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Change your lifestyle – Avoiding relapse triggers and focusing on a healthier lifestyle can significantly improve recovery. Taking on activities such as yoga, eating healthier, exercising regularly, or participating in art therapy can help meth addicts focus on wellness and well-being. Recovery from meth addiction is possible and is becoming increasingly common in recent years. Those who take part in meth addiction sober house interventions, either voluntarily or via the court system, can regain control over their lives and escape the grips of substance abuse. Since the effects of the drug start and fade quickly, people often take repeated doses in what is known as a binge and crash pattern. In fact, some people go on a “run,” which involves bingeing on the drug every few hours for several days at a time, without food or sleep.
Even though there are various types and forms of addictive substances, they all have one thing in common, their addictive nature. Studies have shown that the average recovery rate for people suffering from meth addiction is around 37%, which is about equal to other drugs, like cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs. Some studies show much lower success rates due to an overall lack of understanding and resources, especially among long-term meth users. This page explains what to expect in the detoxification process, and its usual course, and addresses lingering questions about withdrawal and its symptoms.
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It may or may not surprise you to learn that recovery from meth is not an immediate process. A person may still be having withdrawal symptoms after stopping meth for almost a month. Recovery from substances, including meth, does not happen immediately but is possible.
Meth addiction occurs when a person finds it hard to stop taking the substance despite harmful consequences, like job loss or legal problems. In fact, meth addiction is also connected with nerve damage, due to which many people develop a risk of getting Parkinson’s Disease. Methamphetamine recovery is a long journey, but it can be made much easier if the process is broken down into manageable stages. A successful and sustainable meth recovery can be achieved through proper and continued detoxification, self-awareness, and actively overcoming temptation. If you or a loved one are addicted to meth, it’s important to seek treatment immediately.
Short Term Effects of Meth
Cristal is trained in EMDR and certified in non-violent intervention. She is a member of American Counseling Association and American Association of Christian Counselors. One of the main worries about meth withdrawals in the short term is dehydration. This will generally be worst in the first hours, but if the body is hydrated properly, it could pass quicker.
A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that, in 2020, 43 percent of people addicted to meth had gotten clean and remained clean one year later. It is an improvement compared to the 2014 figure of 33.1 percent. Therefore, there is hope for people trying to recover from meth addiction.
Addiction to Methamphetamines
Although, there is no specific FDA approved medications indicated for Meth detoxification, medications do exist to help ease physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms are fatigue, depression, anxiety and increased appetite. These are all signs that the body is ridding itself of the methamphetamine, flushing out the toxin and returning to a state of health. Additionally, The Recovery Village asked participants about their meth withdrawal timeline. The vast majority (95%) of all participants experienced meth cravings for up to seven weeks after beginning withdrawal.
- Meth addiction can be harmful to health, to the extent that it can even be fatal.
- This means that a person must stay at the facility for the duration of their treatment.
- It has also been noted that the continuous usage of meth can create a shortage of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates the pleasure we experience while partaking in enjoyable activities.
- This causes many rehab clients to leave treatment and continue using alcohol or other drugs.
- Located in Newport Beach, California, Sierra by the Sea provides premier residential treatment, offering rehab program and services for drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and mental health concerns.
Cristal Clark, LPC-S, is the Medical Reviewer for ASIC Recovery Services. She reviews all website content for quality and medical accuracy. She is a master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and graduated from Liberty University in 2011. She has worked in the behavioral and mental health field for over 12 years and has a passion for helping others. She has been clinical director and CEO of a 200 plus bed facility, PHP, and IOP, with experience managing a team of counselors, individual/group/and family therapy, and coordinating continuum of care.