If you wish for your loved ones to overcome their crystal meth addiction, detox is a crucial first step. There are different ways to go about this, but you should choose carefully because each option has benefits and drawbacks. This article provides insight into the different crystal meth detox methods to help you make a more informed decision.
Home Detox
Detoxing at home, while possible, may be challenging and even potentially dangerous. Crystal meth is highly addictive, and will alone is usually not enough for your loved one to successfully stop using the substance.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the money to get into rehab, which is why some choose to detox from home. Privacy is also a concern in some rehabilitation centres. But before you let a loved one detox from home, it’s important to think about its feasibility. Depending on the severity of addiction, your loved one may experience serious withdrawal symptoms that require medical attention and constant monitoring.
You also need thorough preparation to have a chance of succeeding with home detox. First, you must create a safe and supportive environment for your loved ones. Ask your trusted family members or friends to provide constant support and encouragement and help monitor progress. Educate yourself and those around you on the potential risks and withdrawal symptoms related to crystal meth detox.
Pros
- Detox at home is usually the cheapest option since you won’t need to pay for professional service and facilities costs.
- This method can be done in a more private setting, like home. There is no risk of being seen entering rehab, and there is likely no record of the patient.
Cons
- The lack of expert supervision, like doctors, therapists, and lab technicians, can hinder recovery and make the management of severe withdrawal risky.
- Without structured support, relapse is more likely to happen.
Longevity of Recovery
Your loved one might show recovery signs from mild addiction within a few weeks of home detox. But generally, success depends on your loved ones’ commitment to recovery and the availability of support networks.
Long-term success, however, is a little more complicated. While enough preparation may increase the success rate of home detox, the lack of medical supervision and emotional support may lead to a relapse. It’s estimated that, without formal treatment and structured support, 92% of crystal meth users relapse at least once during their recovery.
Detox Programs
Detox programs can provide your loved ones with medical and psychological support while they are getting rid of crystal meth from their system. It sits comfortably in the middle of these three detox approaches: offering better-structured support than at-home detox but providing less comprehensive care than treatment centres.
Detox programs are usually either inpatient or outpatient. If you choose inpatient care, your loved ones will stay at the facility where they’ll receive 24/7 attention. This is better for managing protracted withdrawal symptoms from meth, like psychosis and suicidal thoughts.
Outpatient care provides treatment at a facility during scheduled visits, but the patients continue living at their homes. It may be the ideal choice if your loved one isn’t too deep into their meth addiction yet.
Pros
- It has a better chance of successfully detoxing crystal meth thanks to a structured environment, medical supervision, and progress monitoring.
- It’s cheaper than treatment centres.
Cons
- It doesn’t usually provide care beyond detox, like continued therapy and monitoring. However, some detox programs may offer extended treatment and aftercare recommendations.
- More expensive than the at-home detox approach.
Longevity of Recovery
You can expect recovery within a few days to weeks with detox programs. That’s because they focus on immediate recovery, which is followed by stabilising the patient and managing withdrawal symptoms. After the detox process, you will usually transition to outpatient support, where sustained recovery depends on continued care, such as follow-up counselling.
Detox in Meth Treatment Centres
Getting detox from treatment centres means comprehensive and structured care for your loved ones. Not only will they get medical detox, but they’ll also have access to crucial services like individual and group therapies and educational workshops to address the underlying aspects of their addiction.
There are different types of treatment centres. Residential or inpatient treatment involves your loved ones living at the treatment facility full-time for immersive and fully monitored treatment. Partial hospitalisation programs allow them to return home but routinely receive intense treatment at the facility. Meanwhile, an intensive outpatient program is similar to partial hospitalisation but is cheaper at the cost of the lower level of care.
Pros
- Treatment centres go beyond detoxification and offer comprehensive care and a wide range of support services. This includes counselling, aftercare planning, vocational support, and life skills training.
- Your loved ones will receive round-the-clock monitoring and supervision, which ensures immediate attention when an issue arises.
- Some treatment centres, like HARP, offer holistic care, which doesn’t just focus on the physical symptoms of crystal meth addiction but on other aspects, too, like social, mental, and psychological.
Cons
- Treatment centres are usually the most expensive option, which isn’t surprising with all their services.
- If you choose to enrol your loved ones in a treatment centre, they’ll have to reside there for some time. This time commitment is challenging for those with professional obligations.
Longevity of Recovery
The average length of stay for crystal meth detox at treatment centres can vastly vary on the severity of addiction, intensity of treatment, and type of program, among other factors.
For instance, even though the detox process usually takes three to ten days, inpatient recovery programs may last several weeks up to three months. Meanwhile, outpatient and residential programs offer treatment for three to six months with extended care for up to a year.
Choosing the Right Approach
The right crystal meth detox method will depend on various factors like the severity of your loved ones’ addiction, pre-existing conditions, and overall health. Your support network, aftercare needs, and privacy preferences are to be considered, too. Make sure to include financial and logical considerations in your decision as well.
Keep in mind that delay only makes recovery more difficult. When your loved ones show signs of crystal meth addiction, it’s never too early to seek professional help. Also, don’t think each approach is strictly exclusive because sometimes, combining them provides the best result.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive crystal meth detox program suited to any level of addiction, consider Hills & Ranges Private (HARP). While HARP does not provide detox services directly, we collaborate with leading detox facilities to ensure seamless care. Our clinical expertise, luxurious facilities, holistic treatment approach, and compassionate team will help your loved ones break free from dangerous drug addiction.
If you want to learn more, set a pre-assessment schedule for your loved ones so we can create a suitable treatment plan.
