Meth Addiction

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Meth Addiction Treatment at The Source

Our programs are flexible and can accommodate your unique needs, encouraging long-term recovery. At The Source, we want rehabilitation to feel restorative and safe, not like a punishment. Our meth rehab program provides trauma-informed care that focuses on treating underlying disorders like PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and other mental health issues. We give each patient the time, care, and patience you will need to be able to gain recovery skills and tools needed to move forward in life, substance-free, while taking accountability for your own actions.

Individualized Treatment for Meth Addiction

Meth addiction treatment can be found at The Source. We are a safe place where anybody struggling with substance use issues or substance abuse can come for help. Even if we cannot provide the services you need, we will work with you to find help. We never leave anybody behind at The Source, and we believe every person is worthy of our full attention and care.

During intake, we give you a psychological and trauma screening, as well as a medical screening to find out about your level of health and your needs, and then create a program that is right for you. Where meth is concerned, as we do not provide detox services, it is advised to seek a medical detox treatment before coming to us, especially if you have been using meth for a long time. There is a risk of dehydration and mental illness or psychosis that come with detoxing that should be overseen by medical and mental health professionals.

Once you are ready, we will work with you to create a rehabilitation plan that will get you back on track, in control of your own life once again. We have a non-judgmental, unconditionally caring atmosphere, where we not only treat each patient like family, but we believe each patient is our family. Our group of rehabilitation facilities in South Florida leads with clear purpose, cause, and belief in all we do in all levels of care, ensuring we never put profits over people, we always treat our clients as we would our own family, and we leave no person behind.

Meth Addiction Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the US Department of Health has called the meth crisis a public safety concern. This is due in part to an increase in overdose deaths, and also because of the chronic health issues and increased risk of contracting infectious diseases that are involved in meth use. The following are some meth addiction statistics for the United States:

  • About 1.6 million Americans use meth
  • The average new meth user is only 23 years old, and in 2020, over 1% of eighth-graders had already tried meth
  • In 2015, six percent of Americans over the age of 12 had tried meth at least once, and in the same year meth addiction treatments rose 3% from 2014
  • 85% to 90% of all stimulant-related deaths involve meth
  • 10,000 Americans died due to meth overdose in 2017, and in 2018 the number increased to 12,500.
  • Statistically speaking, Latin American, Native American, and Caucasian males are more likely to have a methamphetamine addiction than women or those of African or Asian descent
  • Meth use is more common in people who already use other substances, like tobacco, alcohol, opioids, and marijuana
  • Meth use and crime are often linked, a study in Portland, Oregon revealed over 25% of burglars and 40% of car thieves in that city also had meth-related charges
  • There is currently ten to twenty times more meth coming into the United States from foreign countries than there was ten years ago

Partial Hospitalization Program for Meth Addiction at The Source

At The Source, we have a variety of partial or full outpatient programs to choose from for your treatment. These include our partial hospitalization program (PHP), outpatient, and intensive outpatient program. When you join the partial hospitalization program:

  • You have the option to stay in our luxury residences, which are single-family homes that have amenities like backyard barbecue grills, swimming pools, and are close to the Fort Lauderdale Beach
  • There is also the option to live at home after detoxing, with close monitoring from our staff and the same residential full-time treatment plan
  • There are 25 hours a week of therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and individual therapy
  • There are activities like exercise programs, massage therapy, and special weekend activities for community building and recreation
  • You will stay in the PHP for one to three months, then transition into an intensive outpatient program for further care as you begin to move back into your everyday life at your own pace, including working, going to school, or living at home
  • We will focus on addressing the underlying causes of your addiction, so you can achieve a meaningful recovery
  • Case managers will work with you to help you obtain medical leave from work or school so you can focus 100% on healing yourself

Outpatient Programs for Meth Addiction Treatment at The Source

Our Intensive Outpatient Program

The intensive outpatient program (IOP) at The Source is a customized treatment plan that will be created specifically to your needs, helping you overcome addiction and re-enter your life in a transition that feels right to you. You may return to work or school, resume your daily responsibilities, and return to your community while working on your recovery tools and relapse prevention strategies.

In the IOP, you will:

  • Be provided with 9 hours per week of therapy and treatments, exploring underlying issues with a therapist and sharing within group therapy
  • Learn to recognize the early stages of relapse and gain the strategies you need to avoid it, such as cognitive behavior therapy methods, relaxation techniques, and peer support

Our Outpatient Program

The outpatient program (OP) at The Source:

  • Can last for weeks or months once PHP or IOP are complete
  • Is a minimum of 3 hours per week of therapy and groups, with educational programs and continued relapse prevention training
  • Offers facilitation to help you get into 12-step or other recovery groups

Our programs are flexible, and can accommodate your unique needs, encouraging long-term recovery. At The Source, we want rehabilitation to feel restorative and safe, not like a punishment. Our meth rehab program provides trauma-informed care that focuses on treating underlying disorders like PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, and other mental health issues.

We give each patient the time, care, and patience you will need to be able to gain recovery skills and tools needed to move forward in life, substance-free, while taking accountability for your own actions.

Therapies we offer include:

  • Bio sound Healing
  • Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)
  • One-on-one Therapy
  • Brain Mapping/Neurofeedback
  • Group and Individual Therapy
  • Trauma Process Group
  • Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Shame Resolution Group
  • Relapse Prevention Counseling
  • Family Therapy
  • Meditation

We provide connections to 12-step programs like alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous that will provide contingency management and will encourage your long-term recovery. Holistic treatments will heal the spirit and the body, and you will learn new forms of stress management and relaxation techniques to calm the mind.

Call our intake specialists today to find out more about how we can help you recover from a drug or alcohol addiction, including meth addiction. You can count on us to be there for you during this difficult time. We never make a promise we cannot keep, and whether you are somebody who is currently unhoused, or if you are a person who has excellent insurance, we will be able to help you get the treatment you need.

What Is Meth and Why Is It So Addictive?

Methamphetamine (meth) is a synthetic drug that is made from a combination of common household chemicals in unregulated meth labs. Meth is a potent and addictive central nervous system stimulant that causes a quick psychological dependence.

Meth looks like small blue or white rocks, small pieces of glass, or powder. It can be eaten or dissolved and injected intravenously but is usually smoked or snorted.

There are some methamphetamine-based medications that were developed for nasal decongestion in the 20th century. Today, methamphetamine can also be found in drugs created to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, but these are controlled substances and cannot be easily obtained by people without a prescription.

Using crystal meth can lead to rapid dependency, compulsive drug use, and addiction. It is one of the most addictive substances available and can also cause several serious health issues, including chronic damage to the central nervous system. There is a high chance that meth bought off the street is cut with additives that can be dangerous to human health, including substances like:

  • Hydrochloric acid
  • Iodine
  • Sulfuric acid
  • Baking soda
  • Lithium metal
  • Red phosphorus

The difference between meth and these substances cannot be seen by the naked eye, so dealers will combine them to increase their profits.

Meth is also known by street names such as:

  • Tina
  • Christina
  • Crank
  • Speed
  • Chalk
  • Ice
  • Glass

Why is Meth So Addictive?

Meth is a stimulant drug that, when first used, provides feelings of overall well-being, energy, and talkativeness. When compared to other stimulant drugs, meth is more potent because more of it can cross the blood-brain barrier at one time, allowing more of it to get into the brain at once. This causes an intense flood of dopamine to be released in the brain’s reward center.

In the beginning, meth will almost immediately:

  • Decrease your appetite
  • Increase your activity and energy levels
  • Make you feel more sociable, outgoing, and talkative
  • Give you a sense of euphoria and pleasure

These good feelings come on quickly after you take meth, but they also disappear quickly. As they wear off, users typically continue taking the drug to try and maintain the high and avoid the unpleasant feelings of coming down. The original euphoria from the first high can never be replicated, but the compulsive desire to continue trying to get it becomes imprinted on the brain.

Meth comedowns are not withdrawal symptoms, rather they are like an extremely difficult hangover. The brain was flooded by neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, along with other chemicals that were converted into toxins that the body needs to remove from your system.

Physical exhaustion will also set in, along with symptoms like:

  • Sadness, depression, hopelessness
  • Muscle weakness, fatigue, lack of motivation
  • Decreased appetite
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain (especially from clenching the jaw)

These symptoms become even more intense when meth is used together with other drugs or substances like opioids or alcohol. Its also dangerous to mix these drugs, doing so can result in death from overdose because meth can disguise overdose symptoms until it is too late.

Many people will binge meth over a period of days, in a process known colloquially as “tweaking”. This is when meth is used for days at a time, with the person continuously using meth, not eating, or sleeping at all, and foregoing regular life activities and responsibilities in favor of meth use. This type of behavior makes the comedown feelings even worse, and the longer you use meth the worse it feels when you stop. This reinforces the downward cycle of meth abuse.

Drug binges cause the brain to forget how to produce certain chemicals and neurotransmitters like dopamine on its own, and it begins to need the meth just to function normally, leading to physical dependence. Once you are dependent on meth for dopamine production, you will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to cut back or stop your meth use, leading to an addiction.

Signs of Meth Abuse

Signs of meth abuse include changes in personality, attitude, behavior, and appearance. Because meth is extremely addictive, it can have drastic effects on users, therefore, it is not usually an addiction a person can hide for long. A person who is using meth may become secretive or aggressive, stop including basic hygiene practices in their day, and start spending time with new people or isolating themself from their usual friend groups, family, and other support.

People who are abusing meth may have paraphernalia like syringes, pipes, or drug stashes around the house, or on their person. They may develop “meth mouth” from prolonged periods of dry mouth, as well as craving sugary foods and clenching and grinding their teeth, causing rotting, stained, crumbling teeth.

If your loved one is displaying signs of meth abuse, you may need to have a serious talk with them about their drug use and finding help. The Source can help you plan an intervention.

Physical Signs of Meth Abuse

Some of the most common physical signs of meth abuse are:

  • Sores on the skin caused by excessive scratching and picking, unexplained injuries, scabs and bruises, or track marks
  • Excessive or even dangerous weight loss
  • Lack of basic hygiene, leading to rotting or missing teeth and other issues
  • Watery, red eyes with pinpoint pupils
  • Sleep problems
  • Shakiness in hands or feet
  • Flushed or pale skin
  • Burns on their fingers or their lips
  • Loss of coordination, sluggishness, or laziness
  • Damaged sinus cavities with chronic nosebleeds if snorting meth
  • Respiratory damage and lung issues if smoking meth

People who use meth may develop infections from the sores on their skin, and the risk of contracting STIs or dangerous infectious diseases like Hepatitis or HIV/AIDS increases when using meth.

Psychological Signs of Meth Abuse

Meth use, especially when long-term, can cause damage to the brain, nerve cells, and chemical balances in the body. Prolonged meth exposure can damage up to half of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain, as well as those that contain serotonin, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Using meth can cause serious cognitive and emotional damage, resulting in psychological and emotional effects like:

  • Aggressive or chaotic behavior
  • Mood swings
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Inability to concentrate or focus
  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Feeling shame or guilt
  • Agitation
  • Violent outbursts
  • Insomnia
  • Impaired judgment
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Memory issues
  • Movement and coordination issues
  • Mood disturbances
  • Delusions
  • Worsening mental health issues and cooccurring disorders like anxiety disorders and mood disorders

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that using meth can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. There are psychotic symptoms and emotional issues that can last for years after quitting meth, and not all brain damage from meth use is reversible, so some changes may be permanent. For this reason, seeking treatment as soon as possible is important for people addicted to meth. The sooner you stop meth use, the better the outcome will be.

Social Signs of Meth Abuse

For many people who know somebody who has become addicted to meth, it is like their friend or family member has become a different person. They may try to hide their use, but it soon becomes the only focus of their life, and they may stop caring what others think as they obsess over finding and using the drug.

Some of the social signs of meth addiction and abuse are:

  • Spending time with a new friend group, while distancing themselves from friends and family, isolating themselves from their usual support system, only associating with other meth addicts
  • Displaying excessive energy, with fast, rambling speech and lots of body movements, with an inability to sit still
  • Taking risks and behaving irrationally, or doing illegal things like stealing for meth money
  • Extreme changes in sleeping and eating habits
  • Failing to meet important responsibilities
  • Lying to friends and family about meth use
  • Becoming uninterested in their physical appearance, grooming, or even basic hygiene
  • Losing interest in areas of life that were once important to them, like hobbies, work, relationships, and life goals, making obtaining, using, and recovering from meth a priority over everything else
  • “Tweaking”, part of a drug binge where the person stays awake with anxiety and insomnia for three to fifteen days at a time using meth but failing to feel high from it. They may feel desperate and display symptoms of psychosis like paranoia, hallucinations, and confusion.
  • Having one- to three-day phases of “crashing”, when their body does not produce dopamine, and they are extremely exhausted, with symptoms of malaise and depression.

Long Term Effects of Meth Abuse

Meth abuse takes a toll on the body and can be the cause of many short- and long-term health and psychological issues, some of which are chronic and irreversible. Common long-term effects of meth abuse include:

  • Damage to the brain
  • Chronic insomnia
  • Excessive weight loss and malnutrition
  • Memory loss
  • Short attention spans
  • Trouble making plans
  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Impaired cognition
  • Delusions and paranoia
  • Depression and the inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia)
  • Psychosis
  • Repetitive motor activity
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Mood Swings
  • Chronic anxiety
  • Increased risk of stroke
  • Increased risk of Parkinson’s disease
  • Perforated septum or other nasal issues
  • Lung problems like pneumonia, bronchitis, and a chronic cough
  • Major dental issues, like tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease
  • Cardiovascular issues, including heart palpitations and cardiac arrest
  • Seizures

Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Meth addiction can happen to a person quickly, as it is a highly potent and addictive drug. Some common external signs of meth addiction include:

  • Lying, stealing or secretiveness
  • Unexplained financial problems
  • New social groups, with new friends displaying signs of drug use
  • Keeping drug paraphernalia around
  • Persistent coughing, picking scabs, moving the body, and speaking rapidly
  • Extreme changes in energy levels and personality

Common symptoms of addiction to methamphetamine include:

  • Using crystal meth in secret, feeling guilty about your meth use
  • Being unable to cut back or stop using meth, even when you really try to do so
  • Making meth a priority over the needs of your friends and family, your job, and your usual fun activities and hobbies
  • Feeling strong cravings for meth, and feeling preoccupied about when you can use meth again
  • Developing a tolerance, needing to take more meth to feel normal, and using larger amounts for longer amounts of time
  • Social or interpersonal problems caused by your meth use
  • Being unable to control the frequency or amount of meth you are using
    Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using meth
  • Continuing to use meth even when it causes serious issues and interferes in your life
  • Using meth in situations that can be dangerous to your health, like overdosing or driving under the influence
  • Having strong cravings for meth

The more of these criteria a person meets, the more important it is for them to get professional treatment for meth addiction.

Meth Withdrawal Explained

Symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue, lethargy, and sleepiness
  • Negative feelings, depression, and apathy
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Increase in appetite

One of the main issues with people who are struggling with substance use disorders, who try and quit meth on their own, is the intense craving for meth they feel. These feelings are so strong they cause most people to relapse immediately if a professional intervention does not occur.

Another difficult fact about meth withdrawal is that many people will experience symptoms of psychosis and severe depression, two psychological issues that need treatment by experienced professionals to keep the individual safe. People who have pre-existing or undiagnosed co-existing mental health conditions are more likely to develop these symptoms during meth withdrawal.

Detoxing from meth is different for everybody, but as it involves mainly a psychological addiction, it is not usually physically dangerous, nor is it consistently severe. The timeline for meth detox is as follows:

  • Symptoms appear within 24 hours
  • The withdrawal symptoms increase in intensity for 7 to 10 days, reaching a peak during this time
  • A steady decline of symptoms happens in 14 to 20 days after your last meth use, and you will feel a little bit better each day

A medication assisted treatment (MAT) program is the safest and easiest way to detox from methamphetamine. A MAT treatment combines medical care, prescription medications, therapy, and sometimes holistic treatments as well in an integrated, whole-patient approach to healing that will not only keep you safe but will also begin to address mental illness and the underlying causes of your meth use and substance use issues.

Following detox, it is strongly recommended to transition directly into a rehabilitation program for meth. At The Source treatment center, we offer Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) in which you can live in a luxury residence as you receive therapy and other treatment in a safe and caring place, surrounded by staff that will treat you as their own family, as you begin down your road to recovery.

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