Methamphetamine (Meth) Addiction Treatment & Rehab
Background
Methamphetamine is a Schedule II drug known by the street names speed, meth, crank, tina, chalk, ice, cristy, and others. The brand name Desoxyn is rarely prescribed as a treatment for Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. A much less potent and significantly less addictive isomer of meth is L-Methamphetamine. L-Methamphetamine is available over the counter as a decongestant, more commonly known as Vicks inhaler. Meth, a member of the class of drugs known as amphetamines, is a psychostimulant and has a notorious reputation for its significant abuse potential due to its euphoria-inducing properties.
Methamphetamine was discovered in 1893, when the Japanese chemist Nagayoshi Nagai was able to synthesize the substance for the very first time. Akira Ogato, another Japanese chemist, was able to manufacture meth in crystal form in 1919. The proliferation of the recreational use of meth began during the 1960’s and continued to grow well into the 1980’s. It wasn’t until 1986 that laws concerning the control of the high abuse potential substances were put in place.
Meth works by stimulating the central nervous system to release the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine has a similar action to epinephrine, which is responsible for the "fight or flight" response. Dopamine on the other hand, is responsible for the brain’s "reward system," therefore inducing euphoria.
Meth is commonly produced illegally by synthesizing it from ephedrine or pseudoephidrine by the process of reduction. The illicit synthesis of meth is a very dangerous process, since it involves highly volatile and corrosive substances such as phosphorus and iodine, which produces the highly toxic and highly flammable phosphine gas as a byproduct.
Side Effects
Meth is known to cause the following side effects:
- Euphoria, excitement, irritability, insomnia, agitation
- Loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea
- Increased libido
- Hypertension
Chronic use of Meth is known to cause the following side effects;
- Dependence
- Tolerance
- Weight loss
- Erectile dysfunction
- Psychosis
- Meth mouth (a rapid deterioration of the teeth)
The illicit use of Meth poses a lot of health hazards for the substance abusers. Due to meth’s libido-increasing side effect, promiscuous and unconventional sexual behavior increases the chances of meth abusers acquiring sexually transmitted diseases or STD’s, such as HIV and syphilis.
Methamphetamine Abuse:
Meth sold illicitly is available in various forms and is either smoked, swallowed, insufflated, or injected. Chronic meth abuse is associated with some cases of lung cancer. Both modes of abuse carry serious health hazards. The sharing of needles used to inject liquid meth poses the risk for the transmission of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV. The euphoria that meth brings is also accompanied by the dangerous post-high paranoia and self-destructive behavior, making meth addicts a danger to themselves and those around them. Due to the tolerance that develops, meth abusers will take higher doses of meth to experience the drug-induced euphoria, making them prone to overdose, leading to a fatal heart failure or stroke, and/or kidney failure.
Overdose of meth also carries the serious psychological side effects such as paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. Permanent brain damage is also a serious threat to the addict, because meth is neurotoxic in high doses.
Methamphetamine Addiction Rehabilitation:
Although meth withdrawal symptoms are not fatal, they are often severe and could very easily result to a relapse of the addiction. This is the reason why it is essential that meth abusers seek medical experts to help facilitate the process of rehabilitation. Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms include depression, fearfulness, cravings, excessive drowsiness, palpitations, hyperventilation, increased appetite, and loss of energy. Recovering addicts also often feel that life is duller and are often depressed due to the effects of meth in the brain.
The road to meth rehab is a tedious process, but under the proper guidance of experts, a lasting solution can be attained. It is also important that abusers receive meth treatment as soon as possible; since the longer an addict uses meth, the harder it will become to treat the addiction.
One process that is used to treat meth addiction is called the 12 Steps, which is used by Alcoholics Anonymous and was adopted to treat other substance abusers.
What Meth Rehabilitation Patients say about Malibu Horizon
The identities of the people writing these testimonials have been withheld to protect their inalienable right to privacy. The names that follow are fictional names of the author’s choosing.
"I used to come and go to different clinics to help me with my crank problem, It wasn’t until I came to Malibu Horizon that I was able to finally be rid of my addiction." –Adam
"It’s hard to believe that I was once so wild and did all these crazy stuff. It all happened during a low-time in my life and I guess I lost my way. I turned to using speed and it did speed things up for me. It helped me speed on to a place where I didn’t want to be. If it weren’t for Malibu Horizon, who knows what would’ve happened to me." –Eve
"I’ve been very stupid, smoking crack and doing the craziest things while I was high. I also had my fair share of run-ins with the law because I was so unruly. One day it just got me thinking, ‘do I really wanna do this for the rest of my life?’ I’ve been in and out of a bunch of rehabs but always, after a couple of weeks I’d be back to smoking that stuff again. If it weren’t for Malibu Horizon’s successful intervention, I’d probably be dead or in jail now." – Cain
"My drug problem used to wreak havoc on my life, making me ineffective in my job, and almost losing me my family. It was a really rough time for me and if Malibu Horizon wasn’t there for me, I’d probably be alone and miserable now." –Abel
"Sometimes, to appreciate the best things in life, you have to admit that you have a problem. I was an addict. I’m not ashamed to admit it because I can proudly say WAS. And the reason for that is Malibu Horizon’s outstanding and caring approach to addicts who want to reform just like I was."-Lily