Meth Rehab

When is Meth Rehab Needed?

Meth is a highly potent and addictive opioid medication. It can help counteract the effects of more potent opiates like heroin or morphine. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 1.5 million Americans over 12 years had a methamphetamine use disorder in 2020. The agency also reports that about 23,800 people died from meth overdoses in the same year, meaning meth rehab resources are sorely needed in the US.

If you or a loved one are concerned that they may be developing a crystal meth use disorder or addiction, intervening early might lessen the likelihood of severe health consequences or even death. Meth dependence can be treated with a gradual taper of the drug in a clinical setting.

Identifying a good treatment program in advance increases the likelihood of a successful outcome since the individual can begin meth addiction treatment as soon as they are admitted.

Keep reading to find out more about Emerald Isle Health and Recovery and the evidence-based treatment options for meth at our facilities in Arizona!

Signs that You or a Loved One Needs Meth Addiction Rehab

It can be extremely challenging for many people to break free from meth addiction without help. There are various signs that your drug abuse is out of hand and that you need assistance. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it may be time to start looking for a drug treatment program for your meth addiction.

Although methamphetamine is not inherently deadly, long-term use of meth can have devastating effects on your life. People who use meth for legitimate medical problems or abuse it for its intoxicating effects may develop tolerance or addiction. Individuals who are addicted to opioids are more predisposed to meth addiction.

Meth Use Is the Main Priority in Your Life

When methamphetamine replaces other interests, that’s a warning sign of addiction. You may have an addiction if you find yourself preoccupied with the substance at all hours of the day and if you’re making greater and greater sacrifices to satisfy your need to use it.

A person’s passions, hobbies, and involvements take a back seat to their drug use as their addiction progresses. You might start slacking off on your family, work, and academic duties.

People suffering from meth addiction would benefit from an addiction treatment program if they have found that they are withdrawing from the people and activities they once enjoyed.

When a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, family and friends can stage a formal intervention with the help of an interventionist or medical specialist with experience in diagnosing and facilitating interventions for such conditions.

Emerald Isle offers such services as needed, and a confidential call to our expert clinical team can help guide your decision making on the best path to take.

Your Health Is Deteriorating Because of Meth

Meth abuse is linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. This drug takes a toll on the body and mind, leading to various mental and physical health symptoms. Based on different variables, like the amount abused and the length of time the person has been using, methamphetamine can seriously affect a person’s body.

The brain and behavior of meth users undergo transformative changes because of their drug use. Signs such as heightened anxiety and agitation, depression, and even psychosis are possible outcomes.

Substance abuse occurs for various reasons among the general population. Self-medication for a mental disorder is a significant factor in the onset and maintenance of substance abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

The Meth and Mental Health Connection

Most drugs affect the mind, and their use is often a coping mechanism for people who want to change how they think, act, or feel. Substance abuse has been linked to the onset or exacerbation of several mental health conditions and has been shown to promote continued use to alleviate symptoms.

The underlying mental health condition must also be treated when dealing with co-occurring disorders, making it more challenging to treat than a substance use disorder alone. The risk of relapse increases significantly by not treating the underlying mental health problems. Dual-diagnosis treatment centers offer specialized support to help you stay sober for the long haul.

When you enroll in a well-structured drug or alcohol rehab program, you can count on receiving care and attention for your mental and physical health as you work through the treatment process. Knowing you are in the care of experts will allow you to concentrate on your recovery from meth addiction.

Increased Tolerance to Meth

When you start taking meth, you aren’t used to the effects, so you feel them very intensely. However, your body begins to adapt to the drug as tolerance increases. Increased tolerance makes the body need high amounts of meth to produce the same effect.

Taking higher doses of meth increases the risk of overdose, which is fatal.

Intense Cravings to Use the Drug

Meth rehab can help treat people experiencing cravings. The body gets used to the drug after repeated use. When you stop using, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that lead to a strong urge or craving to use the drug.

Meth withdrawal symptoms may vary from mild to severe based on the amount used and length of use. Medically-assisted detox can help manage the symptoms.

Problems in Your Personal Life

Most people with substance use disorders experience difficulties in various areas of life. Meth addiction can increase the risk of interpersonal conflict and lead to problems at work, school, or home.

Treatment Programs Found at a Meth Rehab Center

Recovery from meth addiction requires a comprehensive treatment plan that comprises the following:

• Detoxification: This entails gently weaning the patient off meth to reduce cravings and discomfort.
• Behavioral therapies: Counseling for drug use disorders can help a person learn to withstand and control impulses and other triggers, increasing the likelihood that they will be able to sustain abstinence.
• Group therapy: Peer support and 12-step programs are two examples of group therapy that can help heal by offering direction and inspiration.
• Family therapy: During family therapy sessions, everyone involved learns how to support the client’s recovery and help them maintain sobriety until they return home.
• Aftercare services: These services give those who have finished a treatment program continued support to stay sober.

Meth Addiction Therapy

Meth addiction can be successfully treated with behavioral therapy techniques. Examples of standard behavioral therapy treatment methods include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps clients avoid relapse by learning to recognize and avoid triggers, building coping mechanisms, altering destructive patterns of behavior, and learning to control cravings.
• Contingency management therapy and motivational incentives: Positive actions, such as attending treatment sessions and refraining from drug use, are reinforced through contingency management interventions and motivational incentives. The value of the prizes may increase the longer you maintain your sobriety.
• The Matrix Model: This involves positive reinforcement of desired behaviors such as refraining from substance use and attending treatment, behavioral therapy, individual therapy, family therapy and education, and a push to participate in 12-step groups.

What to Expect in Meth Abuse Treatment Programs

Most people who develop a meth addiction will never be able to overcome it without professional help. The addictive nature of meth adds another layer of complexity because it makes the body dependent on the drug for normal function; if you suddenly stop using meth, you could have severe withdrawal symptoms. You’ll find the resources to overcome your addiction in a drug rehab center.

Detoxification is the initial stage for many people in meth recovery. In this phase, the body gradually stops being dependent on the drug. Medications and holistic care options available in a rehabilitation facility can help prevent or reduces the severity of withdrawal symptoms and extreme cravings. These medications and treatments help in the process of crystal meth detoxification.

Detoxing from meth might take about a week or two. Depending on your current state of health and the intensity of your addiction, that time frame could be much longer. Long-term meth users may benefit from a more extensive detox period.

What are Meth Rehab Programs Like?

Most persons who have completed meth detox then enter residential treatment. During this time, your body and brain will work to repair while you learn to cope with addiction. You’ll learn and develop strategies to facilitate a smooth healing process in therapy. Most people with a meth addiction need time in treatment to restore their health, as meth is one of the most challenging narcotics to kick. It will take some time to accomplish.

People addicted to meth often need at least 30 days of residential therapy. Depending on the severity of the disease, some patients may require 60–90 days.

You may still require ongoing outpatient care even after completing inpatient care. This may entail a permanent dependence on therapy for support during stress and to prevent future relapse.

Why It’s So Important to Complete Rehab for Meth

Rehab is a lifesaving option for those struggling with addiction. The effects will be devastating if you cannot overcome your dependence on meth. It has a wide range of adverse effects, including organ failure, memory loss, and an increased risk of overdose mortality.

People who suffer from a dependency on this substance must put considerable resources into rehabilitation programs due to the drug’s extremely addictive potential. This equips them with the resources they need to beat their addiction finally. And it aids in the process of starting over in life.

Meth addiction is associated with breaking interpersonal bonds, developing physical diseases, and destroying one’s health and well-being. With the help of treatment, you may be able to get back on your feet after experiencing setbacks.

The Benefits of Aftercare Planning and Support

Even though meth use has harmed your relationships and placed your health in jeopardy, becoming sober can help you get your life back on track. While individual treatment plans vary, most offer some combination of various care options beyond inpatient care.

After finishing inpatient treatment, you might be eligible for temporary housing. Doing so teaches you how to re-establish your confidence in the actual world while also helping you conquer the obstacles in your way.

Meth addiction treatment plans typically include aftercare planning or a structured approach to help patients prepare for life outside rehab. As a result, you can gain self-assurance, learn coping mechanisms for dealing with health problems, and find out where to turn for assistance if you encounter difficulties.

Continual counseling and treatment are essential to prevent relapse. Once you check into a rehab center, you are no longer on your journey to health and wellness alone. Instead, a team of experts is here to help you through this challenging time. There will be weekly meetings for you to participate in, and you may even find opportunities to give your time to help others.

What Makes Meth So Addictive?

Like other amphetamines, meth use leads to increased activity, decreased appetite, greater sociability and talkativeness, and, in some cases, feelings of joy and well-being. However, compared to an equivalent dose of amphetamines, meth is a more potent stimulant because more substance gets absorbed into the brain.

The drug’s effects are felt immediately when smoked or injected, providing a powerful but fleeting high. A pleasant but mild pleasure sets in within a few minutes of inhaling or ingesting 1 using either method.

These effects are more long-lasting than cocaine’s, but they don’t last forever. As a result, those who strive to stay high on the substance end up abusing it to the point that they go days without eating, sleeping, or taking care of themselves.

Meth usage raises dopamine levels, which helps drive behavior and reinforce positive outcomes.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Meth Use?

Meth use has the potential to cause dependency and addiction. It can also cause long-term physical and mental health problems. Meth causes lasting changes in the brain that may be only partially reversible and which may be present for extended periods. Prolonged meth use can have the following results:

• Anxiety
• Cardiovascular issues
• Brain cell damage
• Chronic malnourishment and extreme weight loss
• Stroke and Parkinson’s disease
• Respiratory problems such as persistent cough, bronchitis, and pneumonia
• Significant dental issues such as gum disease, cavities, and tooth loss
• Loss of memory
• Fluctuating emotions
• Nasal inflammation, nosebleeds, and ruptured septum in those who snort meth
• Seizures
• Skin sores
• People who inject meth have a higher chance of getting HIV and hepatitis
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Aggression or violence

Psychosis and Anhedonia from Meth Use

Meth use, especially at high dosages and over an extended period, is linked to long-term anhedonia and psychosis. Anhedonia is the disinterest or lack of enjoyment in things that used to be pleasurable. Prolonged anhedonia in reformed meth addicts has been linked to alterations in the brain’s reward and pleasure circuits.

Studies have shown that people who use meth intravenously or with a family history of psychosis are at a higher risk of developing psychotic symptoms and drug-induced psychosis due to their meth use.

Even though psychiatric symptoms usually subside within a week of abstinence, some people experience them long after they stop using, particularly during stress. Some of the common symptoms of psychosis include:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Paranoia
• Repetitive motor activity

How to Help a Loved One Struggling with Meth Addiction

Knowing that someone you care about is struggling with meth addiction can change your life forever. Meth addiction is a severe problem that requires professional treatment. You may wonder how you may intervene on your loved one’s behalf while simultaneously feeling exceedingly frightened about your loved one’s well-being if they don’t get their meth addiction control.

Consider the following actions if a loved one is battling meth use disorder:

• Research meth, the implications of long-term usage of this substance, and get familiar with the signs and symptoms that may indicate its use. By learning more about this topic, you’ll be better prepared to express your worries to a loved one in words.
• Get educated on meth addiction as a chronic disease. Learning that a loved one is battling an illness can help make you more compassionate and understanding.
• If you discover drugs or drug paraphernalia in your loved one’s possession, it is essential that you do not get rid of them. Although this seems like a quick fix in your mind, it will likely make your loved one defensive and unwilling to hear you out.
• Look into treatment facilities that offer specialized programs for people battling meth addiction and learn meth addiction treatment offered.
• Have an honest conversation with your loved one, sharing your worries and concerns in a kind and non-judgmental way. Share your research and what you’ve learned about potential treatments with your loved one.
• If your loved one is willing to explore treatment options for methamphetamine addiction, schedule an evaluation or tour of a meth addiction treatment center and offer to come along.
• Involve yourself in your loved one’s therapeutic journey once they have started rehab or treatment, and continue to be an unwavering source of encouragement and support.

Get Help for Meth Addiction at Emerald Isle

Meth addiction is very challenging to overcome alone. Don’t fight this chronic illness on your own.

Contact Emerald Isle Health and Recovery by calling 855-613-0620 now and get the support you or your loved one need to reclaim your life from meth!