Meth Treatment for Addiction | Florida Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehab Centers

What addicts should know about “Meth” Methamphetamines

Methamphetamine, or Crank, Speed or Ice, as it is known at the street level, is a highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system affecting the release of dopamine, resulting in a strong “rush” after the drug is administered. While this drug is technically a prescription drug and can be used in some ailments, such as narcolepsy, ADD and obesity, it is listed as a Schedule II drug and can only be obtained through a prescribing doctor, and in these instances, there are no refills given.

Most of the supply of illicit methamphetamines in the United States come from foreign or domestic “superlabs,” though there are smaller labs set up around the country to serve the demand. The ease of setting up a lab in homes makes the domestic fabrication of speed a lucrative business. There is also a good deal of meth smuggled in from Mexico.

Meth addiction and abuse effects

Meth can be ingested a wide variety of ways, include snorting, smoking or injecting the drug. The result of taking the drug is a rapid release of dopamine, which produces an intense “rush,” or feeling of euphoria, in the user. Use of methamphetamines results in an increase in wakefulness and physical activity as well as increasing the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

Meth addiction can produce a wide variety of detrimental long-term health side effects, and they include reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning. Research has also shown a link to emotional impairment and memory loss with users that are chemically dependent upon methamphetamines. Other long-term medical problems include severe weight loss, dental problems (“meth mouth”), anxiety, hallucinations and delusions.

Users addicted to methamphetamines are also at a high risk for transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B and C due to risky sexual behavior that users sometimes participate in. The diseases can also be spread through the needles that addicts frequently share between one another.

How prevalent is methamphetamine addiction in the US?

The use of methamphetamines in the United States has become somewhat worrisome as numbers of users continue to increase. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10 million Americans over the age of 12 have abused meth one or more times in their life. The spread of meth has been particularly heavy in specific areas of the United States, including Hawaii, the West Coast states, rural areas of the West and Midwest.

Meth treatment for addiction at Florida rehab Centers – Challenges

Withdrawal symptoms from methamphetamines are severe and include nausea, irritability, insomnia loss of energy, hyperventilation, convulsions, irregular heartbeats and more. Because of the poor health many meth addicts have, it is highly recommended that users enter a medical treatment facility while going through detoxification.

At Challenges, we have a combination of treatment and rehab options for our clients to choose from. They include neurofeedback, massage, yoga, group sessions, full day/PHP Treatment, with or without structured living, extended care transitional treatment and intensive outpatient treatment.

We believe in using a holistic approach to addiction recovery, combining substance abuse treatment with mental health treatment to make flexible, accommodating plans for individuals. Everyone’s addiction experience is different, his or her recovery rehab and treatment plan should be just as unique.

Our motto is “Relapse Ends Here” and we provide support and assistance necessary to back that up. We help our clients prepare a concrete plan for success in their future as they move out of the program. We want them to leave with the tools they need to help them identify their warning signs and trigger mechanisms.

Author - Dr. Jeffrey Huttman Ph.D.

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