If you or someone you love has become consumed with meth use or addiction, understand that quitting involves much more than simply deciding to get clean. For most people, the only way to completely and safely conquer this disease is for individuals to acknowledge their problems and seek professional treatment. Learning how to quit meth requires a commitment to staying clean. The best meth addiction treatment programs can help individuals re-learn important life skills to effectively fight the urge to abuse drugs in the future.
Meth Abuse in The United States
Methamphetamines are potent stimulants that bring nothing but trouble to their users. Meth is most commonly produced in laboratories and sold illegally on the streets. The DEA classifies methamphetamine—or “meth”—as a Schedule II drug. While there’s some medicinal value related to treating ADHD, some users claim to have developed a meth addiction after just one single use. Common street names for meth include:
- Chalk
- Ice
- Glass
- Crystal
Highly versatile, meth can be smoked, injected, inhaled or taken orally. It’s easily accessible in both large cities and rural areas, meaning no particular demographic is immune to its effects. Long-term meth use can result in various catastrophic results, including addiction. Once users develop a dependency, they’ll do anything to score more of the substance, including lie, steal and even betray close friends and relatives.
Learning About Long-Term Effects Could Inspire Individuals to Learn How to Quit Meth
Long-time meth abuse can cause extreme mental and physical harm to the body. In fact, its effects are obvious to those who don’t even use it. For those who want to learn how to quit meth, learning the long-term effects can deter individuals from further use. Some of those effects include:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Insomnia/disrupted sleep patterns
- Extreme mood swings, including violent behavior
- Changes to the brain’s structure
- Impacted cognitive function
- Memory loss
- Severe dental problems
- Weight loss
- Difficulty focusing
Long-term meth abuse can even cause individuals to exhibit certain psychotic qualities, such as paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. These symptoms may persist for up to a year after an individual has stopped abusing meth, particularly during stressful times.
How to Quit Meth: Understanding Withdrawal Symptoms
Like with any drug, meth users develop a tolerance to the drug’s pleasurable effects over time. This means individuals need more of the drug to achieve the same “high” or rush that smaller doses once generated. If individuals suddenly stop taking meth or cut dosages significantly, their bodies will soon go into a tailspin as they attempt to self-correct and return to normal functionality. These withdrawal symptoms occur because the body has grown accustomed to receiving the drug.
Meth withdrawal effects can be especially intense, and in some cases, potentially dangerous. For this reason, individuals should undergo withdrawal at a medically supervised detox facility with medical professionals trained to handle any possible complications.
Some meth withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Intense, uncontrollable cravings
- Disturbed sleep
- Shaking and/or tremors
- Fever, chills, and extreme sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hypertension
- Heart palpitations
- Respiratory failure
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
Professional Help for Meth Dependence
Meth addiction treatment is designed to help individuals stop using the drug, manage their cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and learn how to live a healthy life without meth. Treatment typically consists of a combination of behavioral therapies, medication-assisted therapy (MAT), and peer support groups.
Depending on individual needs, treatment may also include substance use disorder counseling, medical care, vocational training, and family therapy. Treatment should be tailored to meet the individual’s needs and may include a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. The goal of meth addiction treatment is to help individuals overcome their addiction and live a fulfilling life without relying on the drug.
No matter how entrenched you are in the cycle of meth abuse, it’s not too late to turn your life around for the better. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, our comprehensive treatment tools and resources will help you regain control over your life and independence. Moreover, our staff works with individuals to help them learn how to quit meth and other substances.
Crestview Recovery offers:
- Detox referrals to off-site locations
- Extended care program
- Outpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization programs
- Individual and group therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Experiential therapies including white water rafting, skiing, and snowboarding
Learn How to Quit Meth Today
If you’re struggling with meth addiction, don’t wait until your situation gets worse. Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, offers clients safe, compassionate care. Our staff will make your recovery experience as stress-free and comfortable as possible so that you can learn how to quit meth for good and achieve sustainable sobriety. Addiction is not a one-size-fits-all issue. It is important for people to have customizable drug treatment options. There are many types of addictions today, and each of them needs some form of treatment. Therefore, in addition to meth addiction treatment, we also treat a variety of addictions, such as:
- Heroin addiction
- Alcohol addiction
- Cocaine addiction
- Opioid addiction
- Oxycodone addiction
The Importance of Meth Addiction Rehab
Choose Crestview’s Portland drug rehab to increase the chances of a safe detox and a long-time recovery of the mind and body. You will continue with more intense treatment tailored to your unique needs. There will be choices of inpatient and outpatient rehab services ranging from outpatient care to partial hospitalization (PHP) and sober living. To learn more about our programs and to get started on your own journey toward sober living, call Crestview Recovery today at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
