It occurs when you’ve become physically dependent on a substance. Unlike opioid addiction, for which medication-assisted treatment is the standard of care, no medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use with meth. Older adults or people who’ve used meth for a long time may experience more severe, longer-lasting symptoms. Keep in mind that your behavior while using meth, like not eating or drinking water, can make your withdrawal symptoms more severe. Here’s a closer look at meth withdrawal, including how long it lasts and how to manage it.
Lifestyle Quizzes
Treatment for crystal meth and methamphetamine addiction involves detox, behavioral therapy and peer support. If you’re worried about how withdrawal symptoms might impact your chances at success in recovery, know that there are treatment options that help minimize that impact. Medically assisted detox involves the use of medication and other clinical interventions to reduce withdrawal symptoms for a safer, more comfortable recovery. Many people almost immediately begin seeking their next high, chasing the focus and euphoria that come from using meth. Add to that the very uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous effects of meth withdrawal symptoms, and you have a formula that can keep people caught in the cycle of addiction.
Short-Term Health Effects and Risks of Meth Use
Meth withdrawal symptoms should be managed at a rehab facility, where trained addiction professionals can administer antidepressants to improve mood, concentration and sleep quality. Naltrexone, a drug that’s used to treat alcohol and opioid addiction, has shown promise in treating meth addiction. A study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that Naltrexone significantly reduced meth cravings and the rewarding effects of the drug. As a result, study participants were less likely to desire to use meth.
Meth Addiction Treatment and Rehab Programs Near Me
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any medications to treat meth addiction. However, researchers are investigating new medications in clinical trials that may prove useful during detox and recovery. Most treatment centers today provide behavioral therapy and counseling for methamphetamine and crystal meth addiction. Inpatient or residential options involve you staying at a 24-hour facility with intensive professional care, including medical supervision.
CBT was originally designed to treat alcohol addiction, but it is commonly used to treat meth addiction and other substance use disorders. A 2014 study in the journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence noted good clinical outcomes in people addicted to meth who were treated with CBT. Some meth side effects can last long after quitting the drug. Meth psychosis can continue for days, and sometimes even months, after meth is eliminated from the bloodstream. People experiencing meth-related psychosis usually require medical treatment with antipsychotic medications. That means your body is so used to the drug’s impact that it’s not sure how to function without it.
- You can also try taking medication to help you sleep or manage uncomfortable symptoms.
- A 2014 study in the journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence noted good clinical outcomes in people addicted to meth who were treated with CBT.
- The same 2011 study found that participants slept a lot in the first few days of not using meth and reported higher post-sleep refreshment.
- People experiencing meth-related psychosis usually require medical treatment with antipsychotic medications.
A Medical Treatment For Meth Addiction Proves Effective In New Study
Many individuals recovering from meth addiction continue to work on their sobriety after rehab. They attend 12-step meetings such as Crystal Meth Anonymous, where they communicate with others in recovery and learn ways to avoid triggers and manage cravings. The Matrix model is an intensive, 16-week outpatient treatment program that integrates a number of evidence-based behavioral therapies. Research has shown that the technique helps reduce methamphetamine abuse. Contingency management is another popular treatment for meth addiction.
Meth Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment
We understand the impact that meth withdrawal symptoms can have on your recovery, so we offer specific help for overcoming this barrier and stepping confidently onto the recovery path. Withdrawal symptoms are “also dependent on individual brain chemistry, so each person can experience withdrawal differently,” Acheson says. He also notes that there isn’t a lot of human data regarding what happens during meth withdrawal, which makes it hard to give a general timeline. Conquering meth addiction can be challenging, but taking those difficult first steps toward recovery could be the best and most important decision you ever make. If you need someone to talk to about meth addiction or want to find out more about treatment options near you, consider calling a meth hotline. Many of these hotlines are free to call and available 24 hours a day.
Meth Addiction Symptoms
Our compassionate admissions staff is available 24/7 at to help you find the right treatment program and answer questions about insurance coverage. Every call is confidential so you can feel safe as you begin your healing journey. Levels of outpatient care can vary from partial hospitalization and day treatment to more intensive programs that require attendance for several hours a week. Outpatient treatment often provides many of the same treatment interventions as inpatient care; however, a person lives at home rather than in the treatment facility. But meth withdrawals can also be of a mental and behavioral nature. Some of the mood changes that occur with meth withdrawal are because of the changes going on in your body.
- Relapse is common among people recovering from drug addiction.
- According to the Counseling and Psychological Services department at University of California, Santa Cruz, urges to use meth often last only 15 to 30 minutes.
- It takes time and commitment to overcome lingering problems caused by meth abuse.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40 to 60 percent of those in addiction recovery experience a relapse after completing rehab.
- Aftercare services or ongoing treatment provides the best chances of avoiding future relapse.
Meanwhile, she predicts some clinicians helping people in recovery will begin using the treatment immediately. You’ll definitely want to consider consulting a medical professional first if you also intend to stop using meth addiction other substances you’ve been mixing with meth. This is especially important for alcohol, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), GBL (gamma butyrolactone), or benzodiazepines, as these can be dangerous to stop using on your own. The same 2011 study found that participants slept a lot in the first few days of not using meth and reported higher post-sleep refreshment.