Phrases like “I’m worried about your health” are better than “You need to stop using.” Remember, offering support is key. Find a quiet, private space where you can talk openly and honestly. Make sure it’s a time when you both feel calm and relaxed.
Meth Addiction Treatment
Unless treated, that emotional distress can trigger a relapse. Patients received injections of extended-release naltrexone and oral doses of bupropion. Naltrexone, which is already used for treating opioid addiction, blocks opioid receptors in the brain and is proven to reduce cravings in some patients. If you’re concerned about your drug use, help is available. If you feel comfortable, you can bring it up with a healthcare professional.
Short-term and Long-term Effects of Meth Abuse
The method by which the substance enters the body—for instance, smoking vs. snorting—can modify the impact of the drug and a person’s tendency to become addicted to it. The very intense rush achieved when smoking crystal meth can render its addictive properties even stronger. Meth produces an intense high that comes on and fades quickly. Coming down can cause difficult emotional and physical symptoms, such as depression and insomnia. As a result, meth addiction often follows a pattern of bingeing on the drug for several days at a time, followed by a crash.
Stages of Meth Recovery
They might also lose their appetite and become irritable. Over time, long-term meth abuse can have devastating effects, including severe tooth decay (“meth mouth”), skin sores, heart problems, and serious mental health issues. Your loved one might relapse several times before finding an effective treatment method that keeps them on track. So continue to be supportive of your loved one’s efforts.
- Naltrexone, which is already used for treating opioid addiction, blocks opioid receptors in the brain and is proven to reduce cravings in some patients.
- We’ve all seen the way the media portrays people who use crystal meth, whether it’s in fictional TV shows or ubiquitous “before and after” photos highlighting missing teeth and facial sores.
- Learn about the stages of divorce grief and discover effective strategies for coping and healing.
- Narcotics Anonymous and Crystal Meth Anonymous are good places to start.
- Dependence refers to a physical state in which your body is dependent on the drug.
This guide provides practical tips and support for individuals with ADHD and their loved ones. Triggers are things that make you want to use meth again. Knowing your triggers is the first step to avoiding them.
Addiction to Methamphetamines
Treatment may ease the mood symptoms and prevent short-term physical symptoms like tremors, nausea or vomiting. With the right support, anyone struggling with crystal meth addiction can find their way to recovery. Supporting your loved one through this challenging time can make a real difference. It’s tough to see someone you care about struggling with meth addiction. Understanding what they’re going through is the first step to helping them. American Addiction Centers is a leading provider of meth programs, with rehabs across the nation.
However, recreational use of meth is illegal because it is a highly addictive drug that impairs brain function and changes the person’s thoughts and actions. Knowing the importance of therapy will help you to encourage your loved ones to seek professional assistance. It indicates that while the individual is crucial to the recovery process, so also is the profession. Some people who use methamphetamine undergo the detox process at home. If the home environment is a triggering space, particularly one in which meth was or is highly prevalent, it is not advisable to attempt detox at home. It is also not advisable to try home detox if you have a dual diagnosis or co-occurring mental condition.
- It’s often most helpful to focus on symptoms you’ve noticed personally and avoid making assumptions about the possible causes.
- Cravings can be difficult to handle, but they do not last long.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 100,000 people died of drug overdose in the United States in 2021, a figure that is increasing significantly every year.
- The first step is to understand the challenges they’re facing.
Avoiding Judgment and Blame
With trained eyes on your progress around the clock, you will be able to largely avoid any dangerous complications. First, those who have taken meth for longer periods of time will usually withdraw for longer. Higher regular doses of meth affect the length of withdrawal in the same way. “For heroin users, there’s methadone, there’s suboxone. I just wonder why we haven’t researched treatments for this drug yet,” meth abuse she says. Unlike opioid addiction, for which medication-assisted treatment is the standard of care, no medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use with meth. Acheson warns that the science of post-meth experiences is incomplete.
Meth Addiction Treatment and Rehab Programs Near Me
One of the best ways to learn how to deal with meth addicts is to educate yourself about addiction and meth specifically. This will help you understand their challenges and better equip you to help them. Drug addiction is a common illness, and effective treatment is the key to long term recovery. Using meth can also put the person at risk for a drug overdose, which is when the person consumes too much of a particular drug, resulting in a toxic reaction that causes severe symptoms or death.
Long-Term Effects of Meth Use
And remember that millions of people who were once experiencing alcohol or other substance dependence are now living happy and fulfilling lives. If you or a loved one is struggling with meth misuse, help is available and recovery is possible. Professional addiction treatment can start anyone battling a substance use problem on the path to a healthier and happier life.