Meth Abuse Treatment
What is Meth Abuse?
Methamphetamines, or meth, are highly powerful, very addictive stimulant drugs that can be abused by smoking, snorting, injecting, or swallowing in pill form. Like other stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, meth creates an artificial perception of pleasure in the brain. Crystal Meth is a form of the drug that looks similar to glass or crystals. Chemically, meth is very similar to prescription drugs such as Adderall and other ADHD medications.
The high associated with meth comes on quickly and fades fast. Because of this cycle, many users will binge the drug repeatedly causing a cycle of highs and lows. This is a very dangerous practice, because it can lead to hours and days of intoxication, wherein the user is typically not eating at all. There is typically a crash at the end of the high, which results in the need for additional meth to overcome the bad feelings of crashing. Since meth also affects the body physically, by speeding up your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, binging in this manner can be potentially lethal.
To understand what the body or the user experiences during a binge of meth abuse, DrugFreeWorld.org has a very powerful write up.
Identifying Meth Abuse
While some drugs are more difficult to diagnose, knowing if a friend or loved one is suffering with meth abuse tends to be more visible. Physical signs and symptoms are more common and drastic. Rapid weight loss, erratic behavior, skin sores and tooth decay are all very likely when meth is abused. If you see signs like this, or any of the others listed below, it is time to get help immediately.
Signs of Meth Abuse May Include:
- Tooth Decay/Loss
- Binging Meth
- Planning Activities Around Meth Use
- Engaging in Other High-Risk Behaviors
- Intense Scratching and Skin Sores
- Weight Loss
- Continuing to Use Despite Negative Physical Effects
- Withdrawal Symptoms and/or Cravings when Not Using Meth
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or others, you may have a meth problem and require medical help to safely detox.
Taking the first step toward addiction treatment requires an enormous effort. At Royal Life Detox, we want our guests to know that they are not alone. We are here to be the support and strength that you need to start a life of sobriety. If you think that you may have a problem with meth addiction, call us today to get help. Royal Life Detox has been saving lives for more than 10 years in Prescott, Arizona. Addiction is painful, but we are here to ease the burden.
Effects of Meth Abuse On the Body
Since it can be injected, meth puts users at higher risk of contracting a contagious blood disease like HIV or Hepatitis B or C. Meth overdose often leads to stroke, heart attack, or organ problems, all of which may be fatal.
Meth is commonly associated with insomnia, as the perceived positive effects of the drug are short-lived, leading users to binge the drug for days at a time, in place even of food. The lack of sleep can have a long term detrimental impact on the brain’s function, especially when coupled with substance abuse and lack of nutrition. Because many meth abusers go days without eating, rapid weight loss is also common.
Short-term Effects of Meth Abuse:
- Euphoria
- Increased Physical Activity
- Insomnia
- Impaired Perception
- Decreased appetite
- Faster breathing
- Rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
- Increased blood pressure and body temperature
Long-term effects of Meth Abuse:
- Extreme Weight Loss
- Psychosis
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Memory Loss
- Severe Dental Problems
- Risk of HIV/Hepatitis C
- Intense Itching
- Skin Sores
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Sleep Problems
- Violent Behavior
Because meth abusers lose their perception of time, and binge for such long periods without sleeping or eating, health risks in the form of malnutrition and poor hygiene are common. Many long term users tend to ruin their teeth, or tear their skin up by incessant itching. Due to the hallucinations and psychosis that come with the addiction, many meth users report thinking that there are insects under their skin and will scratch and pick to try and remove them. These long term side effects turn into permanent problems if they are not handled by a professional team.
Meth Withdrawal
Meth is an extremely potent substance and causes strong dependence. To overcome meth addiction, proper treatment is essential. Without the medical supervision and assistance a certified and accredited detox facility provides, serious health complications may result from meth withdrawal. Because We Care, Royal Life Detox is committed to providing the safest, most effective medication-assisted meth detox, followed by carefully structured, individualized medical regiments, an intensive therapy program, and extensive aftercare options.
Withdrawal from meth typically lasts between one and two weeks and is mostly psychological. Symptoms may be felt as soon as a few hours after the last dose. Our goal at Royal Life Detox is to make detoxification from meth as smooth as possible, which is why our guests are monitored through and after detox and our medical staff is on site 24/7 to ensure safety and comfort.
Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Severe depression
- Psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Increased Appetite
- Intense cravings
Meth Abuse Recovery
Following medical detox at Royal Life Detox, guests will begin a comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We offer a variety of detox options for treating drug addiction beyond just meth abuse. Our program helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. At Royal Life Detox, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. Our guests leave our care ready to start their new lives free of meth abuse.
Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Detox, the guest is always our top priority, and we consistently do all we can to effect lasting change, that they might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care. This is not just our goal, but our mission.
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