The first step to take when you want to overcome a meth addiction is to accept that you have a problem. Being in denial or downplaying your addiction will only prolong the recovery process. There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development. Talk to a doctor or other medical professional for a recommendation. You can also search for a treatment center close to where you live. It’s a free online tool provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Instead, the experience made me feel like a failure because I wasn’t the straight son my parents expected me to be.
They attend 12-step meetings such as Crystal Meth Anonymous, where they communicate with others in recovery and learn ways to avoid triggers and manage cravings.
To properly heal from addiction, I had to heal my trauma with my parents.
Meth withdrawal can be uncomfortable, but there are things you can do to make the experience more manageable.
Recent data from animal models suggests that alcohol and drugs of abuse directly influence changes in gene expression in areas of the brain that help drive memory and reward responses.

Behavioral therapies have proven effective in treating meth addiction and can help you live a substance-free life. In fact, it is a man-made drug that was originally developed in the early 20th century for medical purposes and was used as a nasal decongestant in inhalers to treat respiratory conditions. The path to meth addiction recovery isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Overcoming crystal meth addiction empowers you to get your life back on track.

Meth Addiction Is a Serious Problem and Thousands of People are Seeking Help

Crystal meth can not only provide the high the addict is looking for, it also costs less and lasts longer. And so what they did was, say, OK, we’re going to create a program that gives every single inmate access to a full suite of treatment while they’re incarcerated. So that means that we offer them one of three primary medications to treat opioid use disorder. We’re going to create warm hand-offs for them, so that when they get out of incarceration they actually have a way to continue that treatment. And we’re going to give them all of the other supports that they need for treatment to actually work.

I was hoping that by removing my mask, my bond with my family would strengthen, but I was naive. Instead, the experience made me feel like a failure because I wasn’t the straight son my parents expected me to be. They immediately believed my sexuality was a choice I made and that my friends turned me gay. My younger self meth addiction couldn’t understand how one small detail about my life could make me feel so unworthy of their love. All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible. Methadone can be more susceptible to abuse if it’s taken at home and not within the safety of a program.

Attend therapy or counseling sessions

From Dry January and beyond, many factors can have profound effects on your brain biology. Taking steps to reduce consumption of alcohol and drugs and picking up healthy lifestyle practices can help stabilize and bring long-lasting benefits for your physical and mental health. We’ve poured many millions of dollars into addiction treatment research over the past half century. And it has yielded lots of insights about behavioral therapies and also treatments, medication treatments like methadone and buprenorphine. And it turns out that when you use those things correctly, you can actually make a difference. You can actually get people who are struggling with addiction to a stable place, and you can keep them there for a lot longer than you might imagine.

This stage is when the individual has made life changes and is able to feel accomplished about the things that they do. Making positive lifestyle changes helps addicts see the light at the end of the tunnel, and gives them something to work towards. Now that the tough stuff has passed, the body can begin to rejuvenate. In the honeymoon stage, the body is able to survive without cravings and may even feel more energy and in a better mood. Long-term use of meth can cause significant damage to the brain and the cells that make dopamine as well as to the nerve cells containing serotonin.

Relapse Prevention Strategies

If you have experienced a relapse, please contact a meth hotline. An admissions representative will offer advice and walk you through your options for additional rehab treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40 to 60 percent of those in addiction recovery experience a relapse after completing rehab. People in recovery might still feel the effects of past meth abuse. To treat tooth decay or gum disease caused by meth use, it is important to visit a dentist as soon as possible.

There are some tell-tale signs of meth addiction that you may be able to spot right away or which may become more prevalent as time goes on. There are many short-term and long-term effects of using crystal meth. Some of these effects will naturally subside on their own within a few hours while others could take days or more to go away even after the last dose of crystal meth was administered.

Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. However, it is generally safe to use when prescribed and monitored by a medical professional or in a rehab program. If taken at the correct dose, methadone does not generate a high.

how to overcome meth addiction

Meditation, exercise, and engaging in hobbies are all examples of activities that can help manage stress in a positive way. On the other hand, outpatient treatment allows individuals to receive treatment while residing at home and regularly attending therapy and support groups. Maybe it’s been lingering in the shadows of your life for years now, or perhaps you’ve just realized that something has to change. No matter where you may be in your journey, we want to let you know that help is within reach.

Phone, Video, or Live-Chat Support

As a result, users can develop compulsions to use and find it hard to resist. And since the drug changes how the brain works, it takes more than willpower to quit. Those who complete treatment usually need additional services to maintain sobriety. Aftercare resources such as sober living homes, Crystal Meth Anonymous and other 12-step programs can help people manage triggers and cravings during their recovery. Overcoming meth addiction can be one of the more difficult tasks for any certain individual to face.