What Are the Treatments for Meth?

According to the Office of the Inspector General, methamphetamine is the most prevalent manufactured drug in made in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, as many as 600,000 people are estimated to currently be dependent on meth in the United states. As many as 12 million over the age of 12 have used the substance at least once. However, there are treatment methods available to help fight the addiction.

Detox

• One of the first treatments available for meth addiction is detoxification (detox). Detox is the process of riding the body of methamphetamine while under supervision. This is done to both ensure that the participant stays clean long enough for the drug to be metabolized from the body, as well as to ensure that no adverse health problems occur during the detoxification process. In many cases withdrawal is more uncomfortable than dangerous; However, in some cases, meth withdrawal can bring on severe depression, even to the point of suicidal behavior. Detoxification is usually done in a medical or treatment facility with 24-hour supervision and available medical care.

Residential

• After detox, treatment can progress to either residential treatment, or outpatient treatment. Residential treatment is reserved for meth addicts who would have little or no success in completing treatment without regular supervision and constant support. In some cases, residential treatment may also be court-ordered. In either case, residential treatment offers the meth addict a mixture of therapy, support, and behavioral training, all while living on the campus of the treatment center. This allows the user to escape triggers or living conditions that may be influencing her drug use.

Outpatient

• Outpatient therapy is reserved for meth users who have the necessary environment and support system to successfully become sober, without needing 24-hour care. Patients in residential treatment can often work their way into outpatient treatment after marked success in remaining sober. Outpatient therapy offers the same treatment regimen as inpatient therapy, but the patient is allowed to live at home or in a sober living facility outside the treatment center.

Contingency Management

• Contingency management is a form of treatment for meth that is used in conjunction with therapy during residential or outpatient treatment programs. Contingency management is the use of a rewards system in order to encourage patients to stay sober. Rewards may be as simple as words of praise for successful milestones during treatment, or can consist of physical rewards, such as moving into outpatient treatment, gaining a higher status in the treatment program, or even monetary things such as a gift certificate or other prize.

Medication

• In some cases, medications and natural injections may be used as a treatment option to help reduce the cravings and symptoms felt during withdrawal. Some common types of pharmaceutical interventions include, anti-anxiety medications, vitamin B injection therapy, serotonin boosters, anxiolytics and antidepressants. A reduction in the cravings and depression that often are associated with meth withdrawal can dramatically increases the chances of successful treatment.