Getting Help for a Meth Addiction
Methamphetamine, more commonly known as meth, is a synthetic drug that stimulates the central nervous system. Known as crystal meth in the streets, the drug has seen a dramatic rise in its abuse in the past decade and a half.
Although meth is an extremely addictive drug, the meth addiction treatment success rate is remarkably high; many people have successfully sought meth addiction treatment without any major consequences.
This guide is to teach you how you can begin the process of overcoming meth addiction.
Can meth addiction be treated or cured?
When it comes to addiction, there is no magical remedy or cure that can treat it in an instant. However, like any other addiction, meth addiction can be effectively treated if the right steps are taken and if you go about it the correct way.
Like other intoxicants, meth makes the user dependent after a certain period of use; it can be hard to move on from because of its potency and strength as a drug.
Nevertheless, if you seek the right meth addiction treatment and follow the advice of professionals, you can help your loved ones overcome substance abuse disorder without going through any ugly episodes or jeopardizing their health.
According to a research report published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, some treatments are more effective in methamphetamine addiction treatment than others.
Behavioral therapies, which include cognitive-behavioral and contingency management interventions, are the most effective when treating meth addiction.
A 4-month long behavioral treatment, known as the Matrix Model, which uses a combination of family education, counseling, behavioral therapy, and other techniques, has been found to be one of the best programs when it comes to the treatment of meth addiction.
Among other treatments, offering real-life incentives for quitting meth has also been found to be effective in treating the addiction. Motivational incentives are also believed to be great when it comes to treating methamphetamine abuse disorders.
Meth addiction treatment involves more practical and behavioral approaches; no particular medication has so far been designed that can help people get over meth addiction.
Rehab Programs for Meth Addiction Include
What Are my Chances of Recovering from Meth Addiction?
Meth is one of the most widely abused intoxicants, and over 12 million Americans have used methamphetamine in their lives. Millions of people have sought meth treatment over the years and have successfully eliminated their addiction. However, methamphetamine has one of the highest relapse rates; many users fall back into their addiction within a year.
In fact, according to a study, over 60% of meth users can relapse within a year. However, these numbers can be a bit misleading. Most of the people that fall back into their addiction do not get the right type of treatment.
Meth addiction can be quite an obstacle to overcome, which is why the treatment for meth users needs to be specialized and well planned out.
Many meth addiction treatment programs only last a month, while others are cheaply funded and do not address all the necessary aspects of meth treatment. All these factors contribute to high relapse rates.
Meth relapse can be easily avoided if the user seeks the right treatment and goes with a reliable correction program
What Meth Addiction Withdrawal symptoms can I expect?
If you’re looking to quit meth, you might experience a number of withdrawal symptoms; from physical symptoms to mental ones, a number of symptoms are associated with meth withdrawal.
However, the intensity of these symptoms varies from person to person depending on the frequency of use. Similarly, the duration of the withdrawal symptoms can also vary depending on the frequency and intensity of use.
Among the most commonly experienced meth withdrawal symptoms are the following:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Mental health problems
- Suicidal thoughts
- Fever
- Anxiety
- Extreme depression
- Extreme cravings
- Lethargy
- Headaches
- Attention and Focus Issues
- Increased appetite
These are only a few of the many withdrawal symptoms that long-term users of meth may experience. The duration of these withdrawals also varies, physical withdrawals might subside early, but the mental withdrawals can last for up to a month or two.
Meth withdrawals are the worst during the first 48 hours, after which the intensity begins to decrease, and the symptoms become bearable. Psychological symptoms like depression and anxiety can last for over a couple of months.
Will I Ever be Happy Again After I Stop Using Meth?
If you stop using meth after having used it for some time, you are bound to experience psychological withdrawals, which include depression and anxiety. The psychological symptoms of meth withdrawal are the worst and the longest lasting.
After quitting methamphetamine, you will experience severe depression that might last over several months, and no matter what you do, you might not be able to shake off the feeling of impending doom.
However, these don’t last forever. These symptoms begin to subside after a couple of months and tend to get better with time, which means that although it will take some time, you will start feeling happy after you quit meth. All the depression and anxiety end after a few months of meth treatment.
What Can I do to Start Looking for Meth Addiction Treatment?
Quitting a potent central nervous system stimulant like methamphetamine is not easy; many people try but end up relapsing, which is why, when you do decide to quit the drug, it is essential to do your best and start your journey with a rock-solid resolve.
The first step to meth addiction treatment is choosing a reliable and trustworthy healing center like Cornerstone Healing Center.
At Cornerstone, you can get the best services and addiction treatment that will not only help you or your loved one on the journey to a better life but will also help minimize the withdrawal symptoms, making the process as easy as possible.
The way you go about your meth addiction treatment can make or break your life, which is why you should not compromise on the type of services you choose and must always go with the best available options.
Sources
[1] Half a million Americans use methamphetamine every week
[2] Time to relapse following treatment for methamphetamine use
