What Is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine addiction has become a growing concern for Americans across the nation. This substance has become widely available within the illegal street drug markets and is sold at low prices increasing the number of people that are turning to this substance as their drug of choice. The addictive components of this drug quickly draw people into a path of addiction. In the midst of meth addiction, it can feel challenging to see a way out of this addiction on your own, however, with the appropriate forms of support and addiction treatment recovery from meth addiction is possible and within reach. 

Methamphetamine is a substance that is classified as a schedule II stimulant drug. This classification means that this substance is highly addictive and can become easily abused to the extremely addictive nature of this substance. When you engage in meth abuse, it stimulates your central nervous system, which enhances feelings of pleasure and “feel-good emotions.” The longer that you engage in meth abuse, the more impacts it has on the risk and reward centers of the brain. This often leads individuals to feel as though they need meth to achieve the same feelings of pleasure, leading them down a path of substance abuse and addiction as they become more dependent on meth to stabilize their emotions. When someone attempts to quit meth, they find an imbalance in emotions and without the proper addiction treatment support will return to meth abuse in an attempt to feel “normal” again. 

For more information on how our addiction treatment programs can help heal drug or alcohol dependence, please give The River Source a call at 866-294-9331.

31 Signs of Meth Addiction

Substance use disorders will impact each person differently, and each person will begin using drugs for unique and personal reasons. Most addictions begin as a recreational outlet and then progress into a dependency the longer your use continues. As your addiction progresses, the signs and symptoms you will encounter will change and worsen over time. Seeking out support for meth addiction as early as you can support you in safely and effectively overcoming your meth addiction and achieving long-term success in addiction recovery. If you are concerned about your meth use or a loved one’s meth use and if their substance abuse has developed into an addiction, there are common signs and indicators to be mindful of that will demonstrate someone is living with an active addiction to meth. Signs of meth addiction can include some or all of the following: 

1. Irritability 
2. Changes in sleep patterns such as staying awake for long periods of time and then falling asleep or “crashing” 
3. Hyperactivity
4. Teeth grinding 
5. Tooth decay is otherwise known as “meth mouth”
6. Twitching 
7. Dilated pupils 
8. Increased activity 
9. Psychosis or psychotic behaviors where an individual loses touch with reality 
10. Talkativeness 
11. Anxiety
12. Extreme attention to one thing or task at hand 
13. Sores on skin
14. Itching or picking at the skin (this is often due to people thinking there is something under their skin from paranoid delusions or hallucinations) 
15. Significant changes in weight with many losing weight at a dramatically fast pace 
16. Confusion 
17. Hallucinations either auditory, tactile, or visual 
18. Paranoia 
19. Delusions 
20. Violent behaviors
21. Reduced or minimal appetite 
22. Changes in social circles to one that is centered around drug abuse 
23. Isolating from loved ones
24. Engaging in high-risk behaviors while under the influence 
25. Experiencing legal or financial problems due to substance abuse 
26. Expressing a desire to quit using meth but finding you are unable to quit on your own 
27. Developing a tolerance to meth causes you to use more to reach the same desired effects 
28. Facing consequences within relationships due to substance abuse but the use of meth continues regardless of the consequences 
29. The decline in performance in work or school leading to problems with maintaining employment or finishing studies 
30. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using meth 
31. Having strong drug cravings when you are not engaging in meth abuse 

5 Steps of Recovery From Meth Addiction: A Timeline

Healing from meth addiction and maintaining a life of addiction recovery is a long-term process. When thinking of overcoming meth addiction, the first thought is healing from the physical addiction and dependency that has been established on meth. While this is a necessary part of an addiction recovery process, it is the first stage of many in your recovery journey. Recovering from a meth addiction will occur within five stages, typically over a long-term period. If you are ready to begin the healing journey of recovering from meth addiction, here are the phases of your recovery process and the timeline that you can anticipate for your recovery programs. It is important to remember that addiction is a personalized chronic disease and each person in addiction recovery will have their own unique journey with recovery leading to varying timelines for some. In most cases, healing from meth addiction will occur in the following steps: 

1. Meth withdrawal and detox stage. This step will usually occur for up to a period of 15 days depending on the severity of your addiction. During this time, your body will be releasing any harmful toxins and chemicals from meth and working to readjust to functioning without the presence of meth. This can lead to uncomfortable or unpleasant side effects known as withdrawal symptoms. Meth detox often presents severe psychological side effects during withdrawal that should be treated by an addiction counselor or mental health therapist within a drug detox and rehab program. 
2. Stabilization or “honeymoon” phase. This step will occur within 16 to 45 days. This stage is characterized by overcoming any withdrawal symptoms and having a sense of normalcy within your daily functioning. Many will begin a drug rehab program during this time to start the work of healing from the root causes of addiction. As individuals begin to feel normal and healthy again, it can lead to a false sense of confidence that they have beat their addiction leading some to leave treatment early which increases the risk for relapse. 
3. The wall or block in the recovery process often occurs within 2-3 months after you quit meth. During this stage, individuals in recovery will begin to feel low energy and may feel little to no pleasure in life. This step in meth recovery is when individuals are at the highest risk of relapse. Continuing with a drug rehab program during this phase will allow you to receive the individualized care and mental health support you need to process your emotions and stay on track to maintain addiction recovery. 
4. Accomplished and accustomed to a new lifestyle in addiction recovery. Patients will begin to feel hopeful about living in recovery typically within the 4 months of addiction recovery. Individuals will start to feel as though they have a grasp on maintaining recovery and see the potential for their life to be clean and sober from meth abuse. 
5. Stability in recovery. By six months of sobriety from meth abuse, individuals will feel as though they are well-equipped and confident in their ability to maintain sobriety. After learning tools and coping skills that will foster recovery and support you in overcoming triggers to avoid relapse, individuals can have an established lifestyle that fosters health, wellness, and sobriety.

Find Recovery From Meth Addiction Today With Help From The River Source

At The River Source, we offer comprehensive treatment plans for each patient that enters our addiction treatment center. We value each patient’s unique and individual needs and recognize that every healing and recovery journey needs to be tailored around the specific patient rather than a one size fits all approach. Through our whole-person integrated approach to healing, patients are offered to lead evidence-based therapy methods that will support them in healing from their meth addiction within their body, mind, and spirit. You can find healing and recovery from your meth addiction. Call us at 866-294-9331 to hear more about our addiction treatment programs and start on your road to recovery today.