How to Detox From Methamphetamine Safely
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and dangerous stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. Meth abuse is a rampant problem in the U.S. Between 2015 and 2018, 1.6 million adults used meth each year. It usually comes in three forms: powder, base, and crystal meth.
Short-term and long-term effects of meth use can lead to severe health problems and can be life-threatening for meth users. (1)
With intense cravings and other painful, difficult withdrawal symptoms, it is highly recommended that in order to make a full recovery safely, users participate in a methamphetamine detox program at a licensed treatment center.
What is a Methamphetamine Detox?
There are currently no drugs available that are effective at removing methamphetamine from the body. There is also no option of tapering off of methamphetamine while in detox.
Instead, medical professionals focus on the withdrawal symptoms of methamphetamine to ensure you are as comfortable as possible as the drug slowly leaves your body and your health conditions don’t deteriorate (2).
How Long Will a Methamphetamine Detox Last?
Withdrawal symptoms from methamphetamine addiction start about a day after the last use of the drug.
Drug cravings peak one day after abstinence and can last over seven to ten days from the last use.
Intense cravings for drug use can linger for up to five weeks after cessation, increasing the risk of relapse.
This is why undergoing methamphetamine detox in a monitored clinical setting is critical to safe detoxification, preventing relapse and side effects.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms During a Methamphetamine Detox?
Emotional and physical symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal vary in intensity, although cravings for the drug can be severe over several weeks while the user remains abstinent (3).
The common symptoms of acute withdrawal from methamphetamine include the following:
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Fatigue
- Intense cravings
- Weight gain
- Dehydration
- Headaches
- Excessive sweating
- Changes in appetite
- Muscle pain and spasms
- Psychosis
- Symptoms of anxiety
- Chills
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Mood swings and other psychological symptoms
In the long term, the withdrawal process can lead to:
- Severe depression and suicidal thoughts
- Cognitive issues
- Intense cravings and relapse
- Irregular sleep
- No longer being able to experience pleasure or joy naturally
What Types of Addiction Treatment Are Used During a Methamphetamine Detox?
If you’re feeling anxious about starting detox, you’re not alone. But it’s important to remember the number one priority of medical detox is to make sure you feel as safe and comfortable as possible during the process.
The methamphetamine detox process is typically broken down into three stages:
1. Evaluation
When you are admitted to detox, a medical team will assess your physical and mental health. This is done in several ways, including urine drug screens to measure how much meth you’ve recently used.
From there, your healthcare team will develop a detox plan tailored to your unique needs.
2. Stabilization
Most patients arrive at detox during the peak of their withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, treatment begins as soon as possible after the evaluation to mitigate the harsh symptoms of meth withdrawal.
As your symptoms improve, your detox team will adjust your treatments.
3. Transitioning to the Next Step
The third step of meth detox is different for everyone. Once you stabilize, you will meet with your detox team to discuss the next steps, whether being admitted to inpatient rehab, getting continued family support, or whatever else may help you stay on your track to sobriety.
It’s important to remember that detox is just the first step in making a full recovery from meth addiction.
Don’t think that once you attend and complete detox, you’ll automatically be free from the chains of addiction. Recovery is an ongoing process that involves several phases, therapies, and treatment programs. The reward is well worth the effort.
Several factors impact the withdrawal experience, including:
- How long you’ve used meth
- How much meth you took each time
- Personal physiology
- Environment
People who have a family or personal history of addiction are more likely to experience challenges in recovering and staying sober.
Can You Detox from Methamphetamine at Home or Not?
At-home detox or outpatient treatment plans for methamphetamine are not recommended. The withdrawal symptoms of methamphetamine make it particularly difficult for a user to quit without being under the medical supervision of trained staff.
The intense cravings of methamphetamine withdrawal, along with the risk of severe depression and psychosis, make it unsafe and risky to undertake recovery alone.
In a secure, inpatient detox facility, patients are given the professional help and supervision needed to make a safe and life-long recovery, especially those with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and suicidal tendencies (4).
Zinnia Health offers an accredited inpatient rehabilitation facility with a proven track record of helping your loved ones recover from methamphetamine drug addiction.
How to Find a Methamphetamine Detox Near Me
Zinnia Health has locations throughout the country and is one of the top methamphetamine detox centers.
If you are looking for the nearest location to you, Zinnia Health has a list of local detox facilities and addresses on our website. You can also contact us through our 24/7 hotline by calling (855) 430-9439 to find the closest treatment facility for you.
Zinnia Health has the necessary tools, staff, support groups, and nurturing environment to ensure your well-being and to prevent a methamphetamine relapse.
Our medically supervised meth detox staff ensures that you will remain safe and comfortable while you come off this highly addictive substance.
If you’d like to learn more about getting help for meth addiction, read more about our substance abuse treatment programs here.
These programs help people get the assistance they need to make a lifelong recovery through scientifically-backed intervention methods in a supportive, structured, therapeutic environment.
Get your life back with Zinnia Health. Contact us virtually today or give us a call at (855) 430-9439.
Citations
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-are-long-term-effects-methamphetamine-misuse
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/overview
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761814/
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