Meth Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles

Many individuals across the state of California and the country as a whole are struggling with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Despite the prevalence of methamphetamine addiction, recovery is possible. You or your loved one can recover by entering a meth addiction treatment program. At Profound Treatment, we will help you begin your recovery journey through drug detoxification, therapy sessions, and other treatment interventions. With support and guidance, you can make a profound change in your life at our Los Angeles treatment center

Understanding Methamphetamine Addiction

The most proactive way to tackle a methamphetamine addiction is by educating yourself in the hopes of understanding it better. An important step toward detox and a drug-free life in recovery is acknowledging that there is a problem or that you or a loved one’s drug use is an addiction.

You can recognize drug abuse in yourself or your loved one by first identifying the signs and symptoms of meth use and meth abuse. Then you can expand your knowledge and understanding by learning about the dangers of crystal meth and the long-term impact of methamphetamine addiction. Taking the first step toward breaking the cycle of meth abuse also includes understanding the treatment options available for you or your loved one in our Los Angeles treatment facility.

If you are seeking substance abuse treatment and knowledge for a loved one, you likely have numerous questions. You are likely familiar with fictional depictions of crystal meth and news reports that focus on the criminalization of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) or a methamphetamine use disorder. Yet, fictional and nonfictional media coverage of meth use and meth abuse often presents a skewed or narrow perspective of meth use, substance abuse, and meth addiction treatment. So, what exactly is methamphetamine, and what is methamphetamine addiction?

What Is Methamphetamine and How Does It Affect the Brain?

Much like opioid drugs, stimulant drugs like amphetamines and methamphetamine can come as legal prescription medication or as illegal substances. Public health professionals may prescribe stimulant drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and weight loss in some cases of obesity. In general, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes methamphetamine, usually referred to as meth or crystal meth, as a “powerful, highly addictive stimulant.”

As previously mentioned, methamphetamine is often referred to as meth or crystal meth, among other street names. Despite the way names of the substance are used interchangeably, there are some differences between meth and crystal meth. The main differences between meth and crystal meth are how they are made, how they are abused, and the effect they have on you:

  • Meth
    • Typically comes in powder or pill form
    • Often swallowed, snorted, smoked, or injected
  • Crystal meth
    • Typically seen as clear or bluish crystals
    • Usually smoked in a small glass pipe or dissolved and injected

Both crystal meth and meth use can lead to stimulant use disorder and have detrimental side effects. However, crystal meth is more concentrated than typical powder-based meth. The concentration of crystal meth produces a more immediate, intense, and long-lasting euphoria than powder-based meth use. Methamphetamine affects the central nervous system and impacts the brain by speeding up communication between the brain and body. Thus, meth use can increase activity and talkativeness, decrease appetite, and induce a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria.

Since methamphetamine is a stimulant drug, many people may use it to stimulate the central nervous system to feel more awake, energetic, or focused. Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that shares a close chemical relationship with the other stimulant drug, amphetamine. However, unlike amphetamine, methamphetamine is stronger in that it produces a greater effect on the central nervous system. The effects of meth can have a significant impact on how your brain and body function. Understanding how meth abuse impacts the brain as a stimulant drug starts to highlight the importance of understanding why meth is so addictive.

Why Methamphetamine Is So Addictive

The euphoric effects people experience with meth use are partially why the drug is highly desirable. Additionally, meth is also typically cheap and easily accessible, contributing to the overarching use of meth nationwide, including within California. However, many are unaware of the dangers of meth use, especially long-term. Over time, meth can change the way the brain works, ultimately making it more challenging to stop using it.

As the NIDA notes, meth has a high potential to become addictive because it quickly enters the brain, produces an intense “rush” or euphoria, and then ends quickly after. Meth works similarly to other stimulant drugs, in which there is a massive release of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. The release of norepinephrine and dopamine creates euphoric effects, such as increased energy and feeling invulnerable. Thus, the quick effects of meth reinforce your desire to repeatedly engage in meth abuse.

The Dangers of Methamphetamine Use

There are many risks associated with meth use, like physical health problems and co-occurring disorders, such as mental health challenges. That includes short and long-term effects on the mind and body. Some of the short-term signs and symptoms of meth use include:

  • Increased energy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Cardiovascular issues
    • Rapid and irregular heartbeat
  • High body temperature
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Faster breathing
  • Dilation of pupils
  • Stroke
  • Kidney damage
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Anxiety
  • Panic attack
  • Irritability
  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Seizures and convulsions
  • Non-fatal overdose called overamping

Over time, long-term meth use can lead to:

  • Malnutrition
  • Weight loss
  • Dental problems
    • Tooth decay and loss
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral changes
  • Exhaustion
  • Confusion
  • Apathy
  • Disorientation
  • Psychosis
    • Delusions
    • Hallucinations
  • Paranoia
  • Decreased cognitive function
    • Difficulty with verbal learning
    • Slower reaction times
  • Violent, bizarre, and erratic behavior
  • Insomnia
  • Increased risk of bacterial infections
    • Infective endocarditis, a heart infection
  • Cardiovascular events
    • Stroke and heart failure
    • Hypertension-related heart attacks
  • Long-lasting damage to the brain and heart’s blood vessels
  • Damage to the brain structure
  • Increased risk of HIV or viral hepatitis
  • Decreased sexual function in men
  • Lung, liver, and kidney damage
  • Respiratory problems
  • Infectious diseases
    • Cellulitis and abscesses
  • Sniffing or snorting meth can lead to the destruction of soft tissues in the nose

Using meth can lead people to act completely out of character. These behavioral changes cause individuals to behave erratically, violently, and recklessly. Further, these erratic behaviors often lead to further substance abuse, known as polysubstance use. The opioid epidemic has expanded from opioid overdoses and overdose deaths to a polysubstance epidemic. As the NIDA states, methamphetamine, taken alone or in combination with opioid drugs like fentanyl, has contributed to the overdose crisis.

Many people may mix stimulant drugs like meth, amphetamine, and cocaine with depressants like opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. Not only does polysubstance use increase the chances of dependency and substance use disorder (SUD), but it also supports an increased risk of overdose and death. Mixing stimulant drugs and depressants can create deadly side effects, as a stimulant drug increases energy, attention, and alertness, while depressants produce a relaxing and sedating effect.

The upper and downer effects of stimulants and depressants give the central nervous system mixed signals and messages that can disrupt functioning. That disruption in proper functioning can lead to health problems and death from things such as respiratory depression and cardiovascular strain, including heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure. The first step in combating these changes and health problems is recognizing the signs and symptoms of meth abuse.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Addiction

When someone is struggling with a methamphetamine addiction, there are physical, mental, and behavioral signs to look for, including:

  • Tremors
  • Malnutrition
  • Weight loss
  • Headaches
  • Seizures
  • Infected skin or body sores
  • Impaired memory or cognitive function
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Panic attacks

It is also not uncommon for individuals to experience intense psychosis, as well as tactile and auditory hallucinations, with meth use.

The Importance of Detox in Methamphetamine Recovery

If you recognize the signs and symptoms of methamphetamine addiction in yourself or a loved one, you should seek methamphetamine addiction treatment. The first step in effective treatment is drug detox. Seeking a detox program in inpatient or outpatient treatment with medical professionals is invaluable to effective treatment as it addresses both the behavioral health and medical health care needs of treatment and lasting recovery. Meth withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse can be uncomfortable, causing anxiety, fatigue, and intense cravings. Those intense meth withdrawal symptoms can be physically and psychologically distressing, and even increase avoidance of treatment.

At Profound Treatment, our experienced clinicians are committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for detoxification and recovery. Our California treatment facility can help you detox and manage your meth withdrawal symptoms safely and more comfortably than trying to do it alone. We offer a community of support and connection with clinicians and peers in support groups, so you can thrive in recovery.

Comprehensive Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment at Profound Treatment

Once you have gone through detox, you can take the next step in your recovery journey. At Profound Treatment, the next step in the recovery process includes starting a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs. Our inpatient treatment program in our California treatment center offers a luxurious, peaceful haven where you can recover from meth addiction. Through a combination of around-the-clock care, dual diagnosis treatment, and evidence-based interventions like contingency management (CM), individual therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and group therapy, we can help you get sober.

Benefits of an Inpatient Treatment Center in Los Angeles, California

Nowadays, people have access to many treatment programs, from inpatient to outpatient programs, which is great, but it can be overwhelming. Moreover, many treatment programs focus on the diagnosis and abstinence rather than the underlying issues that have contributed to your addiction. However, at Profound Treatment, we treat the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Some of the benefits of enrolling in our inpatient treatment center in Los Angeles include:

  • A safe environment to detox, heal, and focus on recovering
  • Comprehensive care and treatment tailored to each client
  • Sense of community and support from peers in the program
  • Access to around-the-clock medical and treatment services
  • Programs that utilize evidence-based interventions and holistic practices

How Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Support Recovery From Meth Addiction

Addiction treatment typically consists of evidence-based interventions and psychotherapy. Two evidence-based interventions you may experience while at Profound Treatment are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT supports recovery from meth addiction by helping clients challenge negative thoughts and behaviors. In comparison, DBT teaches mindfulness, emotional regulation, and other useful skills to help you stay sober.

Therapeutic Interventions Used in Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

Some of the other therapeutic interventions we implement at Profound Treatment to help treat a methamphetamine addiction include experiential and adventure therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). We also provide family therapy, which can be extremely beneficial for addressing the health and well-being of clients and their loved ones. Having the support of family, friends, and other loved ones is significant for healing the individual and the entire family for long-term recovery. Family therapy teaches open and honest communication, patience, and how to set healthy boundaries between clients and loved ones. Additionally, family involvement can help prevent relapse by providing support, accountability, positive reinforcement, and collaborative coping strategies.

Life After Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment: Building a Relapse Prevention Plan

Unfortunately, addiction requires lifelong maintenance, and life post-treatment comes with many challenges. Thankfully, there are ways to combat the challenges of life in recovery. For starters, creating a relapse prevention plan is key to lasting recovery. Building a relapse prevention plan will provide strategies for healthy coping skills, the development of long-term recovery, and help cultivate resources to support you in this next chapter.

Additionally, utilizing available continuing care options can help you transition back into your day-to-day life post-treatment. There are several different services available in aftercare to support a continuum of care on your recovery journey. Your continuing care plan may include enrolling in an intensive outpatient program, staying connected with the peers and professionals you met during treatment, engaging in support groups, and utilizing other aftercare services.

Why Choose Profound Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles?

Profound Treatment provides an inclusive and compassionate approach to substance abuse treatment. Everyone deserves the opportunity to heal in a safe and comfortable environment. We recognize the gap in care for at-risk and vulnerable communities, from working professionals to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our connection-driven services can help you improve your physical and mental health, recover from addiction, and live a life of long-term, sustainable recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with methamphetamine addiction, we encourage you to visit our website or call to begin your treatment journey with Profound today.

Methamphetamine addiction has harmed the lives of millions nationwide, as it can cause significant functional impairment to the brain. Moreover, the effects of meth produce a fast-acting but short-lived euphoria that makes it a highly addictive substance. Despite meth’s addictive nature and impairment to brain function, long-term recovery is still possible. Access to an inclusive, comprehensive, and compassionate treatment program can help address the complex behavioral health challenges of addiction. Call Profound Treatment at (310) 340-2609 to learn how meth addiction treatment in Los Angeles can help you uncover tools and strategies for a fulfilling life in long-term recovery.

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