Methamphetamine (meth) is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system and is extremely addictive. In terms of appearance, it is a crystalline white powder. It is odorless and bitter-tasting, and it dissolves easily in water or alcohol.
It may be used medically to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and as a short-term supplement for weight-loss regimens. These applications are limited, though, and meth is rarely recommended because of its addictive potential. Also, the prescribed doses are low. Recreational users often take it at much higher doses, further increasing the potential for addiction.
If you happen to be suffering from an addiction to this drug, you may be wondering what meth addiction treatments you can get. Read on to find out.
What is meth and why is it addictive?
Methamphetamine was derived from its parent drug, amphetamine, in the early twentieth century and was first employed as nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
Like amphetamine, meth induces a joyful sense of well-being or euphoria, as well as increased activity and talkativeness. The major difference is substantially more meth enters the brain at equivalent doses than amphetamine, making meth a more effective stimulant. It has more severe and longer-lasting effects on your brain and central nervous system. Because of these qualities, it has a significant risk of abuse.
The US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) classifies meth as a Schedule II drug. As such, it has known medical uses but has a high potential for abuse. As a regulated substance, you can only get meth legally with a nonrefillable prescription. Obtaining and using meth without a prescription is a criminal offense.
What meth addiction treatments are available?
A complete meth treatment strategy includes detoxification, counseling, and behavioral therapies. Detox will remove the physical presence of the drug from your body and assist you in readjusting to life without the drug. Counseling will treat the psychological harm caused by substance misuse, as well as teach you how to fight temptation and stay sober for the long term.
If you have a long-term, severe meth addiction, you may need to enter an inpatient treatment facility. Meth is one of the most difficult drugs to overcome, thus it’s critical for you to seek professional help. If you try to cease drug use on your own, succeeding is rare. If you do manage to stay sober on your own for a while, the recovery will not be as long-lasting as when you undergo formal treatment.
Interventions
If you have a loved one suffering from meth addiction but is not keen on seeking treatment, you may need to stage an intervention. This shows him how his actions affect those that he cares about and motivates him to seek help. The goal of an intervention is to convince the struggling person to get into a recovery program.
Inpatient or outpatient rehab?
The choice of enrolling in either an inpatient or outpatient treatment program is influenced by a number of personal factors. Meth addiction treatment can be quite difficult because of two things: the drug’s highly addictive nature and your underlying psychological causes for using the drug.
If you have been abusing meth for a long time and are experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, an inpatient program may be preferred. If you are not in a stable environment, you may relapse and slip back into drug abuse. Inpatient rehabs provide a secure environment free of temptations and triggers, allowing you to regain control of your life and avoid relapse. These programs normally run 30 to 90 days, depending on your specific needs.
Alternatively, an outpatient recovery program may be viable if you have a milder addiction. Outpatient treatment is part-time, allowing you to continue working or studying during the day. These usually require 10 to 12 hours a week of detox and counseling at a local treatment clinic. You only need to go to the clinic during your scheduled therapy sessions.
Detox
Detox is often the first phase of rehab, and it can be done as part of both inpatient and outpatient programs. In any case, it is always supervised by medical professionals.
In this process, meth is carefully eliminated from your body. Doctors may monitor vital signs around the clock and administer medications to keep you comfortable and stable. If you experience any withdrawal symptoms, doctors will help you manage them. For example, suppose you become agitated or panicked as a result of your body adjusting to the absence of meth. To calm you down, doctors may give you medications like benzodiazepines. Thus, medically supervised detox is a safe and successful treatment option.
After detox, you may seek behavioral therapy and other programs to help you maintain long-term sobriety.
Behavioral therapies and counseling
Formal counseling will begin after detox is done and withdrawal symptoms have passed. Therapists will help you identify the underlying causes of your drug abuse. Also, they will provide emotional support so you can properly address those difficulties. Often, you would be trained to manage the urge to use meth in times of stress or boredom. Additionally, your therapists will help you understand the patterns of thought and behavior that led you to meth abuse.
During treatment, counselors will use a range of methods. Among these, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most popular. CBT has been shown to be particularly beneficial in treating meth addiction as well as co-occurring depression and anxiety disorders.
Narrative therapy, which emphasizes the relevance of personal life stories, can also be used to help you figure out how your life story influenced your drug use. This therapy will also assist you to change your beliefs and behaviors. In turn, you will learn to make healthy life choices to achieve a drug-free future.
How do I get help?
Although the prospect of overcoming a Meth addiction may seem overwhelming, remember that there is hope and that complete recovery is achievable. Individuals can overcome drug addiction and live healthy, balanced lives with the right treatment. If you or someone you love is struggling with a Meth addiction, help is available. For rehab-related assistance, contact a treatment provider right away.
