Methamphetamine usage is a major concern in the US. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), there were 1.2 million methamphetamine users in 2012. And causing further alarm was the reporting of 133,000 new users aged 12 years or older. Statistically, the NSDUH found that methamphetamine users were likely to have an average age of 19.7 years. Methamphetamine rehab is an issue that should not be limited to the older addicts of the US population.
Holistic Approach
An issue among many addicts is that a 12-step program alone might not be enough to help them through their recovery process. They often find that a 12-step program and its rigid structure cannot be adapted to fit their specific needs. Giving up damaging substances like meth is difficult on its own without having to cope with the pressure of following a program that does not meet your needs.
In contrast, holistic treatment for meth seeks to treat the whole of an addict. Rather than view their problems as individual symptoms, holistic treatment seeks to understand an addict by talking to them about the physical, mental, and environmental issues in their life as an addict.
The compulsion to continue to use drugs can be routinely triggered by mental and environmental factors, which is why they have to be addressed. As such, holistic treatment makes them just as important as discussing physical dependence. Once we understand the root of a problem, we can help to ensure that you won’t continue to use meth after going through detox and counseling.
Effects on the Body
Methamphetamine is a drug available in white powder or as a crystal form known as ice. After ingestion through snorting, smoking, or injecting, the drug begins to take hold and will bring about a false happiness. A rush of confidence will also be experienced, with the effects typically lasting anywhere between six and eight hours.
Like with many recreational drugs, meth will often be a pleasurable experience for some users when they first take it. However, what they do not consider is that methamphetamine side-effects are incredibly severe in the long-term. From the very first hit, the meth will start to systematically destroy the body of the user. Meth can be addictive on the first hit alone.
In the short-term, some of the side-effects include loss of appetite, increased heart rate, insomnia, nausea, psychosis, and hallucinations. Looking to the long-term, the side-effects become much more concerning. Persistent users will be at risk of causing permanent damage to their respiratory system, liver, kidneys, and lungs. They will also endure severe tooth decay from the acid of the meth, with various sores and abscesses also occurring.
Methamphetamine Inpatient Recovery
Inpatient methamphetamine treatment needs to be a priority for users who have graduated from snorting the drug to smoking or injecting it. As explained above, meth can result in addiction from a single usage. Consequently, many users quickly develop a damaging addiction.
Intense meth users need to consider inpatient treatment because it will remove them from their addictive lifestyle. For many addicts, they cannot see an existence outside of their own life. Attending a tranquil rehab facility will let them see that the world is filled with possibilities by leaving meth behind.
When attending a treatment center, meth addicts will be in close proximity to experienced medical professionals. They can provide additional support in the form of supplements to help addicts through the painful effects of detox, whereby their bodies will be desperate for meth. Being in a treatment center dramatically increases the success rate for detox, as medical and counseling support are both nearby.
Recovery from Methamphetamine Addiction
After going through detox and counseling during the early weeks of meth recovery, it is important to also consider the long-term support you require. This is why on-going counseling sessions during your year of recovery can prove invaluable in helping you stay on track.
A recovered meth addict will have undergone a difficult couple of years breaking free from the drug and then staying free. Having participated in counseling, they will be mentally prepared to cope with their issues and avoid triggers. Recovered addicts will feel a level of fulfillment that they could never have achieved while using meth.
