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The Addiction
Users of crystal meth talk about the benefits they see in the drug and how these perceived good points made it easy to become obsessively addicted. Many people use meth as a party-enhancement drug because of the intense boost of energy that is its main effect. These users also fall victim to the physiological effects of the drug. Meth directly effects the levels of dopamine in a user's brain. This means that use of the drug makes a user feel happy, excited and energetic. It is also the cause of the fast, intense addiction that marks a crystal meth addict. Beyond the rush and spike of energy caused by the drug, many others use crystal meth as a means to lose weight because of its appetite suppressant affects.
The effects of dopamine, which not only causes the pleasant feelings but links these feelings to particular substances and experiences, causing cravings, on the brain cause crystal meth addicts to become obsessed with the drug. The all-consuming hunger for the drug takes over their lives. No longer are they the same people as they were before finding meth. Friends and family watch as their loved ones sink further into the addiction, destroying their bodies and minds. The ease of finding meth, or cooking it themselves, gives an addict simple, fast and inexpensive access to the drug. This makes getting addicted all the easier.
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The Recovery
Drug addiction is not hopeless. Crystal meth recovery is possible through drug addiction clinics and the loving support of family and friends. Loved ones are immeasurably important in a time of addiction, as they are the ones that will remind an addict who he was before the drug, and how much they wish he was that person again. A crystal meth rehab clinic will approach the addiction from two angles. The addict will go through the process of detoxification, meaning that the clinic will first deal with the physical aspect of the addiction. Few clinics allow for purely immediate detoxification, as such measures can be physically and psychologically damaging as well as leading to very fast relapse. Instead, these clinics will administer small doses of the drug to ease intense cravings and withdrawal then gradually pull back until the addict has been relieved of the urges.
Crystal meth recovery also requires psychological and emotional treatment. This is generally performed in small groups settings where patients learn about their addictions from various perspectives, as well as methods for controlling the urges and triggers for a lifetime of being drug-free.
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The Effects
Any form of substance abuse can be destructive to the body and mind. Crystal meth is particularly ferocious in its effects on addicts. The physical appearance of a meth user has become infamous. The gaunt body, slackened jaw and injured face are iconic to the pandemic drug culture. Crystal meth contains the same kinds of chemicals as cold medications, particularly those that are meant to dry up sinuses. This causes the drug to completely dry out a user's skin and gums. The skin becomes tight, itchy and rough and the gums recede from the teeth resulting in the teeth rotting out. Often loved ones are horrified to see an addict clawing at their own skin, particularly their face, in reaction to perceived "meth lice" which is actually just a physical and psychological response to the drying effect of the drug. Addicts will scratch themselves until they are covered with "crank bugs" or scabs.
The effects of crystal meth are not just physical. The drug takes control of the mind, causing irrationality, irresponsibility, child neglect, violence, crime and suicidal actions. The personality of the addict before crystal meth erodes under the effects of the drug and loved ones must watch as the person they love disappears.
Specialized Treatment for Crystal Meth
The Meth Track was created specifically for people who did not achieve the greatest possible results from other types of treatment programs or who feel as though they desire a program that can cater to their individual needs. While on the Meth Track, our clients are able to consult with counselors one-on-one, attend group therapy and participate in educational and awareness-type activities directly related to their drug of choice. Our emphasis on meth addiction treatment provides an educational tool as well as a stronger support system for our clients.
The Meth Track offers unique counseling group settings as well as individual counseling to discuss the importance of recovery from methamphetamines as well as the ways in which its use could be triggered in the future. One of the most important goals of the Meth Track and other tracks like it is to make sure those specific triggers and issues are addressed as they relate to various drugs. People who are addicted to substances such as alcohol or Vicodin will have very different experiences from each other and from people with meth addiction problems. The Meth Track, like our other tracks, relies on the 12-step philosophy as a continual way of life. The growth inherent in working the 12-steps as they relate to certain drugs or issues helps individuals to understand their disease and continue on a successful path