To truly overcome an addiction, it’s not just about stopping use. It’s about understanding what drove you to use in the first place. It’s important to recognize that it’s not your fault; substances like meth may have helped you cope with challenges you felt unable to handle on your own. However, if you want to quit, it will take facing your patterns head-on, understanding why they exist, and working to change them by creating new neural pathways.
Understanding Meth Addiction
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive drug made from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which is commonly found in allergy medication. Meth can be smoked, snorted, or injected.
Why Do People Use Meth?
People may use meth for different reasons. People use meth when other, more healthy, coping skills are not available. Typically, people use meth due to trauma. When someone uses meth, they feel a rush of euphoria.
Sometimes people use to deal with stress, feel more productive, to feel more confident, for weight loss, or many other reasons.
However, after the high wears off, meth can have negative side effects such as:
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Weight loss
- Tooth decay
- Brain damage
Knowing these consequences, you may wonder why someone would try such an addictive substance. As with any substance use, meth is used as a coping skill after a significant trauma when the individual does not have any healthy coping skills.
Meth use quickly and easily takes away negative feelings such as depression, anxiety disorders, and emotional pain. Trauma damages different parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which are responsible for memory and learning, and aggression and fear, respectively, causing people to make poor choices.
Trauma therapy and the Sovereign Body Method can help clients overcome meth addiction.
Dangers of Meth Addiction
The dangers of meth addiction include:
- Physical health issues
- Mental health problems
- Overdose
- Crime
- Social problems
- Decreased sleep
Meth addiction is difficult to overcome on your own, but with professional assistance, it can be treated.
Meth Addiction Therapy
Evolve Therapy & Counseling is not a detox or inpatient treatment program.
If you are actively using or in a cycle you can’t stop, a higher level of care, such as medical detox or residential treatment, may be necessary first.
Therapy at Evolve becomes helpful when:
- You’ve already stopped using
- You’re trying to stay off it long term
- You’re looking to deal with the patterns that led to drug use
Therapy can help you understand yourself better, so you don’t need drugs to escape your feelings or your life. Our therapists can assist you in figuring out what led you to start using and help you face those issues so they don’t continue to affect you.
Treatment Options for Methamphetamine Use
The different levels of care for methamphetamine addiction include:
- Detoxification: Detox programs help you discontinue methamphetamine use and go through withdrawal safely.
- Residential treatment: Also known as inpatient treatment, residential treatment provides you with around-the-clock support to heal your meth addiction.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP): IOP treatment usually consists of several hours of therapy per day, while living outside of the facility.
- Outpatient treatment (OP): OP treatment consists of weekly trauma therapy sessions and groups.
Typically, an individual would progress from detox to OP in order. However, you can choose any level of treatment that is right for you.
Medications for Treating Methamphetamine Use Disorder (MUD)
The only medication that has been FDA-approved to treat MUD is a buprenorphine and naltrexone composite. Buprenorphine helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while naltrexone blocks the effect of meth.
At Evolve, we provide addiction therapy after you’ve stopped using substances and are ready to take the next step. It’s about confronting your inner struggles and creating a fulfilling life so you no longer rely on drugs. Reach out today to learn more about meth addiction therapy in Brickell, Downtown Miami, and West Palm Beach.