Understanding Meth Addiction: A Growing Threat

Rampant and escalating fatality has steered the American addiction conversation toward opioids and kept it there; a completely understandable inclination given the universal and indiscriminate nature of opioid use disorder. Prescription drugs, heroin and fentanyl threaten every age group, class and cultural background, and it is unquestionably the most pervasive addiction threat in the country. There is, however, another substance abuse threat facing an increasingly large portion of the American landscape, one that has been consistent yet overlooked for many years, and one that has led victims toward bizarre, dangerous and psychotic behavior and completely hijacked their brain chemistry: methamphetamine.

The Scope of Methamphetamine Addiction in the United States

Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that meth overdose deaths in the United States have more than doubled over the pat decade, and they are becoming more and more prevalent in different regions of the country. Not only does the drug pose an immediate danger to users and their families, but its manufacture and production in makeshift labs creates a serious and dangerous public health issue in the communities in which they operate. Admissions to treatment facilities for meth are up 17 percent. Hospitalizations related to meth jumped by about 245 percent from 2008 to 2015. And throughout the West and Midwest, 70 percent of local law enforcement agencies say meth is their biggest drug threat.

Dangers of Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant that has a high potential for abuse and is available only by a nonrefillable prescription. It can be prescribed to treat disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Meth very quickly changes the brain’s chemistry to make users crave and pursue it to the detriment of all other aspects of their lives, including their health, safety, families, finances, careers and everything else. While the national rates of meth use are low compared to opioids, marijuana and alcohol, they are rising across various areas of the United States, and are poised to escalate without treatment or intervention.

Treating Meth Addiction

Treatment for meth addiction requires comprehensive treatment to address the medical and behavioral aspects of the disease. This includes medical detox, in-depth rehab, aftercare and more. Ongoing recovery from methamphetamine addiction requires ongoing treatment for associated medical conditions and corresponding mental health issues. CARMAhealth is committed to providing comprehensive treatment for meth addiction to help patients break free from the grip it’s take on them. We provide compassionate, supportive medical care, psychiatric treatment and more to help you or your loved one fight back.