ImageThe scope of methamphetamine addiction in the United States.

Methamphetamine addiction treatment is needed as methamphetamine is a growing problem for many people and families in the United States. Meth abuse does not just affect a certain group of the population. It does not discriminate or choose a certain person. It is affecting all ages, ethnicity, and race. Many people become addicted to methamphetamine before they can see that they have a problem, and others can’t even see that they have a problem.

What is Methamphetamine?

It is an illegal drug that is in the same class as cocaine and many other powerful street drugs. It is a synthetic drug with a more rapid and lasting affect than amphetamine. It is used illegally as a stimulant and also used as a prescription drug to treat narcolepsy and to maintain blood pressure. It has many nicknames, but the most common are meth, crank, chalk, or speed.

It will usually come in the form of a crystalline white powder that is odorless. It has a bitter-taste and will dissolve easily in water or alcohol. Powder meth can also come in colors like yellow-gray, orange, and even pink. Like many other drugs, meth can be snorted, smoked, or injected.

Affects of Methamphetamine Use

Once taken, meth will create a false sense of well-being and energy for a person. With this feeling a person will push his body faster and further than it is actually meant to go. A user will experience a severe “crash” or physical and mental breakdown after the effects of the drug wear off. There are many long term and short term affects of meth use. While some are not too severe, meth can kill a person without treatment for the addiction.

Here we will take a look at some of the short term effects of meth abuse:

Loss of Appetite
Dilation of Pupils
Increased heart rate, blood pressure or body temperature
Disturbed sleep patterns
Bizarre, erratic, and sometimes violent behavior
Panic and psychosis
Hallucinations, hyper-excitability, or irritability
Convulsions, seizures or death form high doses

Now a look at the long term effects of meth abuse:

Malnutrition, weight loss
Severe tooth decay
Destruction of tissue in the nose if snorted
Respiratory problems if smoked
Liver, kidney and lung damage
Strong psychological dependence
Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion
Damage to the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and epilepsy
Permanent damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain, high blood pressure leading to heart attacks, strokes and death

Categories of Abuse

When a person consumes methamphetamine, it takes over their lives in varying degrees. There are basically three categories of drug abuse. These are Low-Intensity Meth Abuse, Binge Meth Abuse, and High-Intensity Meth Abuse.

Someone who swallows or snorts methamphetamine is considered a low-intensity abuser. They are looking for the extra stimulation meth provides. This will allow them to feel they can stay awake long enough to finish a task or a job, or if they want the appetite-suppressant effect to lose unwanted weight. They are just one step away from becoming a “binge” abuser, meaning they will have an uncontrolled use of the substance.

When a person smokes or injects methamphetamine with a needle, they are considered binge abuser. What this does is allows them to receive a more intense dose of the meth and experience a stronger “rush” that is psychologically addictive. These abusers are just on the verge of moving into becoming a high-intensity abuser.

The high-intensity abusers are the meth addicts that are most often called “speed freaks.” Basically, their whole existence is focused on preventing the crash, that painful letdown after the drug high. In order to continue to achieve the desired “rush” form the meth, the person must take more and more of it. But just like any other drug, each successive meth high is less and less than the one before. This urges the meth addict info a dark and deadly spiral of addiction.

Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

There is an obvious need for more methamphetamine addiction treatment facilities. Every year that passes, we see an increase in the number of people checking into rehab programs and people who are addicted that are not getting the help that they need. According to the SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set, in one year there were over 1.8 million admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities. Even more is that 9% of all the admissions were primarily for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse and 4% more was where methamphetamine/amphetamine was the secondary drug of choice.
How to Handle the Problem

When someone is addicted to methamphetamine, they need help immediately. Find a drug treatment program that is going to handle their specific needs. Call Narconon today at 800-468-6933 to find out how we can you or your loved one.

For more information on how Narconon handles addiction click here.