Meth Addiction in New Bedford, MA
One of the easiest addictions to develop but toughest to overcome is a meth addiction. Many people in New Bedford and beyond are under the assumption that meth addiction could never happen to them and that they have more willpower and strength than everyone else.
However, meth is an extremely potent stimulant drug. It causes a flood of dopamine so powerful that it creates a near-instant sensation of euphoria and a massive surge of wakefulness and energy. These powerful effects have a major impact on the structure and function of the brain and can quickly lead to dependence and ultimately to the development of a meth addiction.
Meth Addiction in the United States
In the early to mid-2000s, meth addiction reached its peak in the United States and people took action. Law enforcement agencies cracked down on meth manufacturers and distributors and drug treatment centers developed more effective treatment campaigns and programs to help break the cycle of addiction.
The result of these endeavors was a national drop of meth addiction rates from 8.1 percent of the total treatment admissions in 2005 to 5.6 percent in 2011. However, meth addiction is in no way eradicated. In recent surveys, it was found that around 1.2 million people had used meth in the past year.
The Effects of Meth
Meth is a drug with numerous effects on the body. In addition to the wakefulness it causes, a person can also experience periods of manic energy. This can cause them to feel extremely restless or unable to sit still or rest. It may even cause them to speak extremely rapidly, almost to the point of being incoherent and can cause insomnia that can last for several days. The consumption of meth also raises the body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, sometimes to dangerous levels.
Serious health problems can occur due to meth abuse as well. Dental issues are common and tooth decay and loss can occur. Skin lesions can develop and become infected, and a person can suffer serious organ damage (particularly to the kidneys and liver but also to the heart and lungs). Mental illness, psychosis, and severe cognitive impairment and learning disabilities can also occur. Some of these mental changes are irreversible in severe cases of meth abuse.
Treating Meth Addiction
When a person develops a meth addiction, it can occur rapidly. However, overcoming that addiction is not so quick and easy. Attempting to stop using meth and to abstain from use on a long-term basis is virtually impossible without professional treatment and support.
Detox is the first step to overcoming a meth addiction and should be undergone in a medical detox program. Medical detox gives recovering addicts supervision and support as the meth works its way out of their system and their brains and bodies try to adjust and start functioning normally without it. Doctors can also intervene when withdrawal symptoms are unbearable by administering prescription medications or using other treatments to reduce pain and discomfort.
Overcoming an addiction to meth also involves dealing with the issues that led a person to consume and abuse meth in the first place. This self-analysis and exploration can also help a person to regain a sense of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and a purpose in life. Treatment will help a recovering meth addict to learn how to better cope in the real world after treatment and get them back on their feet through therapy, vocational training, sober living and housing assistance, and a variety of other treatments and programs.
You can overcome your addiction to meth with the help of New Bedford Drug Treatment Centers. Call us today at (508) 645-6878 to get started.
