As a result, meth addiction often follows a pattern of bingeing on the drug for several days at a time, followed by a crash. It may take some time for your brain to restore its dopamine circuits when you stop using meth. So, the cognitive abilities that don’t rely much on dopamine will likely recover first. Mental health symptoms like paranoia and delusions may take longer to disappear.
What Can You Expect in Rehab?
The first step is to recognize any misconceptions you might have about substance use and addiction. It’s important to remember that ongoing drug use changes the brain’s structure and chemistry. This makes it more and more difficult to simply stop taking the drug. The drug’s development is now being overseen by UAMS and an affiliated biotech startup, InterveXion, where Gentry also works as chief medical officer, and Owens is the chief scientific officer. The origin of the antibodies being used to treat meth overdose, known as IXT-m200, dates to the 1980s, when the physician-scientist Michael Owens began exploring the concept as a postdoctoral researcher.
Holistic and Complementary Approaches: Nurturing the Whole Person
Meth causes physical symptoms typical of stimulants such as increasing blood pressure and heart rate and also changes how a person’s brain works. As with other substances that may cause meth abuse a person to develop an SUD, using meth can lead to physical, mental, and social difficulties. This clinical trial was successful enough that the National Institute on Drug Addiction’s Volkow says she expects to move forward toward securing FDA approval.
Therapy
Virtual reality exposure therapy, smartphone apps for relapse prevention, and teletherapy options are expanding access to treatment and support. These tools can provide real-time interventions and continuous support, bridging the gap between clinical sessions. From bustling cities to quiet rural towns, this insidious drug has sunk its claws into communities worldwide. It doesn’t discriminate – rich or poor, young or old, meth addiction can affect anyone. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that millions of people use amphetamine-type stimulants, including meth, making it one of the most widely abused illicit drugs globally. Patients received injections of extended-release naltrexone and oral doses of bupropion.
One of the most debilitating symptoms of meth detox is severe dysphoria, also known as depression. The normal pleasure centers have been suppressed by meth intake. They do not return to normal for a long time during the recovery period. It’s more like scaling a mountain in a blizzard – challenging, dangerous, and requiring immense perseverance.
- The rapid release of dopamine into this system powerfully reinforces the urge to continue using the drug.
- American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.
- Mental health symptoms like paranoia and delusions may take longer to disappear.
- Overall, participants responded at a significantly higher rate in the treatment group.
Some outside experts said they would like to see longer-term data beyond the trial’s 12 weeks to see what lasting benefits the medications provide. Inpatient treatment programs offer a structured environment with 24/7 medical and counseling staff on hand. They also offer intense treatment for co-occurring disorders and provide medical detox services. Technology is also playing an increasingly important role in meth therapy.
By cultivating awareness and acceptance, individuals can develop a more balanced relationship with their experiences, reducing the likelihood of relapse. The term “addiction” describes a pattern of behavior rather than bodily processes, such as withdrawal. For example, a person may feel compelled to gamble, despite harmful consequences, without ever using drugs or alcohol.
Search NIH Research Matters
Having a stable, substance-free, and supportive home environment is also crucial for outpatient treatment success. Crystal methamphetamine, which people commonly shorten to “crystal meth” or simply “meth” is a form of methamphetamine that resembles fragments of bluish-white crystal or glass. “Doctors are going to be reading about it and may prescribe the medications off-label to their patients,” Volkow says. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Using meth can cause long-term damage to the person’s health, which often persists even after the person has stopped using the drug.