Methamphetamine is unlike any other substance, so a meth addiction requires a unique treatment approach. Meth has significant impacts on your body, your emotions, and your mind. Educating yourself on how withdrawing from meth will impact you is essential.
Choosing a meth detox program that meets all your needs is also crucial. A detox program should be able to assist you in withdrawing safely and prepare you for the next step in your journey to sobriety.
What Is Meth?
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that causes the body to release high amounts of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical released in the brain that allows you to feel pleasure. It also impacts feelings of satisfaction and motivation. Dopamine affects multiple systems in your body and can influence your mood, sleep patterns, and digestive processes.
When you use meth for long periods, your body depletes its store of dopamine, and eventually, you tap out the body’s natural ability to reproduce dopamine on its own. Abstaining from meth use allows the dopamine transmitters in the brain to recover.
Using meth has both short- and long-term effects.
Short-Term Effects of Using Meth
Short-term effects of meth include:
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Increased wakefulness
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Excess energy and hyperactivity
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Rapid heart rate
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Irregular heart rate
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Increased blood pressure
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Increased respiration
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Feelings of euphoria
Long-Term Effects of Using Meth
Long-term effects of meth usage include:
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Developing a tolerance to meth
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Weight loss
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Severe tooth decay or tooth loss
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Skin lesions or sores
Neurological imaging studies on people addicted to meth show that the brain goes through structural and functional changes. These changes occur in the parts of the brain responsible for controlling emotions and memory.
Withdrawal From Meth
When you stop using meth, your body and mind go through significant withdrawal symptoms, which can last for several days or even months. It is essential to find a detox facility familiar with all of meth’s effects and how to treat its symptoms.
Physical Symptoms of Meth Withdrawal
Physical meth withdrawal symptoms include:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Fatigue
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Intense cravings for meth
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Insomnia
Psychological Symptoms of Meth Withdrawal
Psychological meth withdrawal symptoms include:
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Mental confusion
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Mood disturbances
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Violent behaviors or outbursts
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Paranoia
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Audio, visual, and auditory hallucinations
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Delusions
Meth withdrawal’s severity varies from person to person and can be very unpredictable. Many addiction treatment experts believe that people using meth frequently and for extended periods may have more severe meth withdrawal.
The psychological symptoms caused by meth use may last for months and years after you stop using.
How Can a Meth Detox Facility Help You Go Through Withdrawal?
Addiction treatment experts do not recommend attempting to detox from meth on your own. Doing so puts you at risk for complications and severe withdrawal symptoms that can be avoided with professional detox. Many patients who try to detox at home experience violent behaviors, and many begin to have suicidal thoughts.
The benefits of meth detox are plentiful, and it is critical to be in a medical facility equipped to address potential complications. If you have severe meth withdrawal that involves seizures or life-threatening respiratory problems, you will receive emergency medical help right away.
In addition, detoxing from meth at home increases the risk of relapse and a possible overdose. Many people overdose on meth after attempting to quit without medical assistance because they don’t realize how quickly their tolerance levels change. As a result, when they return to using, they use a higher dose than their bodies can handle. Meth overdoses can be fatal but can be avoided by choosing a professional meth detox program.
The Process of Detox
There are three stages in the process of detox.
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Evaluation: Staff will evaluate you medically, emotionally, and psychologically. They will create and begin implementing a treatment plan immediately.
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Stabilization: Stabilization includes treating your body, soul, and mental health. Most people stay in this phase for 1–3 weeks, depending on their needs. Your treatment plan may involve rest, proper nutrition, comfort care, hydration, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
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Treatment Preparation: Once you are stabilized, you can focus on longer-term treatment. Whether you attend inpatient treatment or an intensive outpatient (IOP), detoxing is always the first step in meth addiction recovery.
Detoxing from meth requires a lot of support from loved ones and professionals who know how to treat your symptoms. Once your detox program is completed, you will be ready to focus on the mental component of your addiction in rehab.
Our goal at Olympus Treatment Center is to get you safely through detox and into recovery. Call us today at (866) 305-7134 to discuss your treatment options and to decide whether attending our meth detox facility is the best choice for you.
Make our meth detox program the first stop on your recovery journey.
Benefits of a Meth Detox Program
Top 5 benefits of attending a meth detox facility include:
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Having medical and professional support. Detoxing from meth is uncomfortable, and in some cases, it may be dangerous. Addiction treatment staff are there to make detoxing as comfortable as possible and help you remain focused on your recovery goals.
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Removing your access to methamphetamine. Once withdrawal symptoms begin, it’s easy to consider using again to get relief. Entering a detox program is your best defense against relapsing.
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Giving your family peace of mind. Your loved ones have undoubtedly been concerned about your well-being since you began using meth. They will rest easier knowing you’re getting the help you need to recover.
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Having quick access to emergency medical personnel in the event of a serious complication. As mentioned, some patients experience suicidal thoughts or seizures while detoxing from meth. If you have an emergency, program staff will be there to intervene and get you the help you need.
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Accessing evidence-based treatment options, such as MAT, which will lessen the effects of withdrawal, and possibly shorten its duration.
MAT in a Meth Detox Facility
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be vital in getting you safely through meth detox. There are currently no specific medications that are approved for the treatment of meth addiction. However, some are used off-label to treat withdrawal and prevent a relapse.
Your treatment team may recommend a dopamine agonist medication and an antidepressant to help you navigate methamphetamine withdrawal. Naltrexone may be recommended to reduce cravings and for long-term relapse prevention.
We Are Here to Help
Contact us today and speak with one of Olympus Recovery’s trained staff members. We will assess your needs over the phone and discuss getting started with our meth detox program.
Meth addiction is dangerous, and it impacts every area of your life. But you do not have to go through recovery alone. We are here to offer our professional support to help you get and stay clean.
Sources:
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National Library of Medicine. The Role of Dopamine and Its Dysfunction as a Consequence of Oxidative Stress. December 6, 2015. Available at NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov.
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National Institute on Drug Abuse. What are the immediate (short-term) effects of methamphetamine abuse?. October 2019. Available at NIDA.NIH.gov.
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National Institute on Drug Abuse. What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?. October 2019. Available at NIDA.NIH.gov.
