Watching someone you love struggle with a methamphetamine addiction is a devastating experience. Knowing that nothing you say will get through to them is horrible. Even more, wanting to help but not knowing what to do is terrifying.
The best way to get help for a loved one addicted to meth is to understand the options available to them. Their road to recovery will likely come with many challenges, so you need to know how to support them in the best way.
Finding a rehab facility that takes a holistic approach to withdrawal and recovery is key. It is also crucial to understand how drugs for addiction may form part of the recovery process.
Methamphetamine Addiction Challenges
Methamphetamine (meth) is an addictive, synthetic stimulant drug. It causes severe physical, mental, and emotional harm when used long-term.
The reason people become addicted to meth is because the drug creates an intense feeling of euphoria by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Your loved one may experience pleasure and reward, but these feelings come at a terrible cost. They lead to dependency on meth and likely brain damage over time.
Unlike some other addictive substances, there are no FDA-approved drugs for meth addiction. This, in itself, makes the recovery process very difficult.
However, through research and clinical practices, scientists and medical professionals have identified several medications that can be used as part of rehab and recovery plans. These drugs for addiction help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce the cravings associated with meth addiction.
How Drugs for Addiction Help in Meth Recovery
In addition to easing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings, some medications can support long-term abstinence.
It is important to remember that medication cannot and will not cure addiction, but it can help stabilize your loved one’s condition. They can also allow them to engage more effectively in the necessary therapies and other forms of treatment.
Some drugs that make a difference during the recovery process include the following:
- Antipsychotics: If your loved one has a severe addiction to meth, they may experience psychosis. Delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations characterize this condition. Fortunately, antipsychotic medications can help your loved one manage these symptoms. It will give them the stability they need at the start of their recovery journey.
- Antidepressants: It is not uncommon for people struggling with a meth addiction to become depressed. Methamphetamine alters the brain’s chemistry, causing mood disturbances. If this is the case with your loved one, antidepressants can help by regulating their mood.
- Naltrexone: This medication is often used for opioid and alcohol addiction treatment. It is now also being explored for meth addiction. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain. Research suggests it may have similar results on the effects of meth on the brain. The hope is that it will reduce the high and euphoria of meth, which can result in less cravings.
- Modafinil: Modafinil is typically used for the treatment of narcolepsy. It is also being studied for its potential in treating meth addiction. The medicine will not reduce the craving for meth per se but is effective at reducing withdrawal symptoms such as depression and fatigue.
- Mirtazapine: This is another antidepressant that has shown some effectiveness in reducing meth use during clinical trials. Mirtazapine enhances the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, helping to stabilize a patient’s mood and reduce their cravings.
Behavioural Therapy Combined With Treatment Drugs
Drugs for addiction can provide support for your loved one during their meth addiction recovery. However, they are most effective when used in combination with behavioural therapies. In some cases, medications are not even necessary, with rehab centres using only behavioural therapies to guide a patient toward recovery.
These therapies include the following:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is one of the most effective forms of therapy for meth addiction. CBT can help your loved one identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviour that contribute to their addiction. In some instances, medication can enhance this type of treatment.
- Counselling: Rehab centres often offer one-on-one and group counselling depending on the patient’s needs. A rehab facility will provide your loved one with a safe and supportive environment where they can freely talk about their meth addiction with a professional counsellor.
- Contingency Management: This approach uses positive reinforcement to encourage a patient to leave their meth addiction behind. Patients receive rewards for meeting specific goals during their recovery. Sometimes, medicine forms part of the contingency management process, depending on a patient’s situation.
Limitations of Drugs for Addiction
Drugs for addiction can be incredibly beneficial, but they are not a magic solution. Meth addiction is a complex condition that requires a comprehensive treatment solution. Medications may manage symptoms and reduce cravings, but they cannot address the psychological factors that contribute to addiction.
Moreover, not all medications work for everyone. For instance, your loved one may not respond well to medications at all and, instead, fare much better with behavioural therapy. This is why getting your loved one into a program that offers personalized treatments that focus on overall health and support is so important.
Why Your Loved One Needs Professional Guidance
You cannot make any decisions on behalf of your loved one when it comes to medications and drugs for addiction. It is critical to seek professional guidance if you want to help your loved one break free. Addiction specialists, including doctors and mental health professionals, can assess your loved one’s needs and determine the best course of treatment.
HARP Allows You to Support Your Loved One Through Their Recovery
Hills & Ranges Private offers a safe place for your loved one to heal and recover from their meth addiction. HARP provides counselling services and medical treatment in a gorgeously calming setting in the Dandenong Ranges. HARP also partners with reputable detox facilities should a detox process be required.
HARP is also committed to making the recovery experience as safe and comfortable as possible for all patients. Your loved one will have access to recreational facilities and the opportunity to participate in emotional, physical, and mental therapies.
Your loved one will not have to do this on their own. In addition to receiving excellent support from HARP’s clinical team, they can stay in touch with you, their extended family, and their friends.
Speak to a Meth Recovery Specialist at HARP today and help your loved one on their way to health and recovery.
