According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methamphetamine addiction touched the lives of 964,000 people in 2017. Almost 300,000 fewer people were afflicted in 2016, and experts agree that the ongoing acceleration in the number of meth users is extremely concerning. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to this powerfully addictive drug, you might feel there’s nowhere to turn but rest assured, this isn’t the case.
Crystal meth abuse looks different in each individual it affects, but there are some common signs to watch out for. If you’re worried that a family member is displaying symptoms of amphetamine addiction, we’d recommend speaking to an expert as soon as possible. By relaying your concerns to someone experienced, you can get a clearer picture of the situation.
While meth is one of the most addictive illicit drugs available, anyone can overcome substance use disorders with medical treatment, a support network and a fighting spirit.
At Calusa Recovery, we use empathy, understanding, and evidence-based psychology to help you feel worthy of a sober life. Substance abuse steals your hopes and dreams, but with loving support and plenty of hard work, you can reclaim control over your future. Call us today at 866-939-6292 to find out more about our effective meth rehab treatment options.
Some of the most noticeable symptoms someone with meth use disorder may display include:
Meth use causes massive surges in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which cause the drug’s high. When its effects wear off, the body suffers immensely from the depletion of this chemical, which is essential for motivation, mood and movement. Some of the most notable physical effects of meth abuse include:
Meth abuse doesn’t just impact the body; it takes a serious toll on mental health and emotional well-being. Meth attaches to dopamine receptors, causing the user to feel euphoria, elation, sky-high confidence and motivation to move. The effects can last for up to 12 hours, and when the person’s high comes down, they feel extreme physical and mental discomfort. The main behavioral side effects include:
Ongoing use of crystal meth causes the brain to rely on its effects to function normally and release dopamine. The severe damage it causes to the mind and body mean that meth addiction is one of the most serious problems a person can have. People in the throes of this disease often seek to minimize how much danger they’re in, but never let denial hold you back from seeking treatment. Some long-term side effects of meth abuse include:
Meth can come in a variety of forms, including crystal, powder and tablets — but clear or whitish crystals are most common. Smokable crystals are usually called ice or crystal meth, while pills are called yaba. Some other names include:
Meth can be injected, smoked, swallowed or snorted, so there’s an array of paraphernalia associated with the drug, including:
Meth causes an extreme psychoactive reaction that results in the high associated with the drug. When someone who’s addicted quits, the symptoms are often the polar opposite of the effects they experienced while inebriated. The severity depends on a range of factors, such as how long they’ve been using, the quantities they’ve used and the size and metabolism of the individual.
While everyone experiences withdrawal differently, it’s still possible to provide a basic outline of what to expect when your body adapts to being without methamphetamines.
Meth is a very strong synthetic drug that has no clinical use at all. As such, production occurs exclusively in nonregulated, amateur laboratories. The extreme variation between batches adds an extra layer of danger to the substance, because it’s impossible to know what substance you truly have without conducting tests. In general, someone going through meth withdrawal can expect to experience the following symptoms:
In general, acute withdrawal lasts for one to two weeks, with symptoms appearing as the last dose wears off. For most people, the timeline looks something like this:
The biggest danger when it comes to meth withdrawal is dehydration, although the respiratory system and heart are also under significant pressure. In extreme cases, there’s the danger of coma or death, so we’d strongly recommend seeking medical assistance when going through withdrawal from methamphetamines.
Cravings are often so intense that people who try to quit outside of rehab or a detox clinic give in and call a dealer. This leads to feelings of guilt and shame that reignite the cycle of addiction and can make the individual feel incapable of quitting.
Understand that no matter how many times you’ve tried to quit and didn’t make it, or how entrenched you feel in your addiction, you have the power to change. Going through detox without guidance could be dangerous, so we’d recommend seeking professional help when you feel ready to begin addiction recovery.
The cost of treatment for methamphetamines varies significantly, depending on the amount of time you spend there and the type of program you attend. Our affordable outpatient programs last for between eight and 16 weeks, while you’ll spend around six months on average at our sober living facilities. Rates for sober living start at $33 per day.
For most people, insurance covers at least some of the costs associated with addiction treatment. Medication, outpatient treatment, therapy, assessments, lab work, detox and aftercare may all be covered under your insurance policy.
If you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to pay for the cost of rehab out of your own pocket. There are several ways you can source funding if you don’t have access to enough cash yourself:
Every rehab center takes a slightly different treatment approach, with varying levels of access to treatment. It’s crucial that you choose the right type of treatment for your needs and select a treatment facility that offers a broad range of therapy styles and holistic and experiential treatment options.
Here at Calusa Recovery, we offer general outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment plans, with sober living homes open to anyone who completes a program. We understand that people respond differently to each style of mental health treatment, so we’re careful to offer a wide range of modalities so you can find what’s best for you.
Trying to go through methamphetamine withdrawal without medical supervision isn’t advisable as it can be dangerous. While we don’t have a detox center at Calusa Recovery, we can refer you to one of our trusted partners after your initial assessment and see you once your body and mind are clear of toxins.
If you’ve caught meth addiction before it’s taken a stronghold on your body and mind, general outpatient care might be enough to help you get back on the right track. You’ll spend a maximum of a few hours in treatment each week and focus on building a happy, healthy future for yourself.
Moderate to severe meth use disorder is best treated in our intensive outpatient program, where you spend several days a week getting group, individual and family therapy, as well as taking part in our experiential therapy adventures. In addition to counseling, physical exercise and learning how to live a healthier lifestyle are vital aspects of an IOP at Calusa Recovery.
Therapy comes in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, with evidence-based treatments like CBT and contingency management informing our one-on-one therapy sessions. During individual counseling, you learn how to put your past into context so it doesn’t harm your ability to cope with challenging situations and emotions. You’ll also develop new strategies to help you handle unhelpful feelings and overcome cravings.
Group therapy is equally essential to addiction recovery because it provides context and a ready-made support network and promotes empathy, listening and self-expression. Likewise, family therapy is necessary for many individuals.
Often called a family disease because of the devastating impact it has on the people close to the addicted person, meth addiction usually takes professional guidance for an individual and their family to learn how to move away from blame and resentment and focus on moving forward.
Meth recovery is complex and doesn’t finish the day you complete a treatment program. Like diabetes or heart disease, addiction is a chronic illness. This means you can bring it under control but not cure yourself forever. Many relapses occur because the individual becomes complacent and ceases the behaviors and practices that help them stay sober.
At Calusa Recovery, you remain part of the family long after your time with us ends. In addition to an excellent aftercare program, we run sober living facilities and can help you find a Narcotics Anonymous group in your local area.
For many people, the initial period after completing rehab is the most challenging. Going straight from the structure of attending rehab every week to normal life can be too drastic a change, making it harder to implement coping mechanisms. Sober living provides the perfect bridge between rehab and independent life within a community.
