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Meth Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles

Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment in California

An instant flooding of the nervous system paired with a burst of energy leaves people who try meth for the first time thinking about where they will get their next fix as soon as the high fades. Our Meth rehab in Los Angeles, CA can give you the tools necessary to achieve lifelong recovery. 

Meth is an incredibly addictive drug that can have long-term consequences on both the brain and the body. For many people, meth, or methamphetamine, sparks addiction at first use. Using meth can damage the brain instantly, affecting receptors in the brain and making it impossible for users to feel good without using meth. 

Meth rehab in Los Angeles through Harmony Place can help you recover safely and effectively.

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Understanding Meth Addiction

Meth Addiction: The Basics

Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The drug is available in a legal prescription form to treat ADHD and obesity. Typically, methamphetamine is prescribed at a much lower dose than that which is used to create a high. 

To understand how meth works, it is key to understand the role that dopamine plays in the brain. This neurotransmitter provides the brain with a sense of accomplishment for a job well done. Social connections, sex, affection, love, good food, and exercise are all-natural ways to boost the dopamine output of the brain. 

When a person uses meth, the brain releases an abnormal amount of dopamine. Since the brain can’t release the same amount of dopamine naturally, many users find themselves constantly thinking about using meth, since they are not able to recreate the same level of good feelings in any other way. 

Meth does not just act by allowing the brain to release dopamine – over time, it also destroys the brain’s dopamine receptors, making it impossible for people who use meth to experience pleasure through other means. Many people who use meth find that over time, their work/school performance diminishes, their relationships become troubled, and they find themselves in extreme financial duress. 

Meth comes as a pill or powder and may be altered into crystals (known as crystal meth) for illegal use. Crystal meth looks like small shards of glass and is created by altering the prescription form of the drug by cooking it with over-the-counter drugs.

Common street names for methamphetamine include: 

  • Trash
  • Stove Top
  • Tweak
  • Shards
  • Ice
  • Bikers Coffee
  • Meth
  • Speed
  • Shabu
  • Crank
  • Chalk

There are several ways that users consume crystal meth. Meth can be taken as a powder or a pill, or it may be injected, snorted, or smoked. Some users may vary the way that they take meth to intensify the drug’s effects.

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How Does Meth Affect The Mind and Body?

Many people who try crystal meth become addicted after the first use. Each time they begin to come down from the high, they may seek out more of the drug, before eventually falling asleep/crashing. 

Immediate effects of meth may include:

  • Extreme energy
  • A false sense of well-being
  • Insomnia and hyperactivity
  • Hallucinations and delusions of power
  • Anxiety, aggressiveness, and irritability
  • Paranoia
  • Lack of appetite and nausea
  • Hyperactivity
How to Know If Someone Is Addicted to Meth

What Are The Physical Signs and Symptoms of Addiction to Methamphetamine?

While the mental and psychological effects of meth addiction are intense, the drug also affects the body in several ways. 

Short-term physical effects of methamphetamine use include: 

  • Sleep deprivation

  • Dehydration
  • Elevated body temperature
  • Skin infections/ abscesses
  • Decreased libido

Long-term physical effects of methamphetamine include:

  • Liver, lung, and kidney damage
  • Respiratory problems (for people who smoke meth)
  • Severe tooth decay
  • Weight loss/ malnutrition
  • Osteoporosis
  • Damage to the heart and brain
  • High blood pressure/ heart attacks
  • Stroke
  • Death

Not everyone experiences addiction in the same way, and while some people experience many of these effects, some will only experience a few. The number of physical and psychological effects experienced does not necessarily indicate the degree to which a person is addicted to a drug. Meth rehab in Los Angeles through Harmony Place can give you the tools necessary to overcome dependency once and for all.

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    Chasing the Dragon: Why Meth Is So Hard To Quit

    Meth addiction sets in fast. As stated, many people are hooked after the first time they try the drug. During the first time using meth, many people find that they feel a sense of euphoria and hyperactivity for up to 12 hours. While they feel great, their brain is changing from minute to minute. During the first use of meth, the brains reward pathways change quickly. 

    Healthy activities that release dopamine leave the brain with memories, much like a fingerprint left behind after someone has spent time in a room. Drugs like methamphetamine figuratively crush the brain’s reward systems. Research has shown that the dopamine produced by the brain after a hit of meth up to 1,250 times the amount of dopamine produced by the brain during sex.

    A user’s first experience with meth is always the most intense. Many users spend the rest of their lives chasing the dragon. This term refers to the relentless pursuit of the same sensation experienced during the first use. It is impossible to recreate the initial flood of dopamine experienced at the start of meth use, and sadly, many people die trying. 

    • Absolutely the best recovery center around.

      I am forever grateful to have had this experience. I would recommend anyone who wanted help to come here. This place literally saved my life. I have overcome so many obstacles that always stood in the way of my recovery. It’s not just because I was ready… the approaches the therapists use come from an empathetic, compassionate, and understanding place. They were able to hold the mirror up and help guide me through making solid changes.

      Daniel H.
      August 2017
    • This place literally saved my life.

      After overdosing, my parents forced me to check into rehab.After interviewing many other facilities, I decided to go to Harmony Place from my home in Phoenix. I was struggling with…a drug addiction and had been trying for years to recover. In the past, left 2 treatment centers AMA and 1 AWOL. I had very negative experiences in the other treatment facilities, especially with my therapists, so I didn’t go in with an open mind or good attitude- even though they worked with my parents regarding finances. However, the staff was patient with me. The techs were kind, knowledgeable, and many were in recovery themselves.

      Mary M.
    • They Answered on the First Call

      When I called Harmony Place…I knew immediately that this was the right place for my child… Harmony Place is specifically designed for…and tailored to providing a safe environment. The staff [are knowledgeable and some are in recovery]. The staff knew each client and were on top of each client’s progress. Harmony Place has a small clientele and each client are able to receive all the help they were entitled to. I would recommend Harmony Place to anyone who is looking for a small setting… My daughter is currently going into sober living and her counselors did a wonderful job in finding a right fit for her – affordable, safe and a good environment for her.

      Robyn
      Loved-One
    • I’ve Been Searching for the Perfect Words…

      I left Harmony Place in August of 2015 and I have been searching for the perfect words to describe my experience during my stay; and still I can’t really find them. How do you really describe a place with a staff and a program that saved you? Addiction is a terrible thing to go through and a heart breaking thing for your loved ones to watch. Many people, including myself go into different treatment centers throughout their addiction searching for ways to find recovery. Nothing worked for me, not the 5 rehab stays I had, then, I came here.

      Dominique C.
      Alumni
    The Effects of Meth on the Mind & Body

    Psychosis and Anhedonia: The Scary Side of Meth Addiction

    People who suffer from anhedonia struggle or are unable to experience pleasure. Activities that the brain once perceived as pleasurable no longer register in the same way. Meth addiction can cause anhedonia due to its effect on the brain’s dopamine receptors and may cause additional similar issues such as hopelessness, fatigue, and loneliness. Anhedonia is a key factor in relapse for many people who suffer from meth addiction. A recovery plan with a strong social support network can be helpful for people who suffer from this condition as a result of addiction. 

    Research has shown that many people who are working to get off meth experience psychosis as a part of their withdrawal. While these symptoms passed within about a week), this time can be difficult for people who are suffering from meth addiction to get through without professional and social support. 

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    Know Your Options in Treatment

    Treatment for Crystal Meth Addiction in California

    Deciding to enter treatment for meth addiction is a big step. There are several levels of treatment available to people who are ready to begin the path to recovery.

    Levels of treatment for meth addiction may include:

    Detox

    For many people, the beginning of recovery is the completion of a medically-assisted detox program. The idea of detox scares many people away from treatment. A medically-assisted detox program helps people who are struggling with meth addiction to complete the detox process as comfortably, quickly, and safely as possible. 

    Going through detox alone isnt just scary – it can be dangerous, uncomfortable, and even fatal. Many people who choose medical detox move straight to an inpatient or outpatient rehab facility. 

    Inpatient Treatment

    During inpatient treatment, patients have access to around-the-clock care. It can be hard to go through the recovery process while dealing with the stresses and pressures of everyday life. Inpatient treatment offers a respite from family and relationship issues that can make it hard to get and stay clean. 

    During inpatient treatment, people who are beginning their recovery have the opportunity to get to know others who are at the same phase in their sobriety. This can provide a safe network of support that can complement other aspects of the treatment process. 

    Outpatient Treatment

    Some people arent able to get away from work and family responsibilities to get meth addiction treatment. No matter how busy or stressful life may be, its still important to get treatment to enter recovery. 

    Intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs can provide patients with many of the same aspects of treatment as residential programs, but on an outpatient basis. During these types of outpatient programs, patients spend a significant amount of time at the facility during the day but are still able to attend to work and family responsibilities. 

    Medication-Assisted Treatment

    There isnt currently an effective medication-assisted treatment protocol for people who suffer from meth addiction, but some doctors prescribe anti-anxiety medications (such as benzodiazepines) to help people who are struggling with agitation or panic as they adjust to a life in recovery. 

    Aftercare

    After the completion of an inpatient or outpatient rehab program, patients must have an aftercare plan in place to help them lower the chance of relapse. Aftercare plans may include living in a sober living facility, attending 12-step meetings, going to behavioral therapy, using stress management techniques, and more. 

    Recovery is a lifelong process, and people who are dealing with meth addiction must continue to work the steps of their recovery to maintain their sobriety. While relapse is common, it doesnt have to be a part of the recovery process, especially with a comprehensive aftercare plan in place. 

    Find Healing at Our Crystal Meth Rehab in Los Angeles

    Discover Freedom from Meth Addiction

    If you are searching for more information on treatment for meth addiction, you likely feel anxious, scared, and like you are in over your head. At our meth addiction treatment in Los Angeles, we understand, and were here to help. 

    We offer a non-judgemental safe place for you to begin the healing process, and will be with you every step of the way as you work to get well. We know that change happens one healthy decision at a time, and will support you as you begin the path to sobriety. 

    You deserve a healthy and happy life, and we want to help. Reach out to us today to talk with one of our intake staff members about how our programming can help you begin your recovery. 

    Sources

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    2. National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. Marijuana Addiction: Rates & Usage Statistics.

    3. Healthline.com. (2019). Sativa vs. Indica: What to Expect Across Cannabis Types and Strains.

    4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). What are marijuanas effects? 

    5. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Is marijuana addictive? 

    7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Learn about marijuana risks.  

    8. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). How does marijuana affect school, work, and social life? 

    9. WebMD. The long-term side effects of marijuana use. 

    10. Mayo Clinic. (2017). Drug addiction (substance use disorder). 

    11. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Available treatments for marijuana use disorders. 

    12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Is marijuana a gateway drug? 

    13. Marijuana Fact Check. Potency. 

    14. Budney, A. J., Roffman, R., Stephens, R. S., & Walker, D. (2007). Marijuana dependence and its treatment. Addiction science & clinical practice, 4(1), 4-16.