Meth Addiction in Cape Cod, NJ
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2012, 1.2 million people had used the drug meth in the past 12 months, and the Drug Abuse Warning Network reports that meth use is the fourth most commonly mentioned illegal drug mentioned in emergency room visits. Meth addiction is a serious problem in the United States and has a devastating effect on individuals and their families and communities.
Meth addiction is the inability to stop using a stimulant drug methamphetamine. A white crystalline substance, meth causes strong feelings of euphoria and alertness that many people
find pleasant at first. As meth addiction progresses, people begin to require meth just to avoid unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal and find they are unable to give up the drug even when it negatively impacts their lives.
The Effects of Meth Addiction
Methamphetamine abuse can cause a number of problems, including: Serious skin infections Permanent damage to the organs Mental illness, including anxiety and repression Disfiguring dental abnormalities nicknamed “meth mouth” Weight loss that can become severe enough to lead to a state of malnutrition
Treatment for Meth Addiction
In order for treatment for meth addiction to be successful, an individualized approach that combines a unique mix of interventions selected for the specific needs of the addict is best; however, effective professional drug rehab programs for meth usually involve three distinct stages:
Step 1: Medical Detox
Suddenly discontinuing the use of meth can lead to a wide range of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including depression, sleeplessness, anxiety and even psychosis. Medical detox is the process of minimizing these symptoms while ridding the body of methamphetamine. Performed under the supervision of medical professionals, detoxification addresses the physical dependence on meth.
Step 2: Treatment
Meth addiction involves more than just a physical need for the drug. There are also mental and emotional factors at play in addiction that must be worked through in order to fully recover. Treatment for meth addiction focuses on these elements of the disease. Through a variety of interventions, addicts get to the bottom of what led them to abuse the drug. Once they have an understanding of the past, individuals in treatment turn their attention to the future and learn skills, techniques and strategies that can help them abstain from drug use in the future.
Step 3: Aftercare
To help prevent relapse and make the return to daily life smoother, treatment ends with the development of an aftercare plan. The plan may include a number of different elements, including support groups, therapy and even vocational training. Following the aftercare plan gives those transitioning out of treatment the ongoing support needed to continue to live a clean and sober life.
Hope for the Future
While the effects of addiction to meth can be devastating, there is way forward. At drugtreatmentcenterscapecod.com, we provide individualized treatments for meth addiction that take a holistic approach to recovery, meeting the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of people who are addicted to methamphetamine in a safe and comfortable homelike environment. To learn more about how we can help, please call Drug Treatment Centers Cape Cod.