Methamphetamine addiction can be prevented but, the process involves critical and strategic planning. Methamphetamine, commonly known as “meth”, is a highly addictive stimulant. The effects last longer than other drugs, making it even more potentially dangerous, than drugs whose effects are short lived. The production and use of meth are among the most dangerous of all drugs. It involves a family, a community, a country to help wage an effective war against this deadly drug.
Law enforcement works daily across the country to stop the manufacture and the distribution of methamphetamine. Police, detectives and other law enforcement agencies work consistently with sting operations, raids, and busts to seek out the “meth labs” and bring them down. A lot of research and many observational hours go into finding and then successfully busting a meth cook or dealer. Meth labs are infamously known for their potential danger because of the combination and processing of several highly toxic chemicals. In essence, elimination of the source of meth distribution is the most resourceful method of stopping the meth addiction.
The effects of drug education on America’s youth have profound and valuable effects. Simply educating our youth can help to prevent those of an impressionable age from ever experimenting with drugs. Drug Education is definitely an asset in the war against drug abuse.
For those suffering from an addiction to meth, there are treatment solutions available. Finding the right treatment solution can be a bit extensive but, there are factors and methods to make the search more refined. The critical data to be considered in one’s quest for the highest quality treatment is as follows:
Financial resources – Consider carefully all financial resources in order to locate the highest quality treatment center available. Many centers accept insurance, and usually offer payment options to make it more affordable. The success rates of state funded or low cost rehabs are considerably lower than those of an effective private facility. Location – This is a senseless obstacle for many because it is assumed it must be something close to “home”. The truth is, with addiction, the individual most often benefits from being removed from their using area. Success Rate – When speaking to different centers, among the primary criteria the counselor should share is their current success rate. If it is not divulged, most likely it is because it is low. This information is very important.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are more than 4 million people abusing Methamphetamine in the U.S. and another 12 million have tried the drug at least once. Surprisingly enough a large number are students. However, the SAMHSA also reported that in recent years there has been a decline in the number of people admitted to emergency rooms for Meth related incidents due largely to federal restrictions on the sale of items used to manufacture the drug.
A Dangerous Drug
Ice, crystal, crystal meth, are all names given to Methamphetamine, or simply Meth as it is commonly called. It is a highly addictive man-made drug that is cooked in secret labs. The main ingredients in the drug are ammonia, ether, methanol and reactive metals, among other chemicals. The chemicals that are cooked in “Meth houses” that make this drug are dangerous as they are toxic and explosive, in fact the toxins from such a lab can kill anyone nearby. There have been poisonings to individuals who moved into a house that was once used as a Meth lab.
Methamphetamine can be smoked, injected and snorted. The drug affects the brain and central nervous system by releasing dopamine which allows the user to feel a euphoric sensation, increased arousal and adrenaline rush. Addicts may stay awake for days at a time until they crash from sleep deprivation.
Long term abuse will create a tolerance of the drug in the user’s system, which will require more of the drug in order to reach the same euphoric feeling as the previous time. Increasing the amount of the drug puts the individual at risk for drug overdose.
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
Long term abuse or addiction can result in a psychotic break which can lead to:
• Violent mood swings
• Paranoia
• Aggression and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Hallucinations and delusions
“Meth mouth” is a common occurrence in chronic abusers. Almost all of the signs and symptoms of addiction is caused by dehydration and lack of sleep and not necessarily the drug itself.
Once addiction is established, the life of the abuser will be centered on getting more of the drug. Meth users often find themselves in situations that under different circumstances, they would never do such as sharing needles and trading sexual favors for the drug; practices that are responsible for an increase in sexually transmitted diseases and infectious diseases such as Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS.
There are a number of psychological addiction qualities associated with Methamphetamine abuse and addiction including:
• Fatigue
• Irritability and anxiety
• Psychological cravings
• Fear
• Suicide
Steps To Overcoming Methamphetamine Addiction
Meth addiction is psychologically devastating affliction that has long lasting effects on the mind and body. Meth, also known as speed, is homemade chemical that acts as a stimulant. Meth addicts, or tweakers, become quickly seduced by the drug because it produces strong feelings of euphoria and its uncanny ability to keep a person awake for days and even weeks.
However, as with all things that are too good to be true, the drug will take a turn for the worse after repeated uses and will need to be treated with drug rehab or a treatment.
So, once you have been hooked by the evil that is Meth addiction how do you stop?
1) You Have A Problem!
If you do not realize and submit to the fact that you have a problem, how can you ever ask for help? This is ALWAYS the first step in overcoming any addiction. Even if an intervention were to take place, if you cannot admit your defeat, you cannot be helped.
How do you know if you have a problem or not?
Here is a good question to ask yourself in trying to decipher the answer to this question.
“Have I ever tried to stop and not been able to?” Or, “have I ever stopped for a period of time but always gone back to the drug?” Or, “Do I have trouble stopping once I start?”
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you have a problem and need a drug rehab program.
2) Ask For Help
Once you have conceded that you have a problem you obviously need help. You can find help almost anywhere now-a-days. Look on the internet or within your local community. I’m positive you can find a place that is qualified to help you with your problem. Look for a Treatment Center, or a Detox, or Rehab program.
3) Get Into a Program
Once you find a place that says they can help you, get into their program. This is just as important as the first two steps because you can admit you have a problem and ask for help but if you don’t follow that up with action you won’t get better. So after you ask for help, accept the help that is offered whether you think it is what you need or not. Just go and follow directions.
Meth Addiction and Treatment
As many drugs are exploding like an epidemic throughout the U.S., methamphetamine is no different. Methamphetamine is a drug that can give users the sense of increased energy and confidence. It suppresses appetite and in some forms of medical treatment can be used to aid narcolepsy, ADHD and depression.
However, more often than not, meth is used recreationally. As recreational use turns to abuse, and then to addiction, severe side effects from using methamphetamine can be seen. Paranoia, senseless and repetitive behavior (also known as tweaking), extremely impaired judgment and violence, are just a few of the negative effects methamphetamine can have on mental and psychological aspects of one’s health. Physically, methamphetamine has equally destructive effects such as irregular heartbeat, fluctuating blood pressure, nausea, loss of teeth, dramatic and dangerous weight loss, skin ailments and of course, an increased risk of contracting STDs.
Like cocaine, methamphetamine comes in many forms and has many names. Sometimes called crystal meth, crank, speed or ice-the drug can be snorted, smoked or injected. Methamphetamine takes such a dramatic effect on the body, especially in the first few doses, which is often considered enjoyable, that the drug by default is extremely addictive. It is also one of the few drugs that can be made at home very cheaply with easily attained materials.
For any person addicted to methamphetamine, treatment is highly recommended if they are to have any chance at living a normal life once again. However, the after effects of prolonged use are so powerful that full-blown meth addicts have serious difficulty following treatment programs. Memory, concentration and decision-making skills are all severely compromised, which is why treatment should be considered as quickly as possible. Recovery from methamphetamine does take a considerable amount of time, and is lengthened with more severe damage; long-term inpatient treatment is often the best course of action.
Meth addicts benefit most when involved in a treatment program that is designed to compensate for some of the mental and emotional lows that occur during the lengthy withdrawal period. Some examples are treatments that offer highly structured and intensive programming in response to needs in all areas of life. Treatments that last for at least three months, or preferably a year, have resulted in higher success rates as well.
One of the most effective forms of treatment available to methamphetamine addicts is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. This form of therapy teaches meth addicts how to understand why they use, what type of situations or groups of people give them the urge to use, how to avoid cravings, and finally, how to deal with cravings when they occur. CBT offers real-world approaches and strategies that have been proven to work on rehabilitating meth addicts.
Two other forms of treatment for methamphetamine addiction include contingency reinforcement, and the 12 step approach. In contingency reinforcement, a therapist applies principals based on positive reward reinforcements when treatment goals are reached. Some goals could be a clean drug test, or reaching a sobriety milestone, while the rewards that follow are typically restaurant vouchers, movie tickets, or other small rewards. Studies have shown that these small positive rewards greatly help to improve treatment retention. The 12 step process includes various support structures such as peers and meetings found in Narcotics Anonymous. Though the 12 step process is not recommended as a sole treatment method for those addicted to methamphetamine, recent research shows that involvement in the 12 step approach along with other treatment options resulted in a better than normal outcome.
For those addicted to methamphetamine, there is a silver lining to the long detoxification process. Though there is no medication that can aid the meth detox process, it has been found that the entire ordeal is not life threatening. Unlike heroine and a few other drugs, detoxification from methamphetamine is not life threatening and does not need to take place in an inpatient setting. However, this does not include pre-existing conditions that may need medical care such as dermatology or dental care.
The key to fighting methamphetamine addiction, which may stand truer than fighting any other form of addiction, is the necessity to be genuinely immersed in the treatment. Family, friends, and even coworkers should be involved in the process. The more people involved in the addict’s life, who can provide support, the better the chance for the recovering individual to fully rehabilitate.
If you or someone you know is looking for a comprehensive meth addiction treatment program, one that will guide you through Detox, relapse prevention techniques, withdrawal, and provide after-care services, then A Center for Addiction Recovery is the ideal drug and alcohol rehab center for you and others in need.