Watching a friend throw their life away because of an ice drug addiction is one of the most heartbreaking things to witness. This incredibly dangerous stimulant drug (crystal meth) causes physical, emotional, and mental damage. If a friend of yours is struggling with a crystal meth addiction, you may feel completely powerless.
Still, your support is often all that is needed to kickstart their recovery journey. Help your friend today to prevent them from losing their life tomorrow. This may sound harsh, but that is the reality of an ice drug addiction.
Ice causes meth mouth, skin scarring, damaged blood vessels in the brain, memory issues, mood disturbances, psychosis, hallucinations, and paranoia. Crystal meth can also lead to anxiety, insomnia, and aggressive or violent behaviour. If your friend overdoses on meth, they could die, especially if their immune system is already weakened due to their addiction.
It is important for you to recognise the signs of an ice-drug addiction, especially if you are unsure whether your friend has an addiction problem.
Recognizing the Signs of an Ice Drug Addiction
Before you take action, look out for the following signs of ice addiction in your friend:
- Your friend may be neglecting their hygiene and no longer care how they dress or look.
- Take a look at their teeth, if possible. Crystal meth is very hard on gums and teeth, causing numerous problems, including cavities.
- Your friend may have lost a lot of weight and refuses to eat.
- You may notice them picking at their skin or hair.
- Your friend may ask you for money or start selling their possessions.
- Crystal meth causes severe mood swings so that you may be at the receiving end of your friend’s violent outbursts.
- They may tell you someone is after them or see things that do not exist.
- You may notice burnt spoons or syringes lying around their home.
- Your friend may not want to socialize with anyone or see their friends and family. They may neglect their responsibilities and lack interest in activities they used to enjoy.
If your friend displays one or more of these signs, you must approach them with empathy. Never judge them because you think they should know or be better. Ice addiction is a terrible condition to suffer from, and what your friend needs is your understanding and support.
Educate Yourself About Ice Addiction
You will not be able to help your friend if you do not understand anything about ice addiction. Knowing how crystal meth affects the brain and body will give you more of an idea of what your friend is going through.
For instance, crystal meth causes a surge in dopamine, leading to intense euphoria. At the same time, the drug causes dopamine depletion, which means your friend will find it difficult to experience pleasure without using meth. This is where the vicious cycle of addiction starts.
Furthermore, highs are always followed by intense crashes. Your friend will not want to feel the crash but will want to get back to the high. This kind of dependency is hard to break.
Unfortunately, as your friend keeps using ice, it may lead to irreversible damage to their vital organs, including their heart and brain.
Approach Your Friend With Compassion
If you are sure your friend is addicted to crystal meth, confront them in a loving, compassionate manner. Find a private setting, use non-accusatory language, and tell your friend you can help and support them.
Your friend will likely deny they have a problem, but it is important to remain calm and patient. Give your friend time to process what you know about their addiction.
Encourage Professional Help
An ice drug addiction requires professional treatment. When your friend eventually acknowledges their problem, you must encourage them to seek professional help.
There are several options to choose from:
- Inpatient rehab: This treatment centre offers a structured environment where patients can focus on their recovery. Patients receive medical and emotional support from doctors, counsellors, therapists, and peers.
- Outpatient rehab: If your friend refuses to commit to an inpatient program, an outpatient option might work for them. Outpatient facilities allow patients to live at home while attending therapy sessions. This is an ideal treatment option for patients with a strong support system and a stable home environment. Therapies include individual, group, and family therapy.
As an outpatient, your friend will attend regular sessions with a therapist to address the root cause of their addiction. They may need to take prescribed medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms.
- Behavioural therapy: This is often the first and best step towards recovery. Behavioural therapy helps change the thought patterns and behaviours that lead to drug use.
Common forms of behavioural therapy include cognitive behavioural therapy, contingency management, and motivational interviewing.
Specialized Treatment at a HARP Facility
HARP (Hills & Ranges Private) is another option that can help your friend overcome their addiction. HARP offers a complete and holistic approach to ice addiction treatment while focusing on each patient’s individual needs.
HARP makes counselling central to its meth addiction plan because it helps patients discover the underlying issues that push them toward using drugs.
The HARP facility also has board-certified medical doctors and nurses on standby should patients require medication to support their recovery.
Taking the First Step With HARP
Your friend can recover from their addiction, but only if they take that crucial first step towards recovery. At HARP, your friend will be treated by doctors, psychotherapists, counsellors, and facilitators. These experts work together to make recovery possible for all patients.
HARP’s exclusive 5i curriculum will support your friend throughout the recovery process. In addition, all of their therapy sessions will remain completely confidential.
Furthermore, because HARP focuses on healing the body and mind, your friend will have access to an on-site gym and a day spa. They will also be able to engage in meditation, music therapy, and equine therapy.
HARP is situated in the stunning Dandenong ranges, which makes the setting immediately calming and peaceful. This environment is exactly what your friend needs as they work hard to overcome their addiction.
Take that step on behalf of your friend and schedule a call with a substance abuse specialist at HARP today. You can also help them take the step by letting them schedule the call themselves.
