Methamphetamine or more specifically, “crystal meth,” is an extremely powerful stimulant drug that acts on the central nervous system of the human body. The drug affects the body’s brain chemistry and changes everything about a person. The part of the brain affected by meth controls appetite, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, mood and automatic responses to stimuli. When someone is suffering from an addiction to meth, the situation is dangerous and requires immediate professional help.
Meth causes the user to experience an intense “high,” which can last for eight or more hours. Crystal meth has become more popular than heroin, cocaine, and marijuana in certain areas of the country. People who abuse meth can ingest the drug orally, smoke the fumes or inject the substance into veins, whichever route will get the person the fastest effect is the one most preferred by addicts. The high experienced by meth is due to a rush of dopamine going to the brain, which is what gives the drug its appeal and makes it so dangerously addictive.
There are many side effects associated with meth addiction and serious physical effects and risks involved as well. A person with an addiction to meth can experience:
- Increased blood pressure
- Stroke
- Rapid heart rate
- Inflammation of the heart lining (pericardium)
- Blood-borne pathogens which cause infections and fatal diseases
- Scarred or collapsed veins
- Hepatitis B and C
- Pneumonia
- Mental confusion
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Violent behavior
- Aggressiveness
- Tuberculosis
- Liver/kidney damage
When a person uses crystal meth, the crash that happens once the drug wears off can lead the addict to feeling depressed or thinking suicidal thoughts. Once the addict has stopped using meth, there are continuous symptoms that can go on for months or even longer. The only way many people have become clean and sober is with the help of treatment for meth addiction programs. For others who do not seek treatment, the nightmare and hell of living with addiction will continue indefinitely.
One of the most effective ways to treat crystal methamphetamine addiction is through the use of behavioral modification therapies. The approach is designed to help modify the way an addict thinks and to increase coping skills. The methods used to treat a person suffering from meth addiction should be intensive and specialized to the specific needs of the client, if not it will likely fail and the individual will remain addicted. Because meth addiction causes a person to experience an intense psychological addiction, professional treatment should involve total and complete rehabilitation of the disease of addiction and heal the client as well.
When a friend or loved one is suspected of having an addiction to crystal meth, there are several warning signs which can be a signal to the need for help. Some of the signs that a person might exhibit when suffering from a meth addiction could be frequent sweating, incoherent or rambling conversations, obsessive or fidgety behavior, “meth mouth” which is because of teeth grinding caused by nervous tension and lack of dental care, dilated pupils, rapid eye movements or darting of the eyes and much more.
A person suffering from an addiction to meth could also have unexplainable skin lesions, sudden weight loss, work absences, depression, risky sexual behavior, inability to focus or think properly or a heightened sense of smell. Many of these signs could indicate meth addiction, but could also be indicative of something else being wrong with the person. It is very important if addiction to meth is suspected, that the person seeks the help of treatment for meth addiction program and seeks rehabilitation services as quickly as possible.
The problems caused by crystal methamphetamine addiction continue to plague society and helping a person recover is an arduous endeavor. The best way to help a person suffering from an addiction to crystal meth is to encourage and support the individual to seek professional treatment for meth addiction. It is hard for the average person to understand all the complicated problems which are caused by meth addiction, but with therapy and education, the addict learns about the dangers of the drug and how to go about resisting the cravings and triggers, which result in using meth.
A person who has an addiction to a drug like crystal meth is taking serious risks with life and health. The drug has such a stronghold over an individual that everything else in life disappears and does not matter, the only thing that does is the drug. Addiction is a debilitating and dehumanizing experience, but nobody should have to live life in this way. There can be a way out and an answer to the problem when an addict is ready to give up drugs and become clean and sober.
Reaching out to a drug treatment center for meth addiction has allowed many people to learn effective ways to fight the war against meth and finally win. With a strong desire to accept treatment and with enough hard work, anyone can recover from meth addiction. While the world of drug addiction can rob someone of quality life, addiction recovery does not have to be a dream anymore. Make the call now and find out how to begin the journey to healing and recovery, where there is help, there is hope and nobody has ever regretted seeking help in finally winning the battle against meth addiction, once and for all.
The Pain of Meth Abuse can End with Treatment for Meth Addiction
The pain and destruction caused by methamphetamine addiction are never easy for an addict to confront. Meth causes a person to behave aggressively and violently and makes the individual a danger to themselves, friends, family members, and society. Drugs like meth are very dangerous and a person should never toy around with a drug of this type, the potential for addiction is very serious and the stakes are very high. When someone is severely addicted to meth, it can seem as if everything and everyone else does not matter in the life of an addict. The truth is that while the person might know that abusing meth is wrong, because of a psychological hold an individual is unable to resist the cravings and urges to use the drug.
Meth is a drug that drags a person down a dark and dreary path to nowhere, drug abuse never results in anything positive and wrecks lives. Families and loved ones of an addict suffer from the problems caused by addiction just as much as an addict. Sleepless nights are spent waiting by the telephone, waiting for that one phone call that signifies an addiction has resulted in a loss of life. Meth addiction takes no prisoners and many find themselves powerless to stop using, even though it might have been only a one-time dose that was taken. Drugs like meth make a person a slave to cravings, tolerance, and dependency and the only way a person can ever hope of breaking the cycle is to seek help from treatment for meth addiction program.
Drug addiction is not indicative of moral weakness or character flaw on the part of an addict. Anyone can become addicted to a drug like a meth; it does not take prisoners and discriminates against absolutely nobody or nothing. Despite what people might believe about meth addiction, the choice to use the drug is not up to the addict. Once an addiction sets in, the addict is as much a victim as anyone else and is powerless over the situation. A person could want to become clean and sober, but be unable to resist the urge to use meth; it is at a time like this that a treatment for meth addiction program can be such a lifesaving option.
Every single time the person uses meth, the potential for addiction is raised exponentially. While some experts feel addiction runs in families, others feel certain environmental factors also play a great role in whether or not an addiction will happen. If a person grows up around others who use drugs and participates in addictive behavior patterns early in life, it can directly influence the likelihood of addiction. Some people might truly believe that turning to meth is an answer to the problems caused by stress, pain or trauma when in actuality drug use makes the situation much worse.
When a person is under the influence of mind-altering drugs such as meth, the individual is unable to make sound and well-thought decisions. It is often impossible for an addict to see how truly bad the situation has become. When friends and families try to point out the situation, an addict is likely to react with fear, shame, and guilt, it is easier for the person to shift the blame onto someone or something else than to admit the problem. When addicted to meth, it can be hard for the person to confront reality and accept the need for treatment, but until that time comes the addiction will prevail and ruin more lives.
There can be a permanent end to the nightmare and pain caused by an addiction to crystal methamphetamine. It requires the addict to approach the problem with an honest and firm commitment to choose sobriety and finding a skilled and high-quality treatment center to begin the process of rehabilitation. Once the situation is handled using proven and aggressive treatment techniques and therapeutic programs, an addict has a strong chance to succeed in addiction recovery and remain permanently clean and sober.
When someone chooses to break the hold of meth over their life, it is never an easy decision. Having the strength and fortitude to agree to treatment is the only way for many people to find the path to healing. Breaking old behavior patterns, identifying triggers, learning effective coping skills and finding constructive activities are all necessary to addiction recovery and very important to clients’ long term well being. Call a professional drug treatment center today and find out more about how to conquer meth addiction and reclaim your right to a better life and hope for a brighter future.