Methamphetamine addiction is an especially cruel type of substance use disorder that causes a rapid decline in a person’s physical and mental health. Peachtree Recovery Solutions created a meth addiction treatment program that teaches people to become sober and stay that way. We offer outpatient plans to meet the needs of anyone who is ready to stop abusing meth and start living their lives again.
What is Meth?
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is a stimulant drug that affects a person’s central nervous system and brain. Meth is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse. Other drugs on this list include Oxycontin, fentanyl, morphine, and codeine. Meth was initially developed from the amphetamine drug in the early 20th century for use as a medical treatment. However, it has a powerful and dangerous impact on those who use it and was eventually recognized for its potential to cause addiction.
How Meth Addiction Develops
People become addicted to meth for a variety of reasons. Each reason starts out as someone just wanting to use the drug once or a few times, thinking they can keep it from becoming a problem. Sadly, many who use it end up needing meth addiction treatment. One of the most common reasons a person begins using meth is to experience increased energy. They may use it to stay awake long hours in order to excel at work or in school.
Athletes sometimes use it to increase their performance, while others want the ability to feel more sociable and stay awake late into the night. Another reason people become addicted to meth is that they use it for weight loss. The results they achieve are typically short-term, which results in them using meth long-term in an attempt to maintain or keep the weight loss going. For some people, meth abuse is all about feeling the euphoric high it provides. Sadly, by the time they realize they have lost control, the addiction has taken hold.
Signs and Symptoms of Meth Addiction
Someone who is in need of meth addiction treatment will show certain signs and symptoms. These include:
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Increased energy level
- Hyperactivity
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Increased blood pressure
- Dental damage
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive itching
- Insomnia
- Aggressive or violent mood
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
Dangers of Meth Addiction
Long-term damage can be done when someone experiences meth addiction for prolonged periods of time. It can affect a person’s mental health and cause significant anxiety, mood swings, paranoia, and hallucinations. Psychotic symptoms may even last months or years after a person has stopped using meth.
In addition, the brain can be impacted by long-term meth abuse. A person may experience impaired verbal learning, reduced motor speed, and difficulty associated with memory. While some of these effects are reversible, many are not, which makes seeking treatment as soon as possible important.
Types of Meth Addiction Treatment
Meth addiction treatment consists of different stages of care. The first is detox, which allows the person to shed the remaining toxins in their body and begin to learn to live meth-free. After that, some people move into a residential program for several weeks or months in order to continue with intensive, round-the-clock care. Other make the move to outpatient care, which provides many of the same types of therapy but allows the individual to return to living in their own homes.
Several therapy modalities are used to help people understand and overcome addiction. As well, medications can be used to treat withdrawal symptoms, including both physical and emotional ones.
What to Expect During Meth Addiction Treatment
Our program for meth addiction includes several options for evidence-based therapy. These include:
- Individual Therapy
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Holistic Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Trauma Therapy
- Red Light Therapy
For those experiencing ongoing physical or emotional withdrawal symptoms, our clinicians can provide options for FDA-approved medications to help ease them. We also provide a Women’s Program, Men’s Program, and an Aftercare Program.
Meth Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone who is addicted to meth stops abusing it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms. Meth addiction treatment programs provide medications that minimize and relieve many of the uncomfortable symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Lethargy
- Sleeping a lot
- Fatigue
- Dehydration
- Chills
- Weight gain
- Cognitive difficulty
- Loss of feeling pleasure
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Moodiness
- Cravings for meth
Other Services We Offer
Besides treatment for meth addiction, we also provide treatment for alcohol addiction and a variety of other drugs. We also treat dual addiction, which is the presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. Mental illnesses include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and more.
Find Meth Addiction Treatment in Atlanta
Have you lost yourself in the world of meth abuse or do you care about someone in the same situation? Peachtree Recovery Solutions offers a world-class meth addiction treatment program that helps people understand how their addiction affects their lives. From there, they learn to embrace recovery by attending multiple types of therapy sessions. We also offer prescription medications that help minimize withdrawal symptoms that can happen during the early stages of recovery.
For more information about our program, visit our admissions page now. Our staff can answer your questions about getting started on hitting the reset button on your life.