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Meth Abuse Treatment

What is Meth Abuse?

Methamphetamines, or meth, are powerful, very addictive street stimulants that are abused by smoking, snorting, injecting, or swallowing in pill form. Like other stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, meth creates an artificial feeling of pleasure in the brain. Crystal Meth is a form of the drug that looks similar to glass or crystals. Chemically, meth is very similar to prescription drugs such as Adderall and other ADHD medications. During recent times of Adderall shortage, many users have turned to street meth because the effects can be very similar.

The high associated with meth comes on quickly and fades quicker. Because of this cycle, many users will binge the drug repeatedly causing a cycle of highs and lows. This is a very dangerous practice, because it can lead to hours and days passing, wherein the user is typically not eating at all. There is almost always a crash at the end of the high, which results in the need for additional meth to overcome the terrible feeling. Since meth also affects the body physically, by speeding up your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, binging in this manner can be potentially lethal due to overdose.

Identifying Meth Abuse

While some drug addictions are difficult to diagnose, knowing if a friend or loved one is suffering with meth abuse tends to be more visible. Physical signs and symptoms are common and drastic. Rapid weight loss, erratic behavior, skin sores and tooth decay are all tell tale signs when meth is abused. If you see signs like this, or any of the others listed below, it is time to get help immediately.

Signs of Meth Abuse May Include:

  • Tooth Decay/Loss
  • Planning Activities Around Meth Use
  • Engaging in Other High-Risk Behaviors
  • Intense Scratching and Skin Sores
  • Weight Loss
  • Continuing to Use Despite Negative Physical Effects
  • Withdrawal Symptoms and/or Cravings when Not Using Meth

If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or others, you may have a meth problem and require medical help to safely detox.

Taking the first step toward addiction treatment requires an enormous effort. At Royal Life Centers, we want our guests to know that they are not alone. We are here to be the support and strength that you need to start a life of sobriety. If you think that you may have a problem with meth addiction, call us today to get help. Royal Life Centers has been saving lives for more than 10 years in Prescott, Arizona. Addiction is painful, but we are here to ease the burden.

Effects of Methamphetamine Abuse On the Body

Since it can be injected, meth puts users at higher risk of contracting a contagious blood disease like HIV or Hepatitis B or C. Meth overdose often leads to stroke, heart attack, or organ problems, all of which may be fatal.

Meth is commonly associated with insomnia and undernourishment. Because the euphoric effects of the drug are short-lived, it leads users to binge the drug for days at a time, in place even of food. The lack of sleep can have a long term detrimental impact on the brain’s function, especially when coupled with substance abuse and lack of nutrition. Because many meth abusers go days without eating, rapid weight loss is also common.

Short-term Effects of Meth Abuse:

  • Euphoria
  • Increased Physical Activity
  • Insomnia
  • Impaired Perception
  • Decreased appetite
  • Faster breathing
  • Rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
  • Increased blood pressure and body temperature

Long-term effects of Meth Abuse:

  • Extreme Weight Loss
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Memory Loss
  • Severe Dental Problems
  • Risk of HIV/Hepatitis C
  • Intense Itching
  • Skin Sores
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Sleep Problems
  • Violent Behavior

Because methamphetamine users lose their perception of time, and binge for such long periods without sleeping or eating, health risks in the form of malnutrition and poor hygiene occur. Many long term users tend to ruin their teeth, or tear their skin up by incessant itching. Due to the hallucinations and psychosis that come with the addiction, many meth users report thinking that there are parasites under their skin and will scratch and pick to try and remove them. These long term side effects turn into permanent problems if they are not handled by a professional team.

Methamphetamine Withdrawal

Methamphetamine is an extremely potent drug and causes devastating dependence. To overcome meth addiction, proper treatment is critical. Without the medical supervision and assistance that a certified and accredited detox facility provides, serious health complications may result from meth withdrawal. Because We Care, Royal Life Centers is committed to providing the safest, most effective medication-assisted meth detox, followed by carefully structured, individualized medical regiments, an intensive therapy program, and extensive aftercare options.

Withdrawal from meth typically lasts between one and two weeks and is mostly psychological. Symptoms may be felt as soon as a few hours after the last dose. Our goal at Royal Life Centers is to make detoxification from meth as smooth as possible, which is why our guests are monitored through and after detox and our medical staff is on site 24/7 to ensure safety and comfort.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Severe depression
  • Psychosis
  • Hallucinations
  • Increased Appetite
  • Intense cravings

Substance Abuse Recovery

Following medical detox at Royal Life Centers, guests will begin a comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We offer a variety of detox options for treating drug addiction beyond just meth. Our program helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. At Royal Life Centers, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing.

Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Centers, the guest is always our top priority, and we consistently do all we can to effect lasting change, that they might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care. This is not just our goal, but our mission.

Reach Out

If you or a loved one has a dependency or addiction to meth, or any substance use disorder, please reach out to us about your detox and treatment options. Royal Life Centers admissions staff is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address your concerns. We can be reached at 888-534-9140. Because We Care.

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