How To Get Over Meth Addiction

Three: Seek Addiction Treatment For The Individual

Methamphetamine addiction treatment can be found in an inpatient and outpatient capacity as well as in long-term, short-term, and at free clinics. Fortunately, there are many resources for someone looking for methamphetamine addiction treatment, including directories such as SAMHSAs treatment facility locator.

According to the NIDAs Principles of Effective Treatment, treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. In the case that the individual cannot be reasoned into attending treatment, inpatient centers often allow others to make that decision. Sanctions or enticements from family, employment settings, and/or the criminal justice system can significantly increase treatment entry, retention rates, and the ultimate success of drug treatment interventions.

If you seek treatment for the individual and they either voluntarily or involuntarily attend, they will be given

• Medication to help curb the symptoms of withdrawal as well as any issues with stimulant-induced psychosis
• Therapy sessions that will teach them how to fight their cravings and avoid triggers
• Treatment for any co-occurring mental disorders as well as immediate treatment for any harmful physical ailments caused by the drug abuse
• A safe environment in which to heal
• The ability to see how their addiction is hurting them as well as you

Mental Consequences Of Methamphetamine Addiction

Heavy methamphetamine use causes cognitive deficits . While using methamphetamine youll likelyexperience a diminished ability to:

• Learn new skills and information
• Recall information
• Recognize and recall words
• Recognize and recall pictures and images

By about 12 weeks of abstinence you will have recovered mostof your thinking abilities. However, the ability to recognize and recall wordsand images actually gets worse after abstinence and then only graduallyimproves, over a long period of time.2

So heres the situation:

Not an ideal combination for success, unfortunately!

Fortunately, you dont have to re-invent the wheel here.There are effective strategies available to help you overcome your cognitivedeficits and you can learn simple tips and tricks to keep you out of risky situationsand away from negative thinking patterns that increase your odds of relapse.

If youre thinking about trying to quit methamphetamine,you need to realize that:

Start Your Recovery From Meth Addiction Today

Overcoming meth addiction can be a lengthy and difficult process but the freedom youll find in sobriety is well worth the time and effort. If you need help to quit meth, please call 857-0557 today to speak with a representative from Briarwood Detox Center. We can help you get started with comfortable, safe medical observation for meth withdrawal.

References:

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Ways To Prevent Meth Cravings Before They Hit

Here are some tried and true methods you can try to stave off those meth cravings during recovery. You can try one of these or all of themyou know yourself best!

Keep Stress in Check

• Listen to soothing music
• Take your dog for a nice walk
• Visit your place of worship and pray

Try one, two, or all of the options above until you find what works best for you. And most importantly, remember that you are a work in progress and constantly evolving. You dont leave recovery a perfect humanyou leave as someone who has gained a new perspective and is working towards long-term goals. Have patience with yourself and find ways to relax and de-stress when you hit a rough patch.

Identify and Avoid Triggers

In recovery you probably identified some potential triggers or situations you think may result in you wanting to use again. Its important to identify your triggers in order to avoid them and reduce the risk and intensity of cravings.

Talk It Out

Find Healthy Distractions

Break Your Day into Small Intervals

Our admission team is available 24/7 at .

What To Do When You Relapse On Meth

Meth relapse is common, so if you relapse, remember that you are not the only person to do so. If you know someone who has been abstinent for a significant period of time, call him or her. Explain that you relapsed and need help getting back on track. Another option is to immediately check yourself into a detoxificationprogram or attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

As soon as you realize that you have relapsed and you do not want to continue on the path of meth use, it is time to take action. Rather than beating yourself up or assuming that you cannot stay sober, focus on what you can do to regain control. You have several options, including:

• Reaching out to your sponsor.
• Increasing your attendance at 12-step meetings.
• Journaling about all the reasons you have to get sober and maintain your recovery.

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Meth Withdrawal: Signs Symptoms & Timeline

Symptoms of meth withdrawal may include:

• Feelings of fatigue, lethargy, and excessive sleepiness are common.
• Increased appetite, dry mouth, and some episodes of jitteriness generally occur.
• Depression, apathy, feelings of hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide.
• Extreme cravings for more meth.
• Psychotic symptoms such as paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions.

A significant number of individuals report feelings of depression, which were also noted to decline in a linear fashion over the course of the withdrawal time period. These depressive symptoms can be significant and associated with thoughts of suicide. In addition, research has indicated that a good number of individuals who relapse do so because of feelings of depression, apathy, hopelessness, etc.

Extreme cravings for methamphetamine also occur during the withdrawal process but have been noted to decline rapidly. Cravings for methamphetamine during withdrawal appear to be associated with the level of depression occurring in the individual. In addition, as one would expect, research indicates that the more intense and frequent the cravings an individual in withdrawal from methamphetamine experiences, the higher the probability that the individual will relapse during the withdrawal syndrome.

Can I Overcome Addiction To Methamphetamine

Overcoming any addiction is a very difficult task. Without a well-built plan for treatment, the odds of success in recovery are small. For those with an addiction to methamphetamine, the chances are even smaller with the power the substance can have over a person.

However, it is possible to overcome addiction with a plan of detox, rehab, and aftercare.

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Why Is Meth So Addictive

Meth use, like other amphetamines, results in increased activity, decreased appetite, enhanced sociability and talkativeness, and can induce feelings of pleasure and a sense of well-being. A key difference between meth and amphetamines, however, is that greater amounts of the drug pass into the brain when compared with a similar dose of amphetamines, making it a more potent stimulant.

When the drug is smoked or injected, the effects are felt extremely quickly causing an immediate and intense, but short-lived, rush.1 Snorting or oral ingestion produces effects of euphoria within several minutes but not an intense rush.

These pleasurable effects last longer than cocaine but are still somewhat fleeting, and users often try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug, sometimes foregoing food, sleep and other responsibilities as they binge on the drug over several days.4

Taking meth causes an increase in levels of dopamine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in motivation and the reinforcement of rewards.1,2

Should You Seek Professional Care

Some people may safely tolerate meth withdrawal without medical supervision or intervention. But others may opt for, or even require, supportive care to manage their symptoms.

Youll definitely want to consider consulting a medical professional first if you also intend to stop using other substances youve been mixing with meth. This is especially important for alcohol, GHB , GBL , or benzodiazepines, as these can be dangerous to stop using on your own.

Its also best to get professional care if you have any ongoing mental or physical health concerns or experience symptoms of psychosis, which can include:

• auditory and visual hallucinations

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Meth Facts And Stats By Employment Status

In 2019, the NSDUH report found that over 7 million people who had used meth during their lifetime were employed full-time. The employment status of people who reported using meth at least once in 2019 includes:

• Full-time employment: 7,555,000
• Unemployed: 873,000
• Other: 4,812,000

The other category includes students, people who care for children or adults at home, retired and disabled people, and people who may be incarcerated all or part of the time.

Reach Out To Windward Way Recovery For Tips For Meth Recovery

If you or a loved one are ready to get help with a dependence on meth, consider reaching out to Cardinal Health. At Cardinal Health, we can help get you through the toughest part of meth recoverythe meth comedownthen walk you through the process of getting healthier, happier and more confident each day. At Windward Way Recovery, we understand that stopping substance abuse is a complicated and long process, and we are ready to guide you through the physical partsas well as to help you understand the mental and emotional components as well. We are happy to work with individuals who are ready to stop using meth, as well as their family members, to help every participant set up a life they can return to that enables their growth and vitalityand that helps them learn to fight cravings and ensure their sobriety lasts.To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, reach out to us today. One of our team members will help you better understand your situation as well as how our organization can help you get back to the life you knew before meth.

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Signs Of Meth Addiction

People who are addicted to meth will show signs of stimulant use disorder. These symptoms include:

• Taking larger amounts of meth or taking meth for a longer period of time than planned

• Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or quit

• Giving up activities that they once valued due to meth

• The inability to keep up with responsibilities at home, work, or school

• Spending significant time getting, using, or recovering from meth

• Using meth despite social and relationship problems

• Cravings for meth

• Using meth in risky situations

• Using meth despite it causing or worsening physical or mental health problems

• A need for more meth to feel the same effects over time

• Withdrawal

In addition to symptoms of stimulant use disorder, people who are addicted to meth often show changes in their behavior, personality, and appearance, such as:

• Meth mouth, which includes dental problems and jaw pain

• Skin sores due to excessive scratching

• Weight loss

People who use meth are more likely to be:

• Unpredictable

• Easily annoyed

• Aggressive or violent

Their behavior often changes depending on whether they are high on meth or recovering from using. While high, a person may appear energetic, restless, and euphoric. After they come down from the high, their behavior may shift dramatically, and they may seem more tired, irritable, and depressed.

People who use meth over a long period of time are also at risk of developing psychosis. This can include symptoms like:

Keep Busy To Stay Distracted

Your meth comedown will be uncomfortable no matter what. Once youre through the height of the physical symptoms, making sure you stay busy can help you get through the rest of your comedown. Having plans with friends or colleagues can take your mind off the discomfort you are experiencing. Alternatively, allowing yourself to feel bored may bring on a cravingso if youre keeping your mind stimulated with other people or activities, you are less likely to think about, crave or want to return to using.

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How Long Will Withdrawal Last

As a general rule of thumb, the longer a person has been on meth, the worse the withdrawal symptoms will be. The same applies to age, with older people typically experiencing worse symptoms than younger people.

The second phase is less intense and lasts for about another two to three weeks. Sometimes meth users experience withdrawal symptoms for months, known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome .

Other factors that can play a role in the duration and severity of meth withdrawal symptoms include:

• A person’s mental and physical health before and during meth use
• The quality of the meth the individual was using
• History of other drug use, including alcohol

How To Help Someone With An Addiction To Methamphetamine

Taking part in the treatment-planning process and providing positive support are two things that loved ones can do for someone who is addicted to methamphetamine.

Meth, or crystal meth, can quickly take over a persons life. Use of this potent and highly addictive stimulant drug can cause major psychological and behavioral changes that make a person act in strange and unpredictable ways.

For friends and family, this transformation can be incredibly hard and leave loved ones feeling helpless. The good news is, there are things that friends and family can do that may help their loved one find stability and the help they need.

Having an active support network of close friends and family provides inspiration, accountability, and resources at this difficult time. The following tips can help loved ones support their family member or friend as they begin their recovery journey:

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Reducing Meth Cravings With Medication

There are a variety of medications that have been evaluated for their efficacy in reducing crystal meth cravings. Much like the medication treatments to reduce crystal-meth use, there has not been an overwhelming success. However, there are some medications available that seem to offer some hope in craving reduction.7-10

• Dextroamphetamine: A stimulant that affects the central nervous system, helps people to focus, and releases dopamine into the body.
• Rivastigmine: More research is still needed, but studies show this might be useful in reducing meth cravings.
• Bupropion: Clinical trials have shown this medication to be beneficial in reducing cravings in people who have less-severe addictions.
• Nicotine. This might be useful to reduce cravings in people with less severe addictions.
• Naltrexone: New studies show that this medication can help reduce meth-seeking behavior as well as cravings for meth.

Common Meth Craving Symptoms

Before we talk about how to reduce cravings, lets talk about some symptoms you may experience during crystal meth recovery.

Methamphetamine is extremely addictive because it blocks the re-uptake of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine to receptors in the brain. At the same time, it causes the body to produce more dopamine, giving users the feeling of euphoria while high. Once you stop using, its common not to feel normal sensations of pleasure like you used to. Over time, meth users become dopamine deficient and develop a higher threshold for these natural feel-good neurotransmitters. Thats because the drug rewires users brains to require much greater levels of dopamine in order to feel normal, let alone happy. As a result, people in recovery may experience the following symptoms:

• Sadness or depression
• Paranoia or psychosis
• An extremely strong urge to use

Studies from the U.S. National Library of Medicine found that methamphetamine users often exhibit cravings at least five weeks after final usage. Of all these withdrawal symptoms, the last one is perhaps the most dangerous for those in recovery. That urge to use often comes with a romanticized sense of what it felt like to be high and how being high again, just once more, would be worth the consequences. But its important to remember that no matter how strong the urge is, youve worked too hard on your recovery to turn back now.

Keep reading for ways to take control of your life and squash the cravings.

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Ways To Avoid Meth Relapse

Relapse is common among people recovering from drug addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40 to 60 percent of those in addiction recovery experience a relapse after completing rehab.

Cravings can be difficult to handle, but they do not last long. According to the Counseling and Psychological Services department at University of California, Santa Cruz, urges to use meth often last only 15 to 30 minutes. Knowing that these feelings will subside can help people avoid giving in to urges.

• Understand your triggers and avoid situations that can cause relapse, such as parties or concerts
• Craft a plan for avoiding triggers
• Establish relationships with people who do not use drugs
• Spend time with people you trust and who care about your well-being
• Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy, such as playing sports

People recovering from meth addiction should continue therapy after completing meth treatment. Therapy can keep people focused on their sobriety. Recovering addicts may also move to a sober living home â a residence where people practice a sober lifestyle.

These strategies can assist those in recovery to maintain abstinence. If you have experienced a relapse, please contact a meth hotline. An admissions representative will offer advice and walk you through your options for additional rehab treatment.

Statistics On Meth Treatment And Recovery

The NSDUH survey identifies how many people use meth along with how many people are addicted to meth. In 2018, 1,051,000 people age 12 or older had a methamphetamine use disorder. By 2019, the number was slightly lower at 1,048,000 people. However, 1,000 more teens were diagnosed with meth use disorders between 2018 and 2019, increasing from 18,000 to 19,000. About 125,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 were diagnosed with methamphetamine disorders in 2019, according to the NSDUH survey.

In 2018, about 451,000 adults over age 18 received treatment for methamphetamine use disorders. This number significantly increased in 2019, growing to over 631,000 people. About 65,000 of those receiving treatment for meth use in 2019 were young adults ages 18 to 25, and 3,000 were teens ages 12 to 17, the NSDUH reported.

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