Meth Addiction in San Antonio, TX

Meth addiction has truly become an epidemic of vast proportions in America, where over 10 million people use meth each year, and over 500,000 of them are regular users. Also known as speed, ice, glass, crank, chalk, Chrissy, Tina, and tweak, among other names, meth is a dangerous drug that elicits a feeling of euphoria and well-being in users. Unfortunately, this feeling can create an illusion of meth being a safe or beneficial drug, when in fact it is capable of destruction on a level that surpasses many other addictive substances.

The Effects of Meth Addiction

Using meth just once or twice can, in many cases, easily lead to meth addiction because of the potent high that many people feel after consuming the drug, which can be done orally or by snorting, smoking, or injecting it. In addition to a sense of carefree happiness, users often feel an increase in confidence and energy. Tolerance builds quickly, though, and users crave the drug more often and in higher doses, leading to meth addiction. Trying to break the habit typically results in even more intense cravings as well as depression, insomnia, and irritability, unfortunately creating a cycle from which individuals can rarely escape without seeking help.

Even when they have a regular supply of the drug, meth users often fall victim to a catalog of debilitating and destructive side effects, which include perpetual confusion, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and violent tendencies, among other symptoms of psychosis.

The negative consequences of meth addiction manifest in other ways as well, like organ damage, tooth and gum decay, and severe weight loss and malnutrition. Brain structure and function in long-term meth users is thought to be permanently altered, particularly in regard to its centers for reward, memory, emotion, motor speed, and learning. The key to stopping these symptoms in their tracks lies in prevention. Meth addiction, in order to be treated effectively, must be caught as early as possible and subjected to rigorous and extensive treatments.

How Meth Addiction is Treated

Like with other addictions, treatment for the abuse of methamphetamine typically starts with a high-quality medical detox program like the ones offered via Drug Detox Centers San Antonio. During detox, individuals refrain from addictive behaviors while under the supervision and care of medical professionals, who are present to counsel the patients as well as ensure their safety in the event of serious withdrawal symptoms.

After detox has been completed, individuals have continued access to medical care while the focus of treatment becomes the personal issues that underpin the addiction itself. Various types of therapy address the self-destructive beliefs that are typically the cause of addictive behavior , with the goal of helping individuals in recovery learn to identify such beliefs and replace them with self-supportive ones. The ultimate goal of these interwoven therapies is to help individuals reclaim what they lost through addiction to meth, namely their self-esteem, self-efficacy, sense of purpose, and overall well-being.

If you would like to find out more about our meth addiction treatment programs via Drug Detox Centers San Antonio, we welcome you to give us a call today at (210) 625-6828.