Do I Really Need Meth Addiction Treatment?
If you are currently addicted to methamphetamine, you already know how powerful this disease truly is. However, while in its clutches it may be difficult to see a way out. You may even be wondering if you really need meth addiction treatment.
What Happens if Addiction Continues?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prolonged use of meth causes biochemical changes in the brain and has been proven to cause numerous health issues. These include:
- Heart problems
- Skin infections
- Meth mouth
- Organ failure
- Increased risk of HIV
- Death by overdose
Failing to end your addiction to meth will result in one or more of these consequences. Treatment is the best way to end the addiction and avoid these consequences.
Obstacles to Quitting Meth
There is one major factor that makes quitting exceedingly difficult. This is the withdrawal syndrome that goes along with detoxifying your body from methamphetamines. The symptoms include:
- Intense cravings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Overwhelming fatigue
These symptoms are experienced at such a high level that it seems so much easier and more beneficial to just keep using meth.
How Treatment Helps
Getting help from a professional addiction treatment center can help you in a number of ways. These include:
- Teaching you to cope with cravings and triggers
- Helping you through detoxification and withdrawal
- Relapse prevention
- Addressing underlying causes of your substance abuse
- Building a reliable support network
By doing these things, treatment centers give you the best chance of beating your meth addiction and getting your life back.
Available Treatment Options
Once you understand how treatment can help, you need to know what treatment options exist. Currently there are no medications approved for treating meth addiction, though there are several in clinical trials that show promise. This means that behavioral therapies are the best option for overcoming this kind of addiction.
In order to take advantage of these options and reap their rewards you must seek treatment. Do not wait or you put yourself at higher risk of suffering severe consequences. Get help today.
Does Meth Addiction Treatment Really Help?
Methamphetamine abuse and addiction destroy far too many lives every year. People suffering from this deadly disease often seek help to end it. Treatment is the option most commonly suggested, but does meth addiction treatment really help?
Consequences of Meth Addiction
In order to know if meth addiction treatment is helpful, you first have to understand the consequences of this disease. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland, there are numerous negative effects that can manifest during or after methamphetamine abuse. These include:
- Heart attack or stroke
- Damage to essential organs such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys
- Brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s
- Tooth damage, mouth sores, and gum disease
- Psychotic behavior
- Suicide
These consequences show just how dangerous meth addiction is and highlight the need to end it through treatment.
Treatment Options
The next thing you need to know is what treatment options are available. While there are currently no medications available for treating methamphetamine abuse, there are several successful behavioral treatments. These include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Contingency management
- The matrix model
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- 12-step facilitation therapy
These behavioral therapies have all been proven to reduce methamphetamine abuse, aid patients in becoming productive, and prevent relapse.
How Treatment Helps
Meth addiction treatment is the only proven way to stop the progression of this disease and prevent relapses from occurring. It does this by:
- Identifying underlying causes of addiction
- Helping you resist cravings
- Teaching you healthy living skills
- Providing a support network to ensure life-long recovery
These indicators of how meth treatment helps show you just how beneficial seeking it out can be.
The Importance of Getting Help
Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous and deadly substances of abuse known. Many people become addicted after as little as a single use. When you combine this with the very serious consequences of meth abuse, it becomes imperative that you receive treatment as soon as possible. Any delay greatly increases your chances of severe health problems or death.