Methamphetamine, or meth, is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. It is a strong stimulant that, with prolonged use, causes damage to a person’s body, brain, mental health, and emotional stability.
Meth causes a destructive cycle of dependence that cannot be broken without professional help. Whether you or someone you care about needs treatment for meth addiction, you must know what to expect when it comes to meth rehab.
If you have never entered rehab, you may be nervous about what awaits you. However, if you choose the right facility, you will find only high-quality medical care, nonjudgmental therapists, and a program suited to your specific needs.
What Is the First Step to Recovery?
Contrary to what many people believe, entering rehab is not the first step to recovery. If you or your loved one cannot or do not want to admit you have an addiction problem, there is nothing any rehab facility can do.
Only when you decide you need to break an addiction will you allow a professional team to help. Your loved ones can help you make this decision but cannot force you to. They can only provide support and encouragement to motivate you to take that first step.
What Comes After You Admit to Having a Problem?
When you admit to having a problem and agree to enter rehab, the next stage is the intake and assessment process. This is an evaluation where doctors and other medical professionals will assess the severity of your addiction.
At this point, they will also determine whether you have co-occurring disorders like depression or anxiety. A full medication examination is necessary to check for heart or brain issues, malnutrition, and dental problems.
A rehab facility will create a treatment plan based on the outcome of your medical assessments. It is important to remember that no two addiction cases are the same, so a personalized approach to recovery is a must.
Detox Usually Poses a Challenge
After the assessment and treatment plan has been completed, the next phase is detoxing from meth (if you are still under the drug’s influence). This is considered to be the most physically and emotionally challenging part of rehab.
Not all rehab centres offer detox treatment plans. In many cases, a rehab centre will partner with a professional detox facility to ensure patients purge meth from their system. This always happens before treatment and therapies start.
If you have not experienced detox symptoms before, they may frighten you when they appear. Fortunately, the detox facility and the rehab centre will have strategies to help you through the process.
Detoxing comes with withdrawal symptoms, which usually start within 24 hours after you use meth for the last time. In some instances, withdrawal symptoms can last for two or more weeks. During this time, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Intense meth cravings
- Severe fatigue and insomnia
- Depression and anxiety
- Psychosis, including hallucinations
While you go through the detox process, you will be medically supervised. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you may need to take medication to ease them.
Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Treatment
After detoxing, Your treatment plan can be 28, 30, 60, or 90 days. You can choose between inpatient or outpatient treatment. But, if you have a severe addiction, inpatient rehab is the best option.
With inpatient rehab, you get a structured environment where you are not exposed to triggers, things that make you want to use meth. If you have done rehab before and relapsed, an inpatient rehab program is also best.
Outpatient programs are more suited to people with milder addictions. They also double as after-care programs for those who have already completed an inpatient program.
Treatment Phases
After detox, meth rehab typically proceeds into a multi-phase process. This process is aimed at treating both your addiction and the root cause of it.
You may need the following treatments and therapies to address this:
- Therapy and counselling: Therapy is the gold standard of meth addiction treatment. In particular, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is highly effective. This therapy helps patients identify the thoughts and behaviours that trigger their drug use.
- With CBT and other therapies, you will also learn how to cope with cravings and stress. These therapies may include dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), trauma-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing.
- Group therapy: Most rehab facilities offer group therapy and one-on-one therapy. The idea behind group therapy is that it is therapeutic to talk about your challenges with meth addiction.
- Holistic treatments: Specialized rehab centres often offer holistic treatments that help body and mind recover. HARP, for instance, offers meditation, yoga, art, and equine therapy. This is in addition to behavioural therapies and, when needed, medical treatment.
Sometimes, family therapy sessions are required if an addiction has led to a break or separation in a family. These sessions can help rebuild trust and set new boundaries.
Many facilities, including HARP, also believe that a sober house should be available for patients to continue to work on their recovery.
Differences in Rehab Approaches
Not all rehab programs are created equal. Choosing the right place based on what you or your loved one needs is essential.
For instance, a holistic program, such as the one HARP offers, is key for treating the main causes of addiction as well as the addiction itself. This is the more appealing choice for people who want a well-rounded recovery.
There is also the choice between luxury versus standard rehab. Luxury rehabs, like HARP, offer a resort-like environment. These centres include private rooms, gourmet meals, and access to high-end amenities. This is aimed at making the rehab process less stressful.
Standard rehabs provide only essentials without extras. They also come at a lower cost. However, compared to luxury rehabs, standard rehabs usually lack all the necessary resources.
Rehabs may or may not offer access to sober living homes. If a sober living home is something you want to consider, you should ask beforehand whether your chosen facility provides access to one.
Let HARP Help You Change Your Story
Your meth addiction does not have to be your whole story. It does not even have to be part of your story anymore. Let HARP help you change your story by providing life-changing treatments and therapies.
Talk to a family support specialist at HARP today, and let us help you get your life back on track.
