859-681-7823Methamphetamine or “meth” is a powerful stimulant drug that is highly addictive. In fact, meth can be so potent, some people become addicted after their first use. Since meth can be synthesized with many legally available ingredients, meth use has become an issue in the U.S. Some meth users even manufacture the drug in makeshift “labs” in their homes.
At Lexington Addiction Center, we know meth addiction can be difficult to combat without professional support and guidance. Our meth addiction treatment in Lexington, Kentucky helps those who struggle with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
What is Meth?
Meth refers to a number of legal (Desoxyn) and illegal stimulant drugs containing methamphetamine. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), methamphetamine works by increasing the chemical dopamine in the brain.
Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical that rewards behavior, increases motivation, and enhances alertness. Thus, when a person takes meth and other stimulant drugs, their heart rate increases and they feel more alive and alert. These effects can also produce a state of euphoria or even make a person feel powerful or invulnerable.
Prescription methamphetamine treats attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (sleep disorder) by increasing activity in the brain. Sometimes, methamphetamine and other prescription stimulants also help with weight loss by increasing a person’s metabolism.
However, methamphetamine is often produced illegally in homemade labs or manufactured in superlabs and then sold by drug dealers in communities throughout the U.S. Meth comes in many forms, including pills and a crystalline powder. Users consume meth by ingesting pills, smoking or snorting powder, or dissolving powder into water and then injecting meth with a needle.
Additional street names for meth include the following:
- Speed
- Crystal meth
- Ice
- Crank
- Glass
- Chalk
Regardless of how a person takes meth, the effects are similar in terms of how meth affects a person’s behavior. However, the way a person takes meth can produce various adverse side effects.
For instance, a person who smokes meth can develop oral hygiene issues, whereas snorting meth can significantly harm a person’s nasal cavities. These kinds of physical effects are often signs of meth addiction. Our meth addiction treatment in Lexington can reduce the impact of these effects.
Signs and Symptoms of Meth Addiction
Meth addiction causes several physical and mental health problems in users. They also exhibit many behavioral issues that are common among all those with substance use disorders. People with a meth addiction will struggle to quit without professional help despite the adverse impact addiction has on their lives.
Signs of meth addiction include the following:
- Poor oral health, including:
- Tooth loss and decay
- Mouth sores
- Blackened teeth
- Swollen and discolored gums
- Bad breath and dry mouth
- Picking or scratching of the skin
- Irritability and agitation
- Emotional outbursts or fits of anger
- Tremors, shakiness, or twitches
- Inability to sit still
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Dramatic weight loss
- Appetite changes
- Rapid speech and racing thoughts
- Paranoia and delusional thinking
These signs and symptoms can cause significant issues for a person’s mental and emotional well-being as well as problems with relationships. Meth addiction can also lead to explosive or risky behaviors that result in legal issues like arrests and incarceration.
A person addicted to meth could struggle to experience pleasure without the drug and usually needs to increase the amount they take throughout the course of their addiction.
How is Meth Addiction Treated?
At our meth addiction treatment in Lexington, we treat addiction with comprehensive plans that promote healthy living, improve mental health, and increase a client’s overall quality of life. That way, they can find fulfillment and happiness without resorting to drug use or other addictive behaviors.
Our meth addiction treatment programs include the following services:
Psychotherapy
Group and individual psychotherapy can help clients deal with underlying mental health symptoms that often co-occur with meth addiction. Since meth acts as a stimulant, some people with depression or ADHD abuse meth to cope with their symptoms.
Trauma Therapy
Unresolved trauma is one of the most common underlying issues among those struggling with addiction. Our trauma therapy programs use traditional methods, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as innovative techniques like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and brainspotting.
Holistic Treatment
Meth addiction can cause problems in multiple areas of a person’s well-being. For example, meth users are often malnourished due to the appetite-suppressing effects of the drug. That is why we offer holistic approaches like nutritional counseling to enhance our client’s physical health. We also offer yoga, exercise programs, and meditation, which help clients cope with triggers and cravings during treatment.
Family Therapy
Meth addiction causes issues in a person’s most important relationships. Families often become splintered when a loved one is struggling with an addiction. Our family therapy can help clients repair these relationships. In addition, family therapy provides support for loved ones, who often struggle silently when a family member is addicted.
12-Step/Life Skills
Peer support is a cornerstone of recovery, and life skills are valuable to keep a person sober throughout lifelong recovery. At Lexington Addiction Center, we introduce our clients to 12-Step recovery programs as well as help clients with life skills training. These programs and skills empower our clients to continue their recovery while obtaining the skills to improve their life.
Our programs all occur on the outpatient level. This means our clients do not reside within our facility throughout their treatment. Many of our clients live at home or in a sober living program while attending meth addiction treatment. In addition, we offer outpatient treatment at three levels of care so clients can find the appropriate level of support.
Heal with Meth Addiction Treatment in Lexington, KY
Meth addiction can cause significant short- and long-term health problems. In addition, many people addicted to meth struggle to maintain healthy relationships or live fulfilling lives. When meth addiction overtakes a person’s entire life, they need professional treatment to get back on the right track.
At Lexington Addiction Center, we offer hope and help for those addicted as well as their families. Not only do we help with symptoms of meth addiction, but we also provide life skills training and mental health support.
Contact us today to begin our outpatient meth addiction treatment program in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Set yourself free from the struggles of addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Reach out to our treatment team in Lexington, Kentucky today.