WHAT IS METHAMPHETAMINE?
Methamphetamine is a very powerful and addictive stimulant that directly affects the central nervous system.
Although meth as it’s usually referred to acts like an amphetamine, the visceral high meth provides is much more intense and lasts longer.
The drug’s penchant for abuse by addicts and dealers alike have made methamphetamine one of the most powerful and addictive drugs on the street.
Meth, in fact, is so powerful, it is listed as Schedule II with the Drug Enforcement Association.
Nonetheless meth is prescribed by doctors for ailments such as narcolepsy, though in this case, the drug is administered in lower dosages, and produced by reputable manufacturers.
The other meth type that is regularly abused in this country is made by large pharmaceutical domestic and foreign labs, or in some cases, small, illegal laboratories.
Incidentally, these are the same illegal labs that are often shown ablaze on the network news, after the cooking of meth has gone wrong and blown the laboratory apart, sometimes along with “the cook” themselves.
HOW CAN METH REHAB HELP?
Methamphetamine is a hard habit to quit. However, with hard work, dedication, and a strong will to stop using meth, you could enjoy a substance-free lifestyle.
As part of our recovery and support program, we’ll help you develop a network of supportive friends to keep you on the road to sobriety. Along with helping you recover from methamphetamine dependence, our qualified healthcare professionals will also help you identify your emotional triggers.
Choosing a rehabilitation center with a robust support staff can be a big advantage when recovering from methamphetamine addiction and now is the time to take that first step.
Most methamphetamine and drug treatments fall under two categories: inpatient and outpatient care.
METH INPATIENT REHAB
Inpatient care is for patients with severe substance use disorders that require around-the-clock monitoring form qualified treatment professionals.
If a patient can’t cope with the withdrawal symptoms on his or her own, they will need inpatient care.
INPATIENT VISITATIONS
Visiting a loved one during inpatient recovery can be helpful for the person receiving treatment. It reassures the patient that there are people out in the world who still care about them.
That said, there will be times in the rehab process when visitation will be restricted. During the initial methamphetamine detox, you likely won’t be allowed to visit.
Make careful note of how your loved one is doing in rehabilitation. If they are positive and upbeat, now might be a good time to stop by. Whereas, if the person in treatment is struggling with the recovery process, it may be best to wait.
Always check with the healthcare professional helping your loved one through their methamphetamine recovery before showing up for a visit.
METH OUTPATIENT REHAB
Some people may not require the intensity of inpatient rehab for their addiction. Those patients may choose outpatient meth rehab, despite its reputation not being as strong among the rehab community.
Although outpatient methamphetamine detox and treatment can be less expensive, it can also be very intense and if something goes wrong, treatment professionals can’t necessarily provide help as urgently.
THE PROCESS FOR METHAMPHETAMINE REHAB
Because methamphetamine addiction is so common, having a program and process custom made for your particular addiction is a fairly straightforward process.
First, we analyze how much and for how long you have been using, then through a combination of therapy, one-on-one and group counseling sessions, we drill down to find the root of your dependency.
We’ll also help you identify which aspects of your life could trigger a relapse.
We even help you figure out the common circumstances that cause people to run back to methamphetamine. This can include holiday and birthday celebrations as well as a variety of other events. We help you find ways to navigate these situations without letting your sobriety slip.
Along with counseling to help with your mental and emotional wellbeing, our rehabilitation process will also address your physical health. We offer exercise programs, which in most cases involves stretching, yoga, and other low impact activities. Remember, methamphetamine rehabilitation is not just about getting a person off their substance of choice, but also about getting them back into physical shape.
Meth addiction can physically damage you through weight gain (or loss) as well as a host of other ailments and in some cases, injuries.
Addiction attacks you mentally, emotionally, and physically, so your treatment must also address all three areas.
THE LENGTH OF METH TREATMENT
Treatment for methamphetamine is more than just detox. This means after detoxification, you still need to build up your physical, mental, and emotional strength to withstand the next craving.
Improving your overall health can sometimes require extended counseling sessions.
Because every situation is different, the treatment will vary in length from person to person. Some people may only require a few days of treatment while others may require moths or more. Every patient is different.
WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES OF METHAMPHETAMINE?
Meth is a white crystalline substance, whose powdery composure is easily dissolved in water or alcohol.
It has a bitter taste, and is known by the following street names:
- Crystal Meth
- Crystal
- Tina
- Crank
- Speed
- Shards
- Glass
- Ice
- Go
- Whiz
- Dope
- Chalk
HOW IS METH TAKEN?
Meth is usually smoked or injected, though in some cases, a person can snort or even eat the substance to get high.
Whichever way the drug is induced truly depends upon the geographical location of where the drug and its users are found.
Currently, the most common way of ingesting methamphetamine is to smoke it.
Smoking or injecting meth gives the quickest and strongest high, as it puts the drug into the bloodstream very quickly.
This sort of rush, or “flash,” is described as extremely pleasurable, though it lasts only a few minutes.
And while snorting or oral ingestion produces a euphoria, the high isn’t accompanied by the intense rush.
Snorting meth produces effects within 3 to 5 minutes, and the euphoria from oral ingestion comes about within 15 to 20 minutes.
Methamphetamine is most often taken in a “binge and crash” pattern.
With meth, the pleasurable effects tend to falter quite quickly, to which users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug.
Abusers have been known to indulge in a “run,” which is a form of binging.
With runs, a meth user foregoes food and sleep while continuing to take the drug.
Runs can last up to several days.
METHAMPHETAMINE VS. AMPHETAMINE
Methamphetamine’s origins began in the 20th Century. It is derived from what’s known as its parent drug, amphetamine.
Meth was originally used as a nasal decongestants and bronchial inhaler.
As does amphetamines, methamphetamine can cause increased activity and talkativeness in a user, while also decreasing their appetite.
Meth also creates a strong sense of well-being or euphoria.
Where methamphetamine differs from amphetamine is that in comparable doses, much more of the drug gets into the brain, making it a more potent stimulant.
Meth also has longer-lasting and more harmful effects on the central nervous system. These characteristics make it a drug with high potential for widespread abuse.
ARE THERE POSITIVE USES FOR METH?
Low doses of methamphetamine are used to treat patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and a short-term component of weight loss programs.
Keep in mind that the methamphetamine used in these medical cases are pharmaceutical-level and produced in controlled and regulated environments. They are also issued at doses that are much lower than what’s illicitly available.
In short, as is the case with any opioid provided by a licensed doctor and a legitimate producer of the drug, if the directions are closely followed the benefits can far outweigh the detriments.
HOW WIDESPREAD IS METH USE IN THE U.S.?
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggests that in 2012 approximately 1.2 million people admitted using methamphetamine in the past year, and 440,000 reported using it in the past month.
While this seems like a significant amount, the overall number of meth users has decreased in the last few years.
In 2006, 731,000 reported past-month use, while in 2012, there were 133,000 new users of methamphetamine age 12 or older.
Statisticians point out that while this amount is the same as the previous year, the mean age of new users have trended younger, though the overall age has been as high as 19.7 years.
WHAT DOES METHAMPHETAMINE DO TO THE BRAIN?
Methamphetamine works in the same manner as other amphetamines: it increases the release and blocks the re uptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
This leads to high levels of dopamine in the brain, which intensifies reward and motivation. Methamphetamine’s ability to release dopamine rapidly in reward regions of the brain produces the intense euphoria, or “rush,” that many users feel after snorting, smoking, or injecting the drug.
Chronic methamphetamine abuse significantly changes how the brain functions. Studies have shown alterations in dopamine activity have been associated with reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning.
Other studies involving chronic methamphetamine abusers reveal structural and functional changes in areas that control emotion and memory which can reflect emotional and cognitive problems.
Chronic users may also experience significant anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances and violent behavior.
Additionally, there is the chance methamphetamine abusers will suffer from paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and sensory delusions similar to delirium tremens, in which there is the sensation of insects crawling on a person’s skin.
The worst issue that methamphetamine abuse can cause is repeated use, i.e. chronic addiction along with chronic relapsing highlighted by compulsive drug seeking and use.
These changes can persist even after a user stops their methamphetamine habit.
However, reversal of some of these symptoms is possible after a year or more of abstinence from methamphetamine.
PATIENT PRIVACY
During the methamphetamine rehabilitation program, we will keep your Patient Health Information (PHI) to the utmost degree of privacy.
Essentially, you have enough to concern yourself with as you rehab from substance abuse to not be sidetracked as to who might know you have a drug issue. You can take comfort in knowing your PHI is safe so you can concentrate on your recovery.
HOW ARE PAYMENTS HANDLED
We’ll also keep your payment information private while you’re in our rehabilitation center. We keep no credit cards on file, nor insurance records.
Generally, we bill monthly. If your stay with us is longer, we discreetly bill on a bi-weekly basis.
GOING AWAY FOR TREATMENT
Sometimes rehabbing away from home can be very beneficial. Getting away from the environment that led you to use meth first place can pay big dividends.
Sometimes being around what’s familiar will also leave you susceptible to relapse. Going away for methamphetamine treatment rids you of distractions, and allows you to fully focus on your rehab.
The change of scenario can also help you gain new perspectives on life that may also aid in your recovery.
With our rehabilitation facilities located throughout the country, you are bound to find a recovery center that will appeal to you as well as your efforts toward sobriety.
POST-REHABILITATION SUPPORT
Without a group of people to function as a support structure, the methamphetamine rehabilitation process will be much more difficult.
Fortunately, out rehab programs help you create this support network. Patients are encouraged to maintain these relationships after leaving the recovery center.
Post-rehabilitation support is also advantageous when a rehabilitation center is inaccessible to someone in need.
The knowledge that you are not alone in living a sober life away from Methamphetamine will go a long way to keep you on the path of sobriety.
If you or a loved one have an addiction to alcohol, contact BLVD Treatment Centers. At BLVD Treatment Centers we custom tailor our recovery programs within the safe and nurturing confines of our rehab treatment centers. Located throughout California, in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and in Portland, OR, our mission is to assess the severity of your addiction to help you achieve true recovery within 30 days. Call us now at 1-888-537-6671.