Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment
Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment & detox is known to be one of the longest detox & treatment processes. It can be very painful. Methamphetamine detoxification lasts 3-9 days. The length of the detoxification will vary depending on the length of the addiction, and what other type of narcotics are involved. However, mental side effects may last for months, and it is important to be under medical supervision for as much of the detox as possible. As well as continuing outpatient treatment to ensure success and a lengthy recovery.
Information About Methamphetamine & Addiction
What Is It?
Methamphetamine, meth for short, is a white, bitter powder and is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Sometimes it’s made into a white pill or a clear or white shiny rock (called a crystal), or glass. Meth powder can be eaten or snorted up the nose. It is also easily dissolves in water, alcohol, and other liquids to be injected into your body with a needle. Crystal meth is also smoked in a small glass pipe. Meth at first causes a rush of good feelings, but then those who use it feel edgy, overly excited, angry, or afraid. Their thoughts and actions go really fast. They might overheat and feel too hot.
Signs of Methamphetamine Use and Dependence
Methamphetamine gives you a feeling of well-being and happiness. It also makes you feel like the world has slowed down, and all of life’s problems are suddenly okay.
People on Meth at first causes a rush of good feelings, but then those who use it feel edgy, overly excited, angry, or afraid. Their thoughts and actions go really fast. They might overheat and feel too hot. Meth speeds up breathing and raises blood pressure. Meth can make people hyperactive (full of too much energy). They might talk and move around a lot. They might not stop to eat or sleep. People who use meth often scratch their skin, causing sores. They might have burns on their lips, hands, or fingers from holding a hot meth pipe. Meth can make a person’s mood change quickly. For example, they might feel excited, and then become angry and violent. They might feel afraid that someone’s out to get them. They might want to end their own life. People who get addicted to meth start needing to take more of it to get the same high. People who usually eat or snort meth might start to smoke or inject it (shoot up) to get a stronger, quicker high.
It is usually snorted (taken nasally), or smoked using tin foil, or injected intravenously (shot up). These methods send the chemicals to the brain very quickly, and the user feels an instant rush of dopamine. Users of this drug will build up a tolerance over time, and will have to use an increased amount to feel the same effects.
Injection users of methamphetamine will have what are called “track marks” or even bruises at the injection site where the needle entered, most commonly found on the arm in the crook of the elbow as its the easiest vein to access for most users, but you might see them anywhere on the body.
When the user stops taking heroin or runs out, within 6-24 hours they will start feeling withdrawal symptoms that make the user extremely sick.
- Have extreme anxiety
- Have Depression
- Irritability or anxiety
- Struggle with insomnia
- Experience frequent mood swings
- Act nervous and restless
- Feel very sad and tired
- Have bad dreams
- Be suspicious of people and things around them
- Have Paranoia or Psychosis
- Auditory and visual hallucinations
- Experience Excessive sweating
- Large pupils
- Inability to eat
Frequently Asked
- Crystal
- Ice
- Glass
- Tina
- Dope
- Clear
- Tweak
- Meth
- Shards
- Crank
Heroin detox can last anywhere from 5-14 days. Length varies based on frequency of use and how long the use has lasted.
Effects of Methamphetamine on the Brain and Body
Methamphetamine Effects on the Body
- You Feel Sick
Methamphetamine can cause stomach pain and headaches. It can make you shake, throw up, or pass out.
- No Appetite
Cocaine can make you not want to eat. Overtime, you might lose a lot of weight and get sick.
- You Overheat
Methamphetamine can make your body temperature so hot that you pass out. Sometimes this can cause you to vomit, pass out or even kill you.
- Crank Bugs
Meth can make you feel like bugs are crawling on or under your skin. It makes you scratch a lot. Scratching causes sores on your face and arms.
- Meth Mouth
People who use meth break, stain, or rot their teeth. They often drink lots of sweet things, grind their teeth, and have dry mouth. This is called “meth mouth.”
- Cause Increased Signs of Advanced & Rapid Aging
People who use meth start looking old. They burn a lot of energy and don’t eat well. This can make them lose weight and look sick. Their hands or body might shake. Their skin looks dull and has sores and pimples that don’t heal. Their mouth looks sunken as the teeth go bad.
- Heart Attack and Stroke
Cocaine raises your blood pressure and makes your heart beat faster. This can hurt your heart. It can lead to a heart attack or stroke (brain injury from a blood-clot). Some people die because of it.
- Weight Loss
Meth users may experience symptoms of eating disorders, such as anorexia.
They will be skipping meals, because they receive their energy from the drug.
This can result in extreme weight loss. Many users will begin to have their bones shown through their skin and have sunken in cheeks.
- Dependency
It is easy to lose control over Methamphetamine use and become addicted. Meth use can quickly hurt different parts of your brain. It can cause thinking and emotional problems that don’t go away or that come back again even after you quit using the drug. For instance, you might feel, hear, or see things that aren’t there. You might think that people are out to get you or start believing strange ideas that can’t really be true. Then, even if you get treatment, it can be hard to stay off the drug. People who stopped using cocaine can still feel strong cravings and side effects from the drug, sometimes even years later.
- Short Term
- Interferes with neurological communication pathways
- Disrupts mood changes
- Prevents clear thinking
- Unmanageable coordination
- An increase in heart rate and blood pressure will occur while using cocaine
- Long Term
- Heart Disease
- Untreated can lead to irreversible symptoms
- Irreversible confusion
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Hallucinations
- Constant escalated heart rate and blood pressure
- Increased risk of meth-induced heart attack and stroke
- Weakened heart muscle
- Irregular heartbeat
- Damaged Brain Cells
Diseases
People who inject (shoot up) Methamphetamine can get HIV/AIDS or hepatitis (a liver disease) if they share used needles. People also get these diseases by having unsafe sex. They may forget to use condoms because they’re high on the drug.
Pregnancy Complications
If a pregnant woman uses Methamphetamine, it can cause brain damage, which can lead to other health problems in the baby like birth defects or even miscarriage.
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