Meth Treatment
Meth, short for methamphetamine, is a synthetic stimulant that affects an individual’s central nervous system. Also known as glass, crystal, ice, and a variety of other names, meth is highly addictive, dangerous, and illegal. However, despite its dangers, meth use in the United States has increased in recent years.
What is Meth Exactly?
Most people know about amphetamines, the base for meth. Although they can be addictive and harmful, amphetamines can be used safely through prescription to treat disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Meth, which combines amphetamines with other substances, has no legal usage.
Meth comes in three main forms:
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Crystal meth: a crystalline form
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Base meth: a waxy form
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Speed: a powdered form
Depending on the form and the preference of the person using meth, it is typically smoked, injected, snorted, or swallowed. Highs from meth are short-lasting, often resulting in individuals taking the drug repeatedly in a short amount of time after they crash. Each form of meth has different strengths and may impact people differently.
What Are the Effects of Meth?
Meth is a complex, highly addictive drug. A high typically begins with a bout of intense, positive emotion (often called “euphoria”), then settles down into a longer high. When highs drop — which they do quickly, typically after four to 15 hours — the person using the drug crashes, often sleeping for extended periods. Afterward, they experience a “hangover” with intense dehydration and fatigue.
Outside of the pattern of highs, the effects of meth can be best understood in two categories: short-term effects and long-term effects.
Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects of meth are brief and are often associated with the high itself or the stages after it. Some short-term effects include:
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High or irregular heart rate
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Feelings of extreme pleasure (euphoria)
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Increased blood pressure
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Increased levels of energy and wakefulness
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Rapid breathing or hyperventilation
While the short-term effects of meth are typically less severe than the long-term effects, they are still very dangerous.
Because meth is a mixture of amphetamines and other chemicals, it is typically impossible to know the drug’s true composition or levels of toxins. However, even when this is known, small doses are still highly dangerous. Overdoses are very possible, and no medicine to treat or cure meth overdose exists.
Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of meth may occur over weeks, months, or years. They typically involve changes to the brain and body that result from using the drug. Some long-term effects of meth include:
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Poor memory and memory loss
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Weight loss or malnutrition
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High levels of paranoia
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Itching and skin wounds
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Severe dental problems
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Depression
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Worsening HIV/AIDS
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Hallucinations
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Psychosis
Long-term effects are by far the most dangerous aspect of meth. As such, it is crucial to receive treatment. Recovery is possible.
Meth Abuse Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2015 and 2018, 1.6 million adults in the United States used meth in the previous year. Of those adults, approximately 53% had a methamphetamine use disorder.
Experts still don’t understand which groups of people are most likely to use meth. According to some studies, it seems men use meth more than women. People between 26 and 53 old and people with lower household incomes may also be more likely to use meth.
Meth Addiction
Meth is extremely addictive, and even a short period of usage can lead to substance use disorder (SUD). Over 50% of United States adults using the drug report struggling with SUD.
People who are addicted to meth may face severe health consequences. The chances of overdose increase with every incidence of use, and the health problems that occur with meth addiction can lead to cardiac death.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Meth addiction has many symptoms, including the following:
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Weight loss
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Facial sores and acne
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Euphoria
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Feelings of intense power
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Rotting or failing teeth
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Violence
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Intense cravings for methamphetamine
In addition, symptoms of withdrawal may include:
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Depression
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Insomnia, especially followed by hypersomnia
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Suicidal thoughts
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Meth cravings
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Weight gain
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Social isolation
Meth Addiction Treatment Options
No medication-based treatment for meth addiction currently exists. As such, our primary methods of treating meth addiction at Villa Oasis San Diego are emotional and behavioral. In treating meth addiction, we use some of the following treatment methods:
Find Treatment at Villa Oasis San Diego
Meth addiction is scary — there are no two ways about it. Both the short-term and the long-term effects of the drugs are extremely damaging to your physical, emotional, and social health. However, recovery is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Villa Oasis, located in San Diego, California, offers a holistic, luxurious environment. Our residents are welcomed to the perfect space to find safety, family, and compassion. We believe you have the capability to rise from the ashes and become your best self.
Our Therapies
At Villa Oasis San Diego, we know that no treatment is one-size-fits-all. In fact, upon admission, we work with all our residents to determine a treatment plan that best fits them. Our treatment offerings are wide-ranging, holistic, and evidence-based. Some of our therapies include:
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12-Step informed care
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Adventure therapy
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CBT
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DBT
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Equine therapy
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Experiential therapy
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Music therapy
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Relapse prevention
Recovering in Comfort
Effective treatment can’t ever be just the bare minimum. Residents in our program eat healthy daily meals prepared by a personal chef. In addition, residents can participate in yoga, receive massage therapy and acupuncture, have access to our state-of-the-art fitness center, and more.
You can recover. Join our family, make memories, and find your best self.
