Drug Rehab for Meth

The street drug known as methamphetamine is considered one of the fastest growing and most serious drug problems facing the nation. One of the reasons methamphetamine has become so popular, is it can be produced by combining a specific set of chemicals, all of which can be obtained legally. Methamphetamine's mood altering effects have a tendency to last a long period of time, and the user experiences an intense, rush or feeling of extreme pleasure. The drug is extremely addictive and using it can cause severe, often irreversible, physical and psychological damage.

At a meth rehab, the goal of treatment is to teach the addict new skills that will help him or her cope with drug cravings and prevent relapses. Treatment at a meth rehab progresses according to the interest and commitment of the addict. A program at a meth rehab will start off with a thorough drug detoxification. The individual will typically get through this first hurdle and the withdrawal process at a facility that specializes in dealing with drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. This can be done on a short-term, five to seven day, inpatient basis.

Following detox, treatment at a meth rehab involves both individual and small group approaches. Addicts will receive individual and group counseling relating to their life experiences and drug use, and are walked through a variety of exercises and worksheets designed to further their recovery by increasing self-awareness. The individual will gain a better understanding of his or her addiction and identify the "triggers" that may cause his or her drug use. Once common triggers are identified, the individual can develop new skills and behaviors and learn new ways of coping with them.

It is not uncommon for someone undergoing treatment for drug use to experience a relapse at some point. While this is not desirable, it is not treated as a failure but as an opportunity to learn. By analyzing what caused the individual to fall back into drug use, they can better understand how to keep it from happening again.

Meth rehab works to get the individual to see past the immediate and intense "release" that is caused by drug use, and focuses more on the negative consequences of drug use that will inevitably follow. The individual is then encouraged to work out alternative coping mechanisms that will provide positive results without the negative consequences of drug use. Through treatment at a meth rehab, individuals will learn to manage their lives more successfully, increase their confidence and self-esteem, and set positive personal goals.

Many successful meth rehab programs will allow family members and loved ones to be included in your treatment program, from the initial assessment through continued follow-up aftercare. Studies show that including family and friends in the educational process significantly improves rehab outcomes.

Meth rehab is complete when the recovering addict reaches set treatment goals and feels that they can go back into the real world without the desire to use drugs. To assist the individual, many meth rehab programs have professionals assist the addict in setting up a system of support to help him or her stay drug-free after treatment.