Meth Addiction Treatment

Meth addiction affects more individuals in the United States than we would like to think; in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 2 million people stated that they used methamphetamine in the last year, and almost 1 million individuals aged 12 or older reported a Methamphetamine Use Disorder. Even though rates have been on the decline for a number of years, the statistics prove that crystal meth use is still widespread. Individuals struggling with the use of highly addictive crystal meth could greatly benefit from meth addiction treatment at a substance abuse treatment center such as Archstone Behavioral Health. In fact, this is the only viable option for many people to go back to their normal lives. Enrolling in a meth rehab program is quite easy, all you need to do is contact us today and we will help you overcome your addiction issues!

doctor watching something on the microscope

Fighting meth addiction is much easier with the support of our clinical experts.

What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is under the drug category of stimulants, and has effects on the central nervous system, speeding up the user’s energy levels after the initial euphoria caused by meth use. Methamphetamine is similar in chemical composition to amphetamines, which are prescription medications used to treat conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy. Amphetamines also have a small use within opioid withdrawal treatment. With the oversight of a medical professional such as a psychiatrist, prescription amphetamines are safe to be used. However, methamphetamine is the illegal, altered version, of these drugs and is highly addictive and extremely dangerous.

Methamphetamine is also known regularly on the street as meth, speed, or ice. It comes in a powder or pill form and can be snorted, injected, swallowed as a pill, or smoked. When meth is used, the brain experiences a strong rush of dopamine. Dopamine is the reward chemical for the brain, and the chemical reward encourages people to repeat the same behavior. Dopamine releases can be positive in terms of survival, such as how we feel good when we eat food that is good for us. Since we need food to survive, the dopamine release makes sense in this case. However, drugs like meth hijack the reward system of our brain which is supposed to be positive and healthy and instead lead to substance dependency on a drug that is harmful.

Why Do People Use Meth?

People addicted to meth get there by many different paths. Of course, all drug addiction and mental health issues have a genetic component, but it is also about the context and environment for meth users. People who use meth may have started with other drugs, they may have attempted to treat co-occurring disorders or mental health issues at home (e.g. ADHD), or they may have even started using meth because they heard it would help with weight loss.

person standing on a weighing scale during the meth addiction treatment in Lantana Fl

Many people use meth to facilitate weight loss.

Unfortunately, due to the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine, it is common for the addiction to get out of hand quickly, regardless of the original purpose or context of use. And once the addiction has set in, you may find that you need to enroll in a medical detox Florida program sooner rather than later. Dealing with meth addiction on your own is extremely challenging, and borderline impossible in some cases. You need support and care if you are to return to your normal life as soon as possible.

Short-Term Effects of Meth Use

Due to the drug being a stimulant, short-term effects involve what happens to the body when the nervous system activity increases. When people have addictions, they focus on the short-term positive effects they feel from the drug, rather than the catastrophic long-term effects; all that the individual can think about is the “now.” Effects in the short term include:

  • Euphoria
  • Greater levels of energy and wakefulness
  • Increased or irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased body temperature
  • Faster breathing
  • Agitation and/or anxiety

Some of these effects are the reason why meth is so popular and why so many people end up being addicted. It is rather easy to live in the moment and forget about the greater picture when you are euphoric, after all. But the long-term effects can be catastrophic.

person looking at a thermometer and thinking about meth detox

Meth can increase the body’s temperature significantly.

Long-Term Effects of Addiction to Meth

Long-term effects of meth abuse include:

  • Losing too much weight
  • Increased risk of infectious diseases such as HIV if used via injection
  • Dental issues
  • Emotion and/or memory issues
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia and/or hallucinations

Using too high of a dose of methamphetamine can also cause “convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death,” according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. In translation, this practically means that people can overdose on meth. And the risk of meth overdose is not small, either. Many people who experience a methamphetamine addiction are constantly “chasing” the high by taking the drug in larger amounts because their tolerance to the drug is constantly increasing. After the individual is fully within the cycle of addiction, all they can think about is obtaining more meth.

Withdrawal Symptoms

When those experiencing addiction attempt to stop their meth abuse, they experience withdrawal symptoms which encourage the person to continue using. The individual wants to relieve themselves from these symptoms and therefore often falls back into meth addiction. These unpleasant symptoms include anxiety, depression, fatigue due to the body’s lack of stimulants, cravings, and even psychosis. Due to the nature of the drug, undergoing a meth addiction treatment program Florida is quite harder than undergoing a marijuana detox Florida program, for example. Given these symptoms on top of the reinforcement in the brain every time meth is used, it makes sense that treating meth addiction is an extremely complicated and difficult journey. But not an impossible one.

Meth addiction treatment

Treatment for meth addiction does not yet include any sort of medication. However, it can be treated in an addiction treatment center through the use of behavioral therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy performed by an addiction professional. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy within a specialized treatment program can help meth addicts to recognize their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and events that can trigger a relapse. Recognizing triggers early and being able to cope with them properly is a necessity for lasting recovery.

therapist talking to a client about meth detox in Lantana, Fl

Talk therapy, particularly CBT, is the best form of treatment for meth addiction.

Archstone Behavioral Health is an addiction treatment center offering several different treatment options for addiction recovery. Whether an individual needs meth addiction treatment in a residential facility or would benefit more from outpatient treatment, we are here to help. Our centers have the nurturing environment that you or your loved one needs. We are different from other treatment centers in a way that we truly care about our patient’s well-being. Our professional medical staff is fully supporting our patients through every stage of the recovery process. Not only that, but we customize each treatment program toward the specific needs of the individual. We fully understand that every person is quite unique and that they will benefit from a customized approach. While we treat everyone with the same level of care and commitment, our treatment programs are highly flexible.

Meth Detox in Lantana, Fl

While there are no medications for meth addiction itself, the withdrawal symptoms might be alleviated by the use of certain medications during meth detox. This varies from one patient to another, depending on their overall health and other factors. Our professional medical staff will determine whether medications will help in your treatment and administer them accordingly.

But the greatest benefit of undergoing detox in a professional treatment facility is the safe, controlled, environment. You will have access to full medical supervision, be away from drugs, and have ample opportunities to work on your coping skills.

What happens during meth detox?

Many people come to think that medical detox is them sitting in a bare room and “toughing it out”. But that is absolutely not what it looks like, at least not at Archstone Behavioral Health. Instead, as a part of our detox inpatient Florida program, you will be given a private room with comfortable furnishings as well as access to common spaces. You will also have ample recreational opportunities and 24/7 medical supervision.

The most important thing to know about this first phase of addiction treatment is that, while it is challenging, we are there to make it easier for you. Our staff will administer medications to ease your symptoms if necessary and provide you with care and guidance throughout the entire process.

Archstone Behavioral Health – The full continuum of care

Aside from our MAT programs, we also provide a full continuum of care for our patients, including the following programs:

  • Residential treatment
  • Partial hospitalization
  • Aftercare treatment

Finding Help Begins at Archstone Behavioral Health

Reaching out for help is your first step in recovering from meth addiction. In the same way that substance use disorder doesn’t happen overnight, recovery also takes time. What you need to do is give your brain and body time to heal. If you want to regain control of your life, reaching out to professionals is absolutely the best thing you can do. Therefore, your best option is to Contact Archstone Behavioral Health in Lantana, FL, today to find out more about our meth rehab programs. We pride ourselves on creating a customized treatment plan for each individual patient, allowing us to provide exactly the treatment you might require.

FAQ

How long does meth addiction treatment last?

Most people will require anywhere between three and seven days to complete the detox phase. However, this is usually only the first part of the treatment process to achieve sustained recovery. The full treatment timeline varies on a number of factors such as how much meth you use, how long you’ve been taking meth, your overall physical health, other medical conditions, etc. Our medical staff will determine all those factors.

What happens after meth detox?

After completing detox, the next step is usually enrolling in an addiction treatment program. This may include any combination of individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, MAT (medication-assisted treatment), aftercare planning, relapse prevention, as well as alternative approaches such as adventure therapy, art/music therapy, and similar.

Will my insurance cover meth rehab?

Archstone Behavioral Health works with all the major insurance providers, including Humana, Cigna, Aetna, Beacon, Bright HealthCare, and Molina HealthCare.

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