Methamphetamine Detox Centers

It is no secret that methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug to experiment with. Should you develop a full-blown addiction, you face some truly scary outcomes, including conditions like meth induced psychosis. The only logical answer to meth addiction is professional treatment for drug addiction. What a lot of people don’t know is that professional detoxification is actually the first stage of treatment.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, cocaine and meth are the most commonly used stimulants. They are so rewarding to users that laboratory animals self-administer them to the point of death.

Once you are dependent on meth, controlling your use of it is nearly impossible. Therefore, to stop using it entirely (as you need to do in detox) isn’t really something you can do on your own.

The following discussion should help you to better understand the goal of detox and the withdrawals you will undergo during that process. Ideally, it will help you to understand the importance of seeking professional help with your methamphetamine detox.

If you have questions that aren’t being answered, you should call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?). It’s important that you have access to the information that you need and you don’t have to gather it all on your own. Take advantage of the experts waiting to help you.

What Is Detox?

Books about 3-day rapid weight loss detox and everyday detox cookbooks designed to remove toxins and promote gut health contribute to our general understanding of how detox works. Most people associate it with tea cleanses and juice fasts. But, these fad diet plans don’t reflect professional drug detoxification.

Detoxification is the process that helps you to transition from acute methamphetamine intoxication to a drug and alcohol free status. It isn’t a process that relies on yoga and green smoothies. Instead, it relies on a combination of education, therapy, and medication.

There is a danger associated with stimulant detox. Withdrawal is often linked to profound depression and negative feelings and thoughts. These can lead to suicidal idea and attempts. This is one reason that professional detox is recommended. Patients who do experience extreme impacts on their mood can be kept safe from self-harm and can be treated for any psychological symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms Associated with Methamphetamine Withdrawal?

Meth users will experience both psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal, including:

Headaches are common during methamphetamine withdrawal.

• Meth cravings
• Fatigue
• Body aches and pains
• Increased appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Paranoia
• Headaches
• Psychosis
• Mood swings
• Hallucinations
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Psychomotor retardation

Patients may also face cardiac complications. Any chest pains or cardiac symptoms need to be fully investigated in stimulant abusing patients in detox. Other risks include seizures and bleeding in and around the brain. These are all co-occurring disorders that a professional detox program can treat.

Stimulant users typically abuse other drugs and polydrug use will add symptoms and otherwise complicate withdrawal.

What Is the General Duration of Methamphetamine Withdrawal?

Withdrawal symptoms should set in between one and two days of stopping methamphetamine use. Of course the length of withdrawal depends upon a number of factors, like:

• Length of addiction
• Method of use (typically people who inject meth experience more severe withdrawal)
• Severity of addiction
• Your metabolism
• Your general health
• Your tolerance

During the first three days without meth, you will be extremely lethargic and depression may set in. After these first few days, strong cravings will set in. During this period, users attempting to quit using non their own relapse because they can’t get through the cravings.

Between days four and ten, users will have a rough time concentrating and remaining motivated. There will also be general bodily pains and difficulty sleeping. If the case is particularly severe, users may become paranoid or experience hallucinations. This type of psychosis requires professional medical treatment to prevent self-harm.

For the remainder of the first month, sleep and motivation will continue to be problems, as will depression and cravings. However, after a month most users feel better. Cravings may continue to come and go and depression may remain indefinitely.

There is no specific medication approved to treat users’ meth withdrawal during this time, but a combination of education, therapy, and supplementary medications should ease or entirely alleviate the discomfort associated with this period.

For more information about how detox helps meth users to get clean and stay that way, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?).