Methamphetamine Addiction Intervention and Treatment in Texas
Methamphetamine is one of the most widely used substances in Texas, and meth addiction intervention and treatment are essential for anyone struggling with a meth addiction. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug causing dangerous and long-lasting drug addictions. Well-rounded drug rehab is required to treat meth addiction. Drug rehab centers in Texas are equipped to manage all severity of meth addiction. Most drug rehab centers evaluate each patient to determine the extent and severity of addiction and plan the drug rehabilitation process.
The first step in treating methamphetamine addiction is the drug detox. Detoxification manages withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The next phase of drug rehabilitation involves attending a residential or outpatient drug rehab center in Texas. Residential drug rehab is usually the better option. However, inpatient and outpatient drug rehab in Texas offer long-term and short-term programs. It is also important to consider and follow through with aftercare support. Common recovery support options include sober living homes, 12-step meetings, and peer support groups.
What is Methamphetamine, and How is it Used?
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system. Crystal meth is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny blue-white rocks. The drug is chemically similar to amphetamine. Typically, methamphetamine is used by smoking the rocks, swallowing pills, or snorting, or injecting the powder that has been dissolved in water or alcohol. The high from the drug starts and fades quickly, causing the drug user to use the drug continuously. Repeated use of methamphetamine is referred to as a binge and crash pattern. The Food and Drug Administration’s brand name medication for methamphetamine is Desoxyn.
What are Common Street Names for Methamphetamine
The common street names for methamphetamine include Batu, Bikers Coffee, Black Beauties, Chalk, Chicken Feen, Crank, Crystal, Glass, Go-Fast, Ice, Meth, Methies Quick, Poor Man’s Cocaine, Shards, Speed, Trash, Tweak, Uppers, Yaba, and Yellow Bam. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act. The drug has a high potential for abuse and is currently accepted for medical use. The drug is available through a prescription only that cannot be refilled. However, the drug has very limited use in the treatment of obesity and mental health issues. Illegal methamphetamine is brought into Texas by Mexican drug trafficking organizations that are primary manufactures and distributors of methamphetamine.
What Causes Methamphetamine Drug Addiction?
Drug rehab centers in Texas treat all severity of meth addiction, and the problem impacts people from all age groups. When someone uses methamphetamine, it increases the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical involved in body movement, motivation, and reinforcement of rewarding behaviors. Methamphetamine use releases high levels of dopamine in reward areas of the brain. The initial use and prolonged use of methamphetamine reinforce drug-taking behavior making the drug user want more. Eventually, a physical and psychological addiction takes hold.
Someone who smokes or injects the drug report a brief but intense sensation or rush. The oral ingestion of the drug or snorting meth produces a long-lasting high instead of a rush. Drug users that snort the drug repot that the high can last twice as long. Long-term meth use causes damage to the body and brain. Chronic methamphetamine users exhibit violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and psychotic features. Meth users also experience paranoia, aggression, visual and auditory delusions. Some research has indicated that approximately 50% of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged methamphetamine use.
Methamphetamine Drug Addiction Treatment and Detox in Texas
Drug detox and drug rehabilitation programs in Texas treat methamphetamine addiction. According to the University of Texas at Austin, methamphetamine is the top drug threat reported by the three different DEA Field Divisions covering Texas. Treating methamphetamine addiction begins with proper drug detox. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug, and withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, fatigue, severe depression, psychosis, and intense drug cravings. Standard drug detox programs in Texas are good options to manage withdrawal symptoms unless initial evaluation determines medical detox is needed. Drug detox should not be considered the only approach to treat meth addiction as it does not provide adequate counseling and therapy.
Residential and outpatient drug rehab programs in Texas offer different behavioral counseling methods, holistic treatment, and other approaches to managing methamphetamine addiction. Behavioral therapy is the most common treatment option and includes cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational incentives, and 12-step facilitation. Generally, drug rehab for methamphetamine addiction should be well-rounded and treat the mind, body, and spirit. However, no one form of drug rehab is right for every person. Some of the drug rehab centers in Texas offer holistic healing or experiential therapy. Treatment settings and interventions should be tailored to the needs of the addict.
Additionally, methamphetamine addiction involves proper recovery and support after drug rehab. Drug addiction recovery groups in Texas include 12-step programs, sober living homes, and peer support groups. When considering what recovery options are needed, it is important to look at recovery goals. Some recovering meth addicts benefit from 12-step meetings or sober living homes, while others need sober coaching. Remaining connected to other sober people should be the primary focus during recovery.
Family Intervention for Methamphetamine Drug Addiction in Texas
Methamphetamine is highly addictive, and most people addicted to meth are not willing to attend drug rehab. Family intervention in Texas motivates the individual to seek treatment and commit to getting help. The best way to plan and organize a family intervention is by hiring a professional interventionist. With the help of an interventionist, friends and family come together to confront the addict. During the family intervention, everyone involved demonstrates how the addict’s meth addiction has impacted them and their family.
A certified interventionist helps the family set clear boundaries and follow through with consequences if the drug-addicted family member refuses help. Family intervention is a carefully planned process. However, a poorly planned family intervention makes the addict feel attacked and will likely worsen the situation. Certified family interventionists in Texas have the training and understanding to help a family properly execute an intervention.
Sources-
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Methamphetamine-2020.pdf
NIDA. “Methamphetamine DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 16 May. 2019, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamphetamine
