to Seek Treatment…
If you are wondering if you or a loved one has a meth use disorder, the following list highlights various criteria that treatment experts may use to evaluate people who are addicted to meth. Though medical professionals can more definitively diagnose substance use disorders, the following diagnostic criteria might help you understand the signs that may indicate the need for professional treatment for addiction:
- Taking meth in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than was intended
- Experiencing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when use is cut down or stopped
- Devoting a lot of time to obtaining and using meth
- Needing more meth to experience the same effects (tolerance)
- Using meth in risky situations (while driving, for example)
- Giving up or avoiding participation in important social events or recreational activities to use meth
- Continuing to use meth despite repeated interpersonal or social problems caused or worsened by the use of meth
- Failing to fulfill responsibilities at school, work, or home due to meth use
- Having strong cravings for meth
- Experiencing a constant desire to stop or control meth use or trying and failing in attempts to do so
If you notice the above signs in yourself, don’t wait until you hit rock bottom before you seek professional help at The Haven Detox. Contact us at (520) 525-1252.
If a Loved One Needs Help…
The challenge with addiction is that it affects more than just the addict. Family members and friends may suffer from the addict’s behavior, financial problems, legal issues, and the daily struggle of supporting a loved one. Here are a few useful tips to help you support an addicted loved one.
- Educate yourself on addiction
- Express hope that recovery is possible
- Maintain your commitment to loving and supporting them
- Be honest when expressing your concerns
- Maintain healthy boundaries and stick to them
- Avoid blame game
- Research treatment facilities and call rehabs to discuss the most effective treatment options
- Offer to accompany your loved one to the doctor
- Offer additional support after they complete treatment
If your loved one is facing severe signs of methamphetamine addiction, you should seek immediate medical attention and call The Haven Detox at (520) 525-1252.
Causes of Meth Addiction
Meth addiction is a severe medical condition that can lead to various physical and mental health issues. Some of the most common causes of meth addiction are as follows:
Effects of Meth Addiction
Get Help
If you’re suffering from Methamphetamine addiction, getting help as early as possible is essential. Methamphetamine addiction is a severe illness that can lead to many problems. Getting help as early as possible can significantly improve your chances of recovery. Call us to get started with treatment.
Our resources are available to help you overcome your addiction with evidence-based therapies and innovative treatments proven by medical science to effectively manage your addiction. Our admissions counselors can help you learn more about the disease and how to keep it out of your life. Contact us confidentially today.
Treatment of Meth Addiction
The initial stage of rehabilitation is an assessment by skilled medical staff. If the patient is still severely under the influence of meth, they will undergo a detox process. Those who complete the process may consider it a personal milestone. After some time, a patient’s body will have stabilized, and they will be able to progress to the next stage of the recovery process.
Medical Detox
Detoxification is a process by which the body cleanses itself of toxic chemicals. The duration of methamphetamine detox is generally determined by the distinctive half-life attributes of the substance. After five half-lives, drugs are eliminated from the body.
Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, fatigue, and increased appetite. All of these symptoms indicate that the body is detoxing from methamphetamine, flushing out the toxins, and returning to health.
Some meth users go through the detox process at home. It is not recommended to undergo detox at home if the home environment is a triggering space. It is not recommended to try home detox if you have a dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental illness.
Dehydration is a common side effect of withdrawal, which can be deadly. As a result, medically supervised detox can be an important part of a treatment plan. Meth detox centers and rehab facilities offer 24-hour medical care to people undergoing detoxification. Nurses and physicians on staff will use FDA-approved medications and ensure you are properly hydrated and nourished, allowing you to detox healthily and safely.
Inpatient Rehab
Some people transition from detox to inpatient meth treatment. Inpatient treatment centers offer organized programs during the day as well as residential amenities outside those hours. During their stay in an inpatient rehab program, patients are given support 24/7.
Programs are often offered in 30-, 60-, or 90-day intervals, depending on your unique needs. They combine individual counseling, group therapy, and case management. Alternative treatment modalities or holistic healing approaches are also available at treatment centers.
Inpatient meth treatment is a better option for people who believe they may require more help throughout the first few weeks and months of recovery. It is not the only method to stay drug-free, but it does provide additional guidance during those early foundational days.
Therapies
You will participate in a range of treatments, whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment, to help you get to the root cause of your meth addiction. Therapy might help you reorganize your thought patterns and improve your perceptions of yourself and your addiction. Therapy will also help you cure any underlying medical conditions or trauma that may be causing your addiction.
For the treatment of meth addiction, the following psychotherapy and behavioral therapies are used:
Break the Cycle of Addiction at The Haven Detox
Although meth addiction is difficult to overcome, it is possible with the help of mental health professionals.
The Haven Detox provides specialized care tailored to your specific needs. Our team of professional medical staff is ready to help you every step of your recovery, from detox through proper treatment and aftercare. We offer a safe place to our patients and provide them with the tools they need to live a life free of meth addiction.
Call us today at (520) 525-1252 to learn more about our meth addiction treatment center. We can answer your questions, discuss your meth addiction treatment options, and start your long-time recovery immediately.
