Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that is hazardous to your health. meth addiction can happen fast and addiction may take place before the user even realizes.. So, if you are currently suffering from meth addiction, it’s time to find a meth addiction recovery rehab center.
We offer comprehensive meth addiction recovery treatment in Northern Illinois and also for any associated mental health disorders. Our licensed and experienced staff in our substance abuse treatment programs at Northern Illinois Recovery Center can work with you to end the cycle of addiction, improve your wellness, and get you on the right track.
Jump to Section
Why Is Meth So Addictive?
Of all the illicit drugs out there today, meth is by far one of the most addictive. When you take meth, the drug produces dopamine, which produces a high energy level, concentration, memory, and production – much higher than your average drug. Most users who start to take meth to stay on the drug for several weeks or months.
Unlike other drugs where you may come off your high and then revisit it at another time, meth users want to stay perpetually high 24/7. As a result, you may form a dependency on the drug at a faster rate. In addition, the side effects of meth can happen more quickly and be more intense.
How Does Meth Addiction Develop?
Since meth is considered a highly addictive stimulant, causing addiction can develop in a single-use. Mainly because of the rush of dopamine that is produced by the drug. Dopamine is a chemical that’s not only responsible for inducing feelings of pleasure but also for:
- Reward processing
- Memory retention
- Motivation
- Learning
The overall rush of dopamine that is produced by meth is much higher than the natural amount of dopamine that’s produced by the brain. This causes individuals to continue using the drug to keep the heightened and extremely pleasurable feelings. Many of the individuals who engage in meth generally take the drug over numerous days, staying continuously high throughout the duration of time.
Often, the above-mentioned scenario leads to the development of tolerance. After engaging in drug use for an extended period, an individual will require higher doses to feel the same effects as before. The drug’s affordability and stimulant effects can lead individuals to quickly become addicted.
After the above-mentioned occurs, it might become difficult to feel happiness when attempting to stop meth. Withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, depression, and anxiety, can continue to occur until it wears off. The overall nature of the withdrawal simply reinforces the likelihood and abuse of binging. After the reward system is dependent on the drug, the fear of cravings and withdrawal from meth are effectively taken over an individual’s life often.
What Are the Side Effects of Meth Addiction?
Long-term meth addiction can produce a wide range of physical and psychological side effects, including:
- Loss of appetite
- Irregular heartbeat
- Skin sores
- Infection
- Rapid tooth decay
- Sexually transmitted diseases
If you snort meth, you may notice deterioration in your sinus cavities or nasal passages. You can tell if you have deterioration when your nose bleeds all of the time. Meth can also have a significantly negative impact on your heart and nervous system.
You may suffer from seizures, heart attack, stroke, or an overdose. Do not let the powerful effects of meth dominate your life. Our drug and alcohol detox center in Northern IL is available to help you overcome the negative side effects of meth addiction.
Get Treatment for Meth Addiction
Northern Illinois Recovery Center offers two main types of treatment for meth addiction: a medication-assisted treatment center and therapy. Some avenues for rehab for meth addiction in Northern IL include:
- Individual therapy program
- Support groups
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy program
- Dialectical behavior therapy program
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Treatment may start with a detox that professionals highly monitor. When you go through detox, you may experience some severe withdrawals. For this reason, you should never attempt to stop taking meth on your own. A treatment specialist can monitor your withdrawal symptoms and progress.
What Are Some Risks Associated With Doing Meth and Becoming Addicted to It?
There are many risks associated with doing meth and becoming addicted to it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the overall rate of fatal overdoses including meth and various other stimulants has significantly increased. Similarly, according to SAMHSA, roughly 2 million individuals aged 12 years and older used meth in a given year, while roughly 500 individuals try meth for the first time each day.
Short-Term Effects of Meth
Even engaging in small amounts of meth can cause very harmful health effects, including:
- Disturbed sleep patterns, nausea, or loss of appetite
- Body temperature and increased blood pressure
- Aggressive, irritable, violent, and erratic behavior
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Faster breathing
Long-Term Effects of Meth
The chronic use of meth can lead to various, damaging and long-term health effects, even when individuals stop engaging in meth use, such as:
- Hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions, paranoia, repetitive motor activity, violent behavior (psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for months or even years after meth use)
- High blood pressure leads to strokes, heart attacks, and death
- Intense itching, causing skin sores from scratching
- Permanent damage to the brain and heart
- Changes in brain structure and functioning
- Deficits in motor skills and thinking
- Confusion, insomnia, and anxiety
- Kidney, lung, and liver damage
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Severe dental problems
- Premature osteoporosis
- Increased distractibility
- Memory loss
- Weight loss
- Addiction
Mixing Meth and Alcohol
When you drink alcohol and take meth at the same time, the alcohol increases meth metabolism. The result is that you have a higher level of meth in the bloodstream. When you have more meth in the bloodstream, the drug can greatly impact your heart and brain.
These higher levels can lead to an overdose, which can be lethal. An overdose can also lead to psychological or physical impairment. Another side effect is that the meth can cancel out the effects of the alcohol, leading you to drink more than you otherwise would.
What Are Some Long-Term Effects of Meth Addiction?
The long-term effects of meth abuse have various consequences, including addiction. Addiction is considered a chronic and relapsing disease that is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking use. It is also accompanied by molecular and functional changes in the brain.
Similar to several other drugs, the tolerance to methamphetamine’s enjoyable effects develops when it is repeatedly taken. To receive the desired effect, individuals who engage in meth need to take higher doses of the drug, take it more regularly, or even change how they take it to gain the desired effect. When individuals engage in chronic methamphetamine use, they might experience challenges feeling any other pleasure other than the one provided by the drug.
Therefore, fueling further abuse in meth abuse individuals. The withdrawal from methamphetamine happens when an individual who chronically abuses stops engaging in drug use. Symptoms of withdrawal include anxiety, fatigue, an intense craving for the drug, and depression.
Additionally, for those who are addicted to methamphetamine, individuals who engage in methamphetamine long-term might start to exhibit symptoms that can include significant confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, violent behavior, and anxiety. The same individuals might display several psychotic features, including visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. For example, the sensation of insects creeping underneath the skin.
Psychotic Symptoms of Meth Addiction
The psychotic symptoms can sometimes last for months or even years after an individual has quit engaging in meth use and the overall stress has been known to trigger the spontaneous recurrence of meth psychosis in individuals who use meth and have even previously experienced psychosis. This scenario along with various other ones reflects the significant changes in the brain that are caused by meth misuse. There have been studies that have indicated functional and structural changes in the areas of the brain associated with memory and emotions in individuals with chronic use.
The above-mentioned situation accounts for various cognitive and emotional issues observed in the individuals. There has also been research that has indicated that methamphetamine also alters the brain structures that are involved in a person’s decision-making. It also impairs the overall ability to subdue the habitual behaviors that have become ineffective or pointless.
The two effects were correlated suggesting that the overall structural change underlies the decline in a person’s mental flexibility. Ultimately, these brain structure changes can thoroughly explain why meth addiction recovery is so difficult to treat and there’s a significant chance of relapse early in the treatment.
How Can Treatment and Therapy Help With Recovery?
Therapy provides the individual struggling with addiction with education regarding it, relapse, and the recovery processes. It excels in helping them learn more about healthy communication and coping skills, as well as how to properly build and even establish a supportive recovery support system. Treatment can assist a person in having guilt and shame healed.
Therefore, building more of a positive self-image and solid trust. Furthermore, treatment helps the patient in exploring triggers, warning signs, and motives for substance abuse they might have not been aware of. By fully uncovering the overall root of addiction, patients can better understand the value of receiving treatment in a supportive facility.
Get Meth Addiction Recovery Treatment
Northern Illinois Recovery Center offers two main types of meth addiction recovery treatment: a medication-assisted treatment center and therapy. Some avenues for rehab for meth addiction recovery treatment in Northern IL include:
- Individual therapy program
- Support groups
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy program
- Dialectical behavior therapy program
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Treatment may start with a detox that professionals highly monitor. When you go through detox, you may experience some severe withdrawals. For this reason, you should never attempt to stop taking meth on your own. A treatment specialist can monitor your withdrawal symptoms and progress.
Find the Support Necessary to Heal at Northern Illinois Recovery Center’s Meth Addiction Recovery Rehab
If you are ready to take the first step to addiction recovery, contact Northern Illinois Recovery Center today. We offer a variety of other substance abuse treatment programs like:
- Alcohol Addiction Rehab
- Barbiturate Addiction Rehab
- Benzo Addiction Rehab
- Cocaine Addiction Rehab
- Heroin Addiction Rehab
- Opiate Addiction Rehab
- Opioid Addiction Rehab
- Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab
- Xanax Addiction Rehab
To find out more about your treatment options, call us today. We can help you get on the road to recovery at our meth addiction rehab center. You don’t have to wait any longer to start your new life.
