Methamphetamine, just like cocaine, is a stimulant. This synthetic drug directly affects the brain’s pleasure center. People struggling with an addiction to meth smoke, inhale, snort, or inject it. Medical professionals explaining how to detox from meth stress the importance of a medically supervised setting during the effort.
Taking into Account Physical Health during Withdrawal
In addition to the psychological aspects of meth addiction, the drug takes a severe physical toll. Malnutrition, the possibility of heart damage, and the potential for liver and kidney damage are only some manifestations. A condition colloquially referred to as “meth mouth” is another. It relates to the extensive dental damage that occurs as a result of severe dry mouth and teeth grinding.
How to Detox from Meth When There’s a Possibility of Psychological Issues
Detox in a controlled environment is crucial for the safety of the client. The potential for developing psychosis, aggression, anxiety, and depression require careful monitoring. The onset of these conditions may require the use of appropriate medications. Factoring in a need for physical and mental health care, professionals at a detox facility perform multiple support functions:
- Gastrointestinal health support. Because meth reduces appetite, the absence of the drug tends to increase it. Someone struggling with an addiction to meth doesn’t usually follow nutritional guidelines, which can lead to malnutrition. The latter can cause gastrointestinal upset when consuming larger quantities of food. Health care professionals counteract the problem by providing easy-to-digest nutritious meals.
- Acute withdrawal support. During the acute withdrawal phase, which typically takes place after 24 hours without the substance, mental health conditions may surface. Although they usually vanish after a few days, therapists understand that they seem endless from the client’s point of view. Medication can help with severe cases. Examples of acute withdrawal include hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and paranoia.
- Reaching physical and emotional equilibrium. After about three days, the worst withdrawal symptoms subside. The craving for meth, however, remains strong. At this time, therapists assist the person going through the detox process to handle mood swings and fatigue.
Since clients tend to feel better after about a week, they develop a false sense of security about relapse. Therapists help stress the importance of rehab to discover underlying conditions that may result in future drug use. Therapy is also the time to explore possible dual diagnosis cases and secondary substance abuse issues. During rehab, the person struggling with a meth addiction learns how to handle triggers and prevent relapse.
Getting Help Today Starts with a Phone Call
When you talk to the experts about how to detox from meth, you may worry about how tough the process is. However, when a facility assists with the withdrawal and a rehab clinic welcomes you right away, you can do it. In fact, why not start your recovery process today? Call (855) 425-4846 and connect with the experts at 1st Step Behavioral Health to get the process started!