Methamphetamine Treatment
Iowa Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment
Methamphetamine is different from imported addictive drugs in that the ingredients for manufacturing it are readily available locally.
Meth labs are often run by those who are selling and using their product. The lab operators often sustain injuries from the explosions that result from combining combustible chemicals as well as the physical harm from methamphetamine addiction.
What is Methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine (meth) is a stimulant. It was first developed in a Japanese laboratory in 1893. Meth was used during the Second World War by American, English, German, and Japanese military personnel as a performance enhancer.
Meth is a highly-addictive illicit drug. It is known by several street names, including speed, hillbilly crack, blue meth, crystal, crystal meth, and ice.
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Short-term Effects of Methamphetamine
Even using a small amount of methamphetamine can cause harmful physical health effects, such as:
- Aggressive, erratic, or irritable behavior
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Faster breathing
- Higher body temperature
- Increased blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
The psychological effects of using meth include:
- A sense of euphoria
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Feeling paranoid
- Mood disturbances
- Psychosis
- Violence
Long-term Effects of Methamphetamine
Meth is cheaper than cocaine, and its stimulant effects last longer. As the boost-in-energy effects of methamphetamine use start to wear off, users start “tweaking.” This term refers to a combination of anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and dysphoria (a general state of unease).
Taking more meth improves these symptoms for a short time. It also strengthens the person’s addiction. Eventually, after being up for several days, meth users “crash” into a fitful sleep.
Chronic methamphetamine users are putting themselves at risk for the following health issues:
- Anxiety, confusion, and insomnia
- Damage to the kidneys, liver, and lungs
- High blood pressure (leading to a heart attack)
- Intense itching
- Paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, and mood disturbances (Psychotic symptoms may last for months or years after meth use)
- Permanent damage to the brain and the heart
- Premature osteoporosis
- Severe dental problems
- Violent behavior
Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Addiction
- Long-term meth users appear to be older than their chronological age.
- They may develop “meth mouth” (damaged, discolored teeth) from dry mouth and heavy sugar intake associated with their nervous system overstimulation and poor oral hygiene.
- Someone with a methamphetamine addiction may also develop skin sores and ulcers from compulsive picking at “meth bugs,” which are the result of the result of meth-induced delusions or needle marks from injections.
- Since meth increases libido and decreases inhibition, meth users are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors. Someone with a methamphetamine addiction is at higher risk for developing a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Signs of Methamphetamine Withdrawal
When someone goes through methamphetamine withdrawal, they often experience symptoms that are the opposite of the highs they had when they first started using the drug. The severity of the withdrawal varies from person to person and depends on how much and how often they used meth. Medically-supervised withdrawal is the best and safest way to go through the detoxification (detox) process from methamphetamine.
During withdrawal, someone may experience these emotional symptoms:
- Being paranoid
- Craving for more meth (intense)
- Feeling anxious or depressed
- Hallucinations
- Lack of motivation
- Low energy level
During withdrawal, a person may experience these physical symptoms:
- Disturbed sleep (someone who has been using methamphetamine for a long time won’t have normal sleep patterns for several weeks)
- Dry mouth
- Extreme fatigue
- Headaches
Lack of appetite
Muscle spasms
Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment at Ivory Plains
Before a client at Ivory Plains can start their meth addiction treatment, they need to be free from the influence of any chemicals.
It means they must go through detoxification (detox) if they are presently using methamphetamine or have used the drug recently.
Detox at Ivory Plains
The detox part of treatment is something that holds some people back from seeking help. They have concerns about it being physically or emotionally painful, either from hearing about others’ experiences or from past attempts at getting help.
At Ivory Plains, our detox program is managed by a doctor.
Clients are supervised by licensed nurses and support staff throughout the process.
A medically supervised detox is the best option for a safe, comfortable experience when starting the journey to a life free from methamphetamine.
Residential Treatment Services in Iowa
Our residential addiction treatment program for methamphetamine is usually 30 days long. However, the Ivory Plains treatment program is flexible enough to be customized to meet our clients’ needs.
We understand that everyone we work with is an individual with their own history and treatment goals. Each person progresses at their own pace in the early stages of recovery. Our addiction treatment center focuses on helping the whole person (mind, body, and soul) by offering custom plans based on each client’s needs and treatment goals.
What does residential treatment look like? It includes individual and group therapy, along with attending 12-step recovery meetings. We also offer family therapy so that our clients’ families understand the disease of addiction, that they didn’t cause their loved one to become an addict, and that their relationship with their addicted loved one needs to change when they come home. If the family dynamics don’t change, the person in early recovery doesn’t have the best chance for success.
We believe that having an addiction doesn’t mean that someone should consider themselves bad or worthless. Our clients can stop using meth and move forward into a life where they can feel love and joy again. A life in recovery means they can (re)discover their talents and what they can offer the world.
