Meth Addiction Treatment

Meth Addiction Treatment 

Our centers in beautiful Agoura Hills, California help with meth addiction through detox and recovery programs for overcoming dependence.

Methamphetamine, also called “Meth,” is a highly addictive drug in the United States. Many people become addicted after trying it for the first time.

Meth statistics make for pretty somber reading:

• Around 1.2 million people use methamphetamine
• The average age of meth users is 19.7 years old
• 1% of eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders have tried meth
• Compared to cocaine, meth releases three times as much dopamine, making it highly addictive

The feelings of confidence, alertness, and euphoria caused by it have a strong impact on the brain’s reward system.

This dopamine rush is also far higher than what the brain naturally produces, meaning it’s highly likely to cause binging and abuse, with cravings overshadowing a person’s life.

Overcoming a meth addiction is hard. The brain’s reward system controls decision-making. This makes it difficult for the user to stop.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

At Inspire Malibu, our dedicated team offers a highly effective meth treatment program. Recently, there has been a big rise in the number of people seeking help for meth addiction. Many of them also struggle with dependence on opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

We use effective treatment plans to help our clients recover from meth addiction. Our goal is to support them in living a sober life free from the desire to use drugs again.

What Is Meth?

Symptoms Of Crystal Meth Abuse

Meth is the shortened slang name for methamphetamine produced both illegally and legally.

Doctors legally prescribe Methamphetamine as Desoxyn or Methedrine. The FDA approves it for obese patients or those with severe attention deficit disorder. This approval is for individuals who have not responded to traditional treatments.

People illegally take meth orally, inject it, or can snort it.

What Does Meth Look Like?

In its illegal form, meth tends to be an odorless white powder. Crystal meth, also known as meth, is a powerful drug that people can smoke. It comes in tiny blue-white crystals and is incredibly strong.

Meth carries various street names, including redneck cocaine, crank, crystal, ice, and glass.

The Effects of Meth Abuse

Meth abuse occurs when someone illegally uses the drug. When injected or smoked, it produces a “rush” caused by the release of dopamine – a neurotransmitter that provides the user with a sense of satisfaction or achievement.

One of the reasons why meth users often experience talkativeness, hyperactivity, elation, loss of appetite, alertness, and empathy.

The initial rush may last 30 minutes, but the sense of a “high” can continue for four to 12 hours. Injecting the drug causes a more significant high, but one that wears off much quicker.

The intense effects of the high, combined with affordable prices on the street, often lead people to start binging on meth.

Many will take the drug continually over the course of several days, so they are constantly high. As the user becomes accustomed to the drug, they require more of it to experience the same high. This is called “chasing the dragon” and can lead to needing higher doses to get the desired effect.

Unfortunately, over time, the brain’s dopamine receptors are destroyed through meth use, which means the user cannot experience any pleasure other than through meth use. They can not be happy or lead a normal life without the drug.

When this occurs, Meth becomes the user’s primary focus.

Meth use dominates the natural impulse to enjoy and succeed in family, friends, and work, causing them to take a back seat.

Early intervention can help with recovery, but ongoing meth use can lead to lasting cognitive damage despite rehabilitation efforts.

What Are the Signs of Meth Use?

While meth has many psychological effects, there are also several physical ones. After prolong use of meth users will develop what it called meth face and sores.

Here are some of the warning signs of meth addiction:

• Cardiovascular problems, including irregular heartbeat, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and irreversible damage to blood vessels
• Decreased libido
• Dehydration
• Heightened body temperature
• Skin abscesses (when meth is injected through the skin rather than into a vein)
• Lack of sleep- Too much activity can make someone feel like they can go without sleep, causing sleep deprivation.
• Osteoporosis (bones and teeth become brittle and more likely to break)
• Weight loss (the hunger centers in the brain are also shut down)
• Formication, or a feeling that bugs or other insects are crawling on or under the skin

Psychologically, meth severely impacts the brain’s chemistry, causing a number of changes in behavior. When dependence continues to addiction, it causes structural and functional changes in the brain.

Often, users will experience severe paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and mood swings that cause aggressive behavior.

Because meth is a powerful stimulant, many users often engage in impulsive or risky behavior.  

Meth Addiction Treatment

As the first step to treating an addiction to meth, a comprehensive course of detoxification will be required. This involves removing the toxic effects of meth from the user’s body to return to a healthy state.

A medical detox program is the safest choice. It offers 24/7 support and closely monitors the patient. The program continues to monitor the patient until withdrawal symptoms improve.

                                                                          Time To Stop Drugs

Meth Withdrawal

The symptoms experienced during meth withdrawal will require medical supervision, vary from person to person, but common ones include:

• Agitation
• Fatigue
• Hallucinations
• Incoherent speech
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia
• Loss of motivation
• Red, itchy eyes
• Suicidal thoughts
• Paranoia

These symptoms tend to peak after 7 to 10 days, but the long-lasting effects can be felt for up to a month.

After a while, most users will start feeling better, but they may still have some moments of feeling sad and craving drugs.

After Meth Detox – Meth Recovery Treatment Begins

Following detox, patients will continue their recovery in an addiction treatment rehab center. Treatment will involve both individual and group therapy to identify the reasons for substance use and achieve success.

At Inspire Malibu, we offer a comprehensive detox and recovery treatment program for people dealing with meth addiction. Our program can help those who are using a combination of meth, heroin, and opioids. We designed program to address the specific needs of each individual. We provide personalized care and support throughout the recovery process.

Our program offers both detox and treatment services. Other treatment centers may only offer one of these services. Addiction specialists who are board-certified oversee our program.

Some of the therapies we use in our meth addiction treatment facility include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat the behavioral issues surrounding meth use
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy helps people understand how using meth affects their life and relationships. It shows them the importance of making positive choices for a better future with family, friends, and work.
• Relapse Prevention Therapy to overcome cravings and triggers and stay clean in recovery

It can be hard to overcome meth addiction by yourself. However, with the assistance of professionals, anyone can achieve successful recovery.