In general, people use it a little less often than other stimulants such as cocaine. Researchers say overdose deaths linked to meth increased fourfold over the last decade. “We meth addiction see it down in Alabama, Mississippi and the Kentucky area where it’s really taken off,” Donahue says. He added that lack of medical treatments for those addicted to meth has complicated efforts to curb demand for the drug. Someone who uses methamphetamines will likely experience a high with a rush of energy. Depending on how a person uses it, it may keep someone awake and alert for many hours.
What are Methamphetamine Withdrawal Symptoms?
But knowing how to identify symptoms of meth addiction can bring you closer to saving your own life or that of your loved one. The medically correct term for drug addiction is substance use disorder (SUD). However, it is important to note that although meth use does physically alter the brain, there is a difference between physical dependence and addiction. It’s important to set (and reinforce, as often as necessary) boundaries that set the tone for what behaviors you will and won’t accept and set the stage for healthier interactions.
What to expect from treatment
The reasons for lack of efficacy of clinically tested medications include heterogeneity of METH-abusing population and comorbidity between METH and other psychiatric disorders 19. Furthermore, more clinical research is needed on the co-use of METH and opioids as well as how their combination affects overdose risk. METH relapse remains the biggest problem in MUD and warrants more pre-clinical and clinical studies. People experiencing methamphetamine addiction should speak with a healthcare professional who can provide support and treatment pathways.
Teen & Young Adult Treatment Tracks
Prolonged use Drug rehabilitation can cause serious health issues, including lasting damage to the heart and brain. It may also affect a person’s relationships, finances, and future. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not currently approved any drugs that can help with methamphetamine dependence.
- More support groups are available online so you can get help in a way that’s convenient for you.
- The goal is to create conditions that allow space for recovery while protecting your family’s well-being.
- If you or someone you know has any signs of an overdose, call for emergency help right away.
- Drug rehabilitation inpatient programs may offer assistance through the withdrawal process, helping a person to recover from SUD.
- The treatment helped 13.4% of patients with their addiction, compared with 2.5% of the placebo group.
- This medication therapy provides another tool for doctors to try with patients.
Meth addiction affects a person’s brain and changes how it functions. Meth alters the way the brain communicates with the rest of the body. The best treatment depends on your needs and the severity of your addiction. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. Injection – The injection method has a faster onset of action and the potential for increased risk of skin and blood-borne transmission of viruses such as HIV and hepatitis.
What are the Risks of Meth Addiction?
The program is highly structured and is largely made up of group therapy sessions. The Matrix Model therapy provides a framework for engaging people who abuse METH in treatment and helping them achieve abstinence. Patients learn about issues critical to the addiction, relapse, and recovery process. They receive advice from a trained therapist on how to avoid relapse and how to socialize in a drug-free environment. As part of the Matrix Model therapy, families are encouraged to actively participate in the recovery of their loved one.
Peer support allows you to feel less alone in your recovery, and build the strong community that you need to stay on course when life gets hard. More support groups are available online so you can get help in a way that’s convenient for you. The person will likely also experience emotional turmoil and strong cravings for some time.
What are the risks?
The positive rewarding effects of METH are mediated mainly by increased dopaminergic neurotransmission, making the dopamine system a favored target for pharmacotherapy in MUD. Serotonin and noradrenaline modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission in the reward circuitry via stimulation of serotonergic and adrenergic receptors in several brain areas 55, 56. In addition to modulating dopaminergic neurotransmission, certain other properties make the serotonin and noradrenaline system targets for pharmacotherapy for MUD. Serotonin stabilizes mood and regulates impulsivity as well as learning and memory 57 and thus has a role in the development and reinstatement of drug taking 56, 58. This new medical treatment strategy arrives at a time when addiction to methamphetamines has come roaring back, fueled by cheap imports from Mexico. The treatment regimen in the trial combined two medications that have been studied separately for treating methamphetamine addiction with limited success.