Meth Addiction Treatment & Rehab
Among the most abused drugs in the United States are methamphetamines. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, meth is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Like other types of drug abuse, meth abuse comes with a host of negative effects in the short and long term. One of the risks of abusing meth is developing a methamphetamine addiction.
Once you are mentally and physically reliant on meth, it is difficult to stop. Methamphetamine addiction, or meth addiction, is a serious condition that requires comprehensive treatment. But there is the hope of a future free of methamphetamine addiction.
Here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we understand substance use disorders including methamphetamine addiction. Our addiction treatment programs help those who are dealing with substance abuse to overcome their addictions. With our meth addiction treatment, you can achieve long-term sobriety.
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What Is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is a powerful and addictive stimulant. It is a man-made drug that speeds up the body’s nervous system. People who use meth may feel a false sense of happiness and well-being, increased energy, and decreased appetite. The drug goes by many names, including:
- meth
- speed
- crank
- ice
It can be a white, yellowish-white, or pale blue powder. It can also be a pill, tablet, or clear or cloudy chunky crystals. One form of meth, called crystal meth, is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny blue-white rocks.
People who take methamphetamines generally smoke, swallow, snort, or inject a powdered form of the drug that has been dissolved in water or alcohol. Due to how the high from this drug fades rapidly, users will often follow a dangerous binge-crash-and-repeat pattern. The use of this drug can even cause a person to prioritize it over food, water, and sleep. This is a part of why treatment for meth addiction is so important.
Why is Meth So Addictive?
Methamphetamine, similar to other amphetamines, is highly addictive. In fact, Methamphetamines are more addictive than other amphetamines and produce effects that users consider high desirable, such as:
- Induced feelings of a sense of well-being and pleasure
- Enhanced talkativeness and sociability
- Decreased appetite
- Increased activity
Methamphetamines are considered to be more addictive than amphetamines. When a person takes meth, their dopamine levels increase. This is what produces the meth high. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure center.
A meth user will experience an intense rush of euphoria followed by a prolonged sense of well-being. However, these effects are short-lived, typically lasting only 3-5 minutes. As the meth high begins to fade, the user will experience an intense crash. This is when meth withdrawal symptoms set in and the user begins to feel agitated, anxious, and paranoid, causing them to take more of the drug to feel relief.
The Signs and Symptoms of Meth Addiction
Methamphetamine addiction comes with many different symptoms. If you are concerned that someone close to you is abusing meth, the following signs and symptoms can help confirm your suspicions:
- Decreased appetite
- Increased wakefulness and obsessive activity
- Psychosis/psychotic episodes
- Euphoria, depression, or anxiety
- Increased sensitivity to noise
- Nervous activity, like scratching or picking at the skin
- Irritability, dizziness, or confusion
- Tremors, twitching, or convulsions
- Chronic fatigue
- Paranoia
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and risk of stroke
- Mood swings, including aggression and violent behavior
- Dilated pupils and rapid eye movement
If you or someone you love is displaying any of the above signs and symptoms, meth addiction may be to blame.
The Effects of Meth Addiction on the Brain and Body
The effects of meth on the human brain and body are far-reaching. In the short term, meth can cause increased alertness, decreased appetite, and euphoria. However, meth also decreases the user’s ability to think clearly, remember correctly, and make decisions. In fact, meth users often become so addicted to the drug that they forgo food and sleep for days or even weeks at a time in order to keep meth’s effects going.
As previously mentioned, methamphetamines increase the amount of dopamine in the brain. This neurotransmitter is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward, which is why meth users feel euphoric when they use the drug. However, meth also affects other neurotransmitters, including serotonin and norepinephrine.
These two transmitters are responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. That's why meth users often experience drastic mood swings, insomnia, and decreased appetite.
Concerningly, long-term meth use can cause serious damage to the brain, including memory loss, mood swings, and psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations. Meth also damages the heart, liver, and kidneys. In some cases, meth use can lead to death.
The effects of meth go beyond the brain to affect different parts of the body as well. In long-term meth users, damage to the heart and other organs had been observed. The effects of meth on the body include:
- Heart damage: Methamphetamine use can cause an irregular heartbeat, which in turn can lead to an increased risk of a heart attack. Further, heart disease is the second leading cause of death for users of meth.
- Liver damage: Methamphetamine can damage the liver, especially when used in combination with other drugs or alcohol.
- Kidney damage: Due to the body's difficulty in breaking down toxins in meth, methamphetamine use can lead to kidney damage and failure.
- Impaired immune defense: Meth use damages the body's immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infection and disease.
- Lung damage: Methamphetamine use can lead to difficulty breathing, lung infections, and collapsed lungs.
- Tooth decay: Meth use leads to a condition called "meth mouth," due to how it accelerates tooth decay. Symptoms of this gum disease include trouble eating, jaw pain, headaches, and a clenched jaw.
To avoid long-term damage, it is important to seek meth drug rehab in New Jersey as soon as possible. Withdrawal symptoms can be difficult to manage on your own, and an addiction treatment program will give you the necessary tools to detox and recover from meth use.
Withdrawal symptoms from meth can include fatigue, depression, anxiety, and intense cravings. These symptoms can make it difficult to stop using meth without professional help. Overdose from meth is also a serious concern. Symptoms of meth overdose include stroke, heart attack, seizure, and death.
Fortunately, detox services help individuals stop using meth safely. Here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we can refer you to a detox program that will help you remove meth from your body. After detox, you can start one of our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
Meth Withdrawal and Overdose
Withdrawal symptoms from meth can include fatigue, depression, anxiety, and intense cravings. These symptoms can make it difficult to stop using meth without professional help. Overdose from meth is also a serious concern. Symptoms of meth overdose include stroke, heart attack, seizure, and death.
Fortunately, detox services help individuals stop using meth safely. Here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we can refer you to a detox program that will help you remove meth from your body. After detox, you can start one of our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.
Treatment for Meth Addiction in New Jersey
Here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we offer different addiction treatment programs to those who are struggling with drug abuse. In these programs, you will engage in different types of therapy, learn about addiction and how to overcome it, and develop coping mechanisms. Our programs are tailored to each individual, so we can create a program that is perfect for you and your unique needs.
In our outpatient program, you will come to our facility for treatment during the day and then return home in the evening. This program is perfect for those who have obligations such as work or school.
Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is ideal for people who need a higher level of support and treatment than traditional outpatient provides. In this program, you will come to our facility for treatment several times a week while still being able to live at home.
In our partial hospitalization program (PHP), you will receive a comparable level of care as an inpatient program but will be able to return home each night. This program is perfect for those who need more support than an outpatient program provides but do not require 24/7 care.
Residential treatment programs provide around-the-clock care in a safe and supportive environment.
Around 50% of people with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health condition. At our facility, we offer treatment for both disorders at the same time to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients.
For some patients, medication can be used to help manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. We offer medication-assisted treatment as part of our comprehensive care program.
Get Started with Achieve Wellness Today
At Achieve Wellness, we treat the whole person and not just the addiction. We understand that addiction is a disease and we are here to help you on your journey to recovery. This is accomplished with a host of evidence-based therapies such as group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy.
If you or someone you love is struggling with meth addiction, we can help. Call us today to get started on the road to recovery.
We accept most private insurances. If you do not see your insurance listed, please call us for a free verification of coverage.
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Achieve Wellness and Recovery is dedicated to provide excellent care through our experienced staff and individualized treatment planning. Our facility welcomes you and your family to begin healing and begin a new life in recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, reach out today.
PARTIAL CARE
Partial Care is commonly the first stage of clinical treatment and the most intensive level of care we offer at Achieve[…]
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT
Our intensive outpatient program was designed to incorporate recovery with daily life. Our aim at achieve[…]
OUTPATIENT
Our OP program will accommodate you living at home or in a sober living while still being treated for[…]
ACHIEVE WELLNESS & RECOVERY VALUES
Achieve Wellness & Recovery Center was established to provide exceptional mental health care and substance abuse prevention, assessment and treatment services for individuals, families, and organizations.
It is our mission to provide a safe, therapeutic environment and a comfortable atmosphere where our patients can begin the journey of recovery.
Achieve Wellness and Recovery’s vision is to provide inspiration and hope to each person by creating an emotional connection that teaches young adults the life skills to become an asset to their families and communities.
Addiction does not just affect the individual; it can also be devastating for the entire family. At Achieve we believe in incorporating the family into patient care as we believe they are a vital support system for long term recovery. Addiction is not a one size fits all disease our approach to treating patients is individualized therapy to address the person needs of every person who walks through our doors. Our clinicians are well versed in treating not only addiction but the co-occurring disorders that often coincide.
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