Methamphetamine, also referred to as meth, is an illegal substance that is classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Schedule II Controlled Substance. These are considered dangerous substances and are “defined as drugs with a potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.” When taken in high doses and/ or continuously abused, meth can cause severe short and long-term psychological and emotional consequences. When an individual has habitually abused meth, and/ or has become addicted to methamphetamines, his or her body has become physically dependent on meth to function optimally. When this occurs and there is not enough of the substance present or it is removed entirely from one’s body, it will react accordingly and he or she will begin to experience acute withdrawal symptoms.
Detox
Detox is the process that rids one’s body of all foreign substances. Without cleansing one’s body of abused substances, an individual is effectively unable to begin to learn how to function when the substance is absent from his or her body. Hence, detox is an essential step in one’s recovery from substance abuse and/ or addiction. There are a variety of detox methods available for individuals in need, each with different levels and/ or kinds of support (e.g. quitting cold-turkey, supervised detox, medically supervised detox, medically assisted detox, etc.). There are several factors that contribute to which type of detox may best befit an individual beginning his or her treatment process. The type of drug abused, length of time an individual abused drugs, the potency of the substance abused, the frequency and amount abused, the personal health history of the individual whether or not the individual abused other substances simultaneously, as well as the presence of any co morbid mental health disorders should all be considered when deciding which type of detox to undergo. Specifically as it relates to meth, an individual should not attempt to detox without supervision. The withdrawal symptoms that occur when detoxing from meth are not inherently life threatening. However, when detoxing from meth, it is highly recommended to undergo a medically supervised detox process. This can ensure an individual’s safety throughout the detox process, as well as provide needed support and enable immediate administering of any medical interventions, should they be required.
For Information and Support
If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one in regards to substance abuse and/ or addiction we recommend reaching out for help as soon as possible. If left untreated, substance abuse can result in long lasting and potentially life-threatening consequences. Keep in mind: you are not alone! There is an entire network of professionals that are available to help and support you and your loved one throughout the recovery process. The earlier you seek support, the sooner your loved one can return to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding our specific program at Haven House Addiction Treatment and/ or general substance abuse and/ or addiction treatment related information. Our highly trained staff is readily available to discuss how we might best be able to help you and your loved one. We can be reached by phone at 424-258-6792. You are also welcome to contact anytime us via email at admissions@hhtxc.com.
