Methamphetamine Drug Treatment

Methamphetamine (meth) has a notorious reputation for being highly addictive, and yet every year, thousands of new users become hooked. This extremely potent synthetic drug alters a person’s brain chemistry by overstimulating areas controlling pleasure and sensations, acting on the dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters. Long-term meth abuse can permanently change the brain, causing a variety of physical and mental health issues. Meth can also cause lasting changes in appearance that can make a person look decades older than their actual age.

At October Road, we use a holistic approach to treat our patients looking to recover from meth abuse. Although getting sober isn’t easy, it is possible, and you can reclaim your life and your health from the grips of addiction. We believe in your ability to get well and rebuild your life as you get to know yourself as more than just an addict, but a whole person with dreams and goals. Treatment is customized to each patient’s precise needs, as we realize that premanufactured treatments and a one-size-fits-all approach are not effective.

Meth is universally harmful to those who use it, and it’s easy to see why. Ingesting the toxic chemicals causes an immediate rush of euphoria, and the high lasts for several hours. However, the first high is always the strongest and most pleasurable, and the user is constantly attempting to recreate it, in vain. The artificial reward created by the brain is short-lived, but the user continues to use meth because they are physically and psychologically dependent on it.

Some of the symptoms of meth use include:

• Tooth decay
• Sleep disturbance
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Aggression
• Psychosis
• Weakened immunity
• Impulsivity
• Risk-taking behavior
• Mood swings
• Loss of cognitive function
• Hypertension
• Disorientation
• Heart failure
• Paranoia
• “Meth mites” (itchy skin)

Meth withdrawal is extremely painful, and symptoms may include suicidal thoughts, irritability, slurred speech, insomnia, anxiety, and much more. For this reason, we only recommend approaching your recovery from meth in a supportive, closely monitored environment.

• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Changes in brain function
• Difficulty with motor skills
• Memory loss
• Violent behavior
• Dental issues

Being addicted to meth can make it seem impossible that you’ll ever get clean and sober. No one uses meth casually, and almost no one who touches meth once will stop after the first use. There is no “safe” path for chronic meth use, and most individuals who become dependent and don’t go to treatment end up losing their job, facing financial hardship, and becoming incarcerated, while also running the dangerous risk of an overdose first.

At October Road, we focus on helping patients develop tools to cope with drug cravings and the impulsion to seek drugs. If you need help and can’t stop using meth even as it destroys your health, changes your appearance, alters your mind, and causes you to lose everything that’s important to you, seek meth addiction treatment immediately.