Overcoming Methamphetamine Addiction in West Hollywood
Methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, ice, glass, shard, or crank, is a man-made central nervous system stimulant substance that looks like small rocks, powder, or pieces of glass, created in a lab using household chemicals. It is a highly potent and addictive drug that is usually snorted or smoked. In some cases, it is also eaten or dissolved and injected, providing feelings of euphoria, talkativeness, and increased energy. Overcoming addiction to this drug often takes professional help in a rehab program. During meth rehab, West Hollywood residents may need a medical detox, followed by a full rehabilitation program, because the physical withdrawal and psychological symptoms caused by meth use can be severe, and the additives found in meth can be dangerous to human health.
Some common symptoms of meth withdrawal may include the following:
- Paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Jitteriness
- Increased appetite
- Dehydration and dry mouth
- Depression, sometimes with suicidal thoughts
- Drug-induced psychosis (not knowing what is real and what is not)
- Short- to long-term cognitive defects like memory issues or difficulty paying attention or planning
- Intense cravings for more meth can lead to relapse without professional intervention
Meth is a very strong drug that can lead to rapid physical dependency. It passes through the blood-brain barrier quickly, raising dopamine levels in the brain, stimulating the reward center, and providing a quick, short-lived euphoria that leads to a very uncomfortable crash that leads users to continue taking the drug repeatedly, which is known as a binge. Many users end up staying up for days at a time without eating or sleeping, which causes a physical dependence to form, leading to addiction.
Meth addiction is a serious issue that can quickly ruin your life, causing you to lose your job, destroy close relationships, and cause serious health issues. Meth rehab is the best way to regain control over your life, rebuild healthy relationships, and start planning for a healthy, drug-free future.
You will likely begin with a detox program, staying in an inpatient treatment center with full-time medical care and therapy as your body begins to heal. Meth withdrawal symptoms usually peak within 7 to 10 days, after which you will begin to feel a little bit better every day. Many medical detox programs provide prescription medications to help you through the most difficult days.
After detoxing, inpatient and outpatient rehab options are available, providing customized care that includes a combination of behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, and more. This is when you address the underlying causes of addiction, heal old emotional wounds, and start to work toward a happier and more productive future for yourself.
Going to rehab is a success, not a failure. You are choosing to get treatment for a disease, which is your smartest choice. Asking for help shows courage and will provide you with new, exciting opportunities to rebuild your life and live well as you gain recovery tools and relapse prevention strategies that will help you stay away from substance abuse for the rest of your life.
19 Effects of Meth Use and Addiction
Meth addiction has many effects on the body, and it also causes a lot of psychological issues. Some symptoms and health problems that a person who is using meth may experience include:
- Changes in eating habits that often include extreme weight loss and malnutrition
- Insomnia and other changes in sleeping habits
- Mood swings, chaotic behavior, and aggressive behavior
- Talking fast and moving more than usual, with excessive energy
- Dilated pupils
- Depending on how meth is used you may have burns on fingers and lips, nosebleeds, or track marks on the skin
- Isolation from friends and family and changes in friend groups
- Damage to brain cells, with memory loss
- Anxiety
- Increased risk of Parkinson’s disease
- Increased risk of stroke
- Cardiovascular issues like palpitations, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and cardiac arrest)
- Lung issues like pneumonia or bronchitis
- Liver or kidney damage
- Nasal issues like nosebleeds or a perforated septum
- Severe dental issues, sometimes called “meth mouth” with gum disease, tooth decay, and loss of teeth
- An increased risk of contracting a communicable disease through needle sharing
- Anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure. This usually includes a disinterest in activities that used to be fun because the reward center of the brain has been compromised
- Psychosis with hallucinations and paranoia that can become chronic or recur during stressful times, even after being clean for years
How to Choose the Right Meth Rehab
When it comes to choosing a meth rehab, West Hollywood residents have plenty of options. It can feel overwhelming to try and choose the right one for you. Some things you may want to look for when doing your research include the following:
- Accreditation and licensed staff – there are “wellness” centers out there that may not be legitimate rehab facilities, even though they claim to be able to help with drug treatments. You will want to find a rehab center that has licensed, experienced, and trained medical staff, therapists, and other addiction experts to ensure you are safe and that your treatment will be effective
- A medical detox program with mental health care – meth detoxing can be frightening and uncomfortable and lead to serious mental health problems like psychosis or severe depression. With the right level of care available to you, this phase of treatment does not need to be traumatic or scary. Popular medications used to help with meth detox are antidepressants and medications to help reset disturbed sleep schedules
- A customized, holistic approach to treatment – you are not “a meth addict”; you are a whole person with hopes and dreams, and you deserve to be treated with respect as all aspects of your health are treated, including physical, emotional, social, behavioral, and psychological wellness
- Inpatient and outpatient options, with long-term connections to help in case of relapse – you will want access to the full continuum of care so your program can help you stay sober as you transition back into your everyday life, even when you hit bumps in the road
See the difference between Methamphetamine vs. Amphetamine in our blog below:
West Hollywood Residents Can Call Muse Today for Meth Rehab
When it comes to choosing a meth rehab, West Hollywood residents can call the Muse treatment center at any time. We are a treatment center that uses a “whole-patient” approach to treatment, with dual diagnosis programs to help people who may be suffering from psychological issues including drug-induced psychosis, anxiety, or paranoia due to meth use.
Our detox programs can help you avoid discomfort, pain, and fear that often accompanies meth detox, providing rest and recuperation, along with prescription doses of FDA-approved medications and therapy. Our team of caring, experienced, and licensed doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, and counselors will ensure you stay safe and healthy and will be there 24 hours a day so you will always have somebody to talk to. We will also treat the dehydration and malnutrition caused by meth use through a customized nutrition program.
Once your time in detox is completed, it is recommended that you continue receiving treatment in an inpatient rehab program. At Muse Treatment, our 30- to 90-day residential rehab will continue your 24-hour access to medical care as you live in a safe, supportive, and 100% sober treatment center. You will have therapy, counseling, holistic treatments, and other therapies to help you address the underlying issues that have played a part in your addiction, including mental illness and trauma, as well as social and family issues. Some of the treatments we offer include:
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Educational programs
- Dual diagnosis
- Art therapy
- Spirituality and 12-step programs
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Behavioral therapy
- Life skills training
- Relapse prevention
Inpatient rehab is important for many people quitting meth because it removes any situations that could cause temptation to use meth again. The cravings for meth are very strong for the first few weeks of recovery, so living in a supportive sober environment will make all the difference for most patients. After inpatient rehab, we have outpatient options that will continue your therapy, medical care, and social support as you return to your community, either returning home or moving into a sober living home. Our outpatient programs all include therapy, case management services, and 12-step integration. You can attend treatment for full days in the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or for around 9 hours a week in the evenings in the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
Muse Treatment provides customized care options in an integrated continuum of treatments that will lead you through detox, rehab, and back into your everyday life, with continued strong support for as long as you need. We even have aftercare programs that can last for years after outpatient rehab and provide connections to your area’s local support and recovery resources. Please call us at (800) 426-1818 today to learn more about our meth rehab, your insurance coverage for detox and rehab, and how we can get you on the path to sobriety now.
