Methamphetamine, otherwise known as meth or crystal meth is a highly addictive stimulant drug. Meth addiction is so common in The United States, that a national survey found that approximately 1.6 million people said they had used meth in the past year, and 774,000 reported using it in the past month. While first-time use of meth can seem exhilarating to some, it quickly can begin to ruin your health, life, and destroy your relationships. Meth addiction can often lead to many health issues such as psychosis and other mental disorders, cardiovascular and renal dysfunction, infectious disease transmission, and even lethal overdoses.
Finding a California meth addiction treatment center that actually cares about you or your loved one may seem hard, but at Zephyr Medical Group, we care about your lasting recovery. We will do whatever it takes to get you or your loved one clean from meth addiction. The most important thing that you should take away from this resource is that you can and will get your life back on track if you put the effort in. We have years of expertise treating meth addiction and can help you as well. Contact us today to learn about our California Methamphetamine addiction treatment programs.
Meth Addiction Statistics
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) An estimated 964,000 people aged 12 or older had a methamphetamine use disorder in 2017. The CDC tells us that methamphetamine usage and addiction has been increasing due to the availability. Here are some additional meth addiction statistics as reported from the CDC and NSDUH:
- 22.3% reported injecting methamphetamine
- Between 2015–2018 6.6 per 1,000 adults reportedly abused meth
- Among adults who used meth in the past year also abused prescription opioids 40.5%
How to Tell if a Loved One is Addicted to Meth
Living with or seeing someone you care about struggle with meth addiction can be one of the most heartbreaking things in the world. Yet every day people become addicted to and abuse meth. There are some early warning signs if you have a loved one that is addicted to meth or just started to use it. Meth is a highly dangerous drug and if someone you care about is using it, use this article as a resource for how to help them. Here are some of the most common signs to tell if a loved one is addicted to meth:
Sudden erratic behavior
Noticeable skin sores
From shooting meth
Extreme levels of paranoia
Rapid eye movement
Uncontrollable Hyperactivity
Rotting teeth
otherwise known as “meth mouth”
Uncontrollable weight loss
Frequent ticks
such as: scratching, moving their jaw, pulling hair, etc…
California Meth Addiction Treatment Options
In California, there are various meth addiction treatment options for you no matter what your insurance or financial situation is. The first thing you need to do is be sure that the individual is ready and willing for help. If they are not willing, the treatment process can be very difficult for their long term recovery. You can call us 24/7 if you have questions or would like our help convincing your loved one to get the help they deserve. There are several different levels of addiction treatment for you to consider depending on the amount of use and how long they have been using. Here are the common treatment options for meth addiction:
- Detox
- Residential Treatment
- Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP)
- Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
- Outpatient
- Sober Living
What Meth Detox and Withdrawal is like
Meth detox is one of the most difficult drugs to detox from, because users can experience meth withdrawal symptoms for up to several months after stopping. This is why it’s very important to detox within a licensed and medical facility while being overseen by doctors and professionals. Quitting meth cold turkey can cause an increased rate of complications and relapsing. While meth detox can be uncomfortable, medications are commonly prescribed during your detox to reduce and manage the withdrawal symptoms. Our lead medical director, Faried Banimahd, MD has many years of experience helping people quit meth for good. Here are some of the most common meth withdrawal symptoms that you should be aware of:
- Increased agitation and mood swings
- Increased cravings for meth
- Insomnia and/or sleeplessness
- Mild to severe psychosis
- Emotional blunting
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- And Cold and flu like symptoms
Long Term Effects of Meth Use
If a person who is addicted to meth continues the use, there can be some extremely serious long term side effects. Meth is a drug that attacks your central nervous system and thus can cause physical and emotional damage in the long run. Most of the damage occurred from long term meth use can be reversed with time however. No matter how bad things have gotten, we encourage you to reach out for help. Some of the most common long term effects of meth use include: weight loss, psychosis, rotting teeth and gums, skin sores, and anxiety disorders.