For those that haven’t dealt with it themselves, understanding addiction can be difficult. Specific addictions have a whole range of causes and effects that are unknown to many people but when it comes to getting the right help for you or your loved ones it’s important to know the truth about different types of addiction.
There is a lot of information out there about drug addiction, the causes, effects, and symptoms of each, but at Hillside Mission Recovery we believe in giving our clients the truth about addiction. In this post we will talk about the truth about meth addiction, what meth is, and how to get help for you or your loved one.
What Is Meth?
The first step to understanding the truth about meth is knowing exactly what it is and what it does to a person who uses it and becomes addicted. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methamphetamine (meth) is a white crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water.
In terms of drug classification, meth is a stimulant that directly affects the central nervous system. Methamphetamine is a derivative of the drug amphetamine which is widely prescribed as an inhalant and bronchial decongestant. The stimulant effects help to open airways and promote breathing.
Methamphetamine causes many of the same effects as its parent drug amphetamine, namely increased talkativeness, decreased appetite, and a sense of euphoria. Unlike it’s parent drug, methamphetamine is much more potent because more of the drug reaches the brain making the effects of the stimulant much more potent.
It is also much longer lasting and has stronger harmful effects on the central nervous system. The use of methamphetamine has become highly regulated because the drug has been classified as a schedule II stimulant, meaning that its use is limited to specific treatments and prescriptions for the drug are small and non-refillable. The purpose of these restrictions is to control the availability of the drug and to prevent misuse.
The Truth About Meth Addiction
Like many other drugs that affect the body, meth is highly addictive. The truth about meth is that because of the way it works in the central nervous system and the potency of the drug compared to its counterparts, meth is much more addictive than other stimulants or even other drugs.
While amphetamines as a prescription have become highly regulated, it is possible for users to make their own version using key ingredients. This has led to widespread use of meth which leads to widespread meth addiction.
People are now able to create their own home labs to make meth. Just the production of meth can have terrible consequences as the formula to produce the drug is incredibly precise. In many cases, people addicted to meth who try to create their own have been severely injured or killed in the production of the drug.
This doesn’t include the actual effects of using meth which include:
Addiction is the number one side effect of meth use. Meth affects the central nervous system and over even a short time, the body develops a tolerance that causes people using meth to become more and more dependent on the drug. This leads to using larger and larger amounts of the drug.
Beyond just becoming addicted to the drug, users may experience insomnia, weight loss, anxiety, mood disorders, confusion and even violent outbursts. They may also experience psychological issues jointly with the addiction.
These factors combined make meth a very powerful and dangerous drug.
How to Get Help With a Meth Addiction
The first step to getting help with a meth addiction is realizing that you or your loved one has a problem. After that it’s important to visit a drug addiction treatment facility like Hillside MIssion Recovery. Our luxury inpatient treatment facility is designed to help people get off drugs like meth and get them the treatment they need to get sober.
This process begins with a consultation about the status of the individual entering treatment. Next comes the detoxification process which helps to remove the drug from the person’s system.
Treatment can take a variety of forms from counseling to group therapy and is part of the process of getting a person ready to live a normal drug free life. Once treatment ends, clients enter the aftercare process where we provide services aimed at giving support for living a normal life, such as 12 step programs and peer support groups.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a meth addiction, contact Hillside Mission Recovery today!
