Rehab for Methamphetamine Addiction

How we treat crystal meth addiction

Our tailor-made methamphetamine (crystal meth) addiction treatment programmes are designed to help you navigate the withdrawal procedure, overpower the physical side effects and address the root causes of your addiction.

The below focuses exclusively on our crystal meth treatment programme. If you are struggling with a prescription medication-related methamphetamine issue, please learn more about how we can help you here.

What is a crystal meth addiction?

Crystal meth is a highly addictive stimulant drug that belongs to a class of drugs known as methamphetamines. Some methamphetamines are used in prescription medications (which can be addictive in their own right) to help individuals struggling with conditions such as ADHD. However, crystal meth is made using several toxic substances such as antifreeze or battery acid, heightening the risks involved.

Negative side effects include (but are not limited to):

• Hallucinations, panic, and psychosis.

• Bizarre, aggressive, and erratic behaviour.

• Infectious diseases and abscesses.

• Depression.

• Brain damage.

• Facial sores and scratching.

• Tooth decay ‘meth mouth’.

• Permanent damage to blood vessels.

• Heart attacks or strokes.

• Death.

Once crystal meth enters the body, it releases large quantities of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain which makes us feel highly euphoric, energetic, confident and inhibition-less. However, over time, crystal meth alters the brain’s biochemistry, leading to dependency. Once the brain’s reward system has become dependent on the substance, it can be very difficult to feel calm, content, or happy without it.

While crystal meth is very physically addictive, it also creates a strong psychological addiction; particularly in those of us who are struggling with depressive, anxiety, or eating disorders. For instance, if you are struggling with a constant inner-critic judging your every thought and draining you in the process, that inhibition-less euphoria provides you with a much needed sense of purpose and enjoyment. However, the risk, of course, is that this kind of enjoyment is highly destructive and unsustainable. Many people who use crystal meth also take the drug over several days and remain perpetually high throughout this time. Not only is the lack of sleep detrimental to your well-being, but this can lead to tolerance: needing to continually increase the dosage of a substance to achieve the same ‘high’. With tolerance comes the development of withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, physical illness, and depression once the drug wears off. Many individuals who find themselves dependent on crystal meth also end up dependent on other drugs, particularly heroin, valium, and other ‘downers’, which they originally employed to manage their highs (i.e. to ‘comedown’).

Through our combination of medical, psychological and personal care, we are proud to be the only clinic in the world that addresses co-occurring conditions and every possible root-cause of crystal meth addiction. Working together, we can help you overcome this addiction. Recovering from a crystal meth addiction will absolutely be one of the hardest things you ever do, but it will also be undoubtedly the greatest.

What are the signs?

Similar to many other addictions, the most notable sign of crystal meth dependency is continuing to use the substance despite how much pain it is causing you. Being unable to stop using crystal meth despite wanting to quit is another key indicator. Other symptoms include:

• Noticing that your behaviour is getting increasingly erratic and unpredictable when high.
• Weight loss.
• Psychotic behaviour that can sometimes be violent.
• Repeated failed attempts to quit.
• Increasing sense of dependence on crystal meth; as though you can only feel content or happy when high.
• Increasing sense that your thoughts are focusing more and more on how to obtain meth, get high, being high for longer, etc.
• Feeling afraid a lot of the time.

Additional symptoms include:

What are the physical symptoms of crystal meth addiction?

• A lack of concern about personal appearance.
• Experiencing cravings.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
• Facial sores and scratching.
• Tooth decay ‘meth mouth’.
• Fatigue.
• Physical illness.
• Abscesses.

What are the psychological symptoms of crystal meth addiction?

• Symptoms of depression.
• Increasing anxiety.
• Increasing sense of shame or guilt over your behaviour when high.
• Insomnia.
• The inability to find joy in activities once loved or relationships.

What are the behavioural symptoms of crystal meth addiction?

• Psychotic behaviour such as hallucinations, paranoia, panic, and psychosis.
• Bizarre, aggressive, and erratic behaviour.
• A lack of concern about social activities, loved ones, or responsibilities.
• A lack of inhibition.
• Using other drugs to ‘manage’ your high (e.g. relying on downers to sleep)
• If these signs sound familiar, we can help guide you toward recovery.