Meth Abuse

Cirque Lodge has a nationally recognized alcohol and drug rehab center, in the mountains of Sundance Utah. For years we have dedicated our lives to treating addiction with the utmost in care. If someone you know and love is suffering from meth abuse, our addiction treatment center is here to help. Our substance abuse treatment is designed to provide effective therapy and addiction treatment, in a private setting. Call our admissions department and see if we are the best program for you or your loved one.

Meth was developed in 1919 by a Japanese chemist and was used in World War II to help soldiers stay awake and energized. Even then, abuse of this drug occurred. Methamphetamines are still prescribed in the United States today for the treatment of attention deficit disorder and obesity. It is prescribed with great caution due to the highly addictive nature of the drug which leads to meth abuse. Most cases of meth addiction require some form of drug rehab program to treat them.

In the 1950's the United States legally manufactured tablets of methamphetamine (Methedrine) and meth became readily available to college students, truck drivers and athletes. As use of amphetamines spread, so did the abuse. In the 1970 the Controlled Substances Act increased restriction on producing injectable methamphetamine due to its potential for abuse.

Symptoms of Methamphetamine Abuse

Methamphetamine, also known as meth, speed, crystal, ice, glass, or tweak, on the street, is a highly addictive stimulant which strongly affects the brain and central nervous system. Meth is related to amphetamine but the effects are much greater. The drug releases high levels of dopamine, stimulating brain cells and enhancing body mood and movement. Meth produces an extremely pleasurable sensation known as a "rush" that lasts only a few minutes after initial use. This effect is followed by a lasting sensation which suppresses hunger, increases heart rate, creates a lasting euphoria, and increases ones ability to stay awake or alert. Some street terms used to describe the feeling of being high on meth are tweaking, gacking, geeking, or amped.

Along with the effects listed above meth also increases respiration, irritability, produces confusion and insomnia, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Hyperthermia and convulsions or increased heart rate and blood pressure can cause irreversible damage leading to strokes and death. After the initial levels of dopamine are released the meth user almost certainly experiences sever depression and dopamine and serotonin levels are not able to produce naturally as easily as before the use of the drug. Other extreme consequences to the abuse of methamphetamines are malnourishment, aggressive behavior, paranoia, and "speed bumps". "Speed bumps" are medically referred to as formication and are not a commonly known side effect of meth addiction.

Methamphetamines heavy stimulating effect causes a rise in body temperature and increased blood flow to the skin. The skin, which is also an exit route for the toxic wastes used to create methamphetamine, produces sweat which contains an enzyme that also increases the blood flow to the skin. When the sweat evaporates it removes the protective sebaceous oil which coats the skin. This creates a sensation on the nerve ending which cause severe skin irritation. Individuals that chronically abuse methamphetamines have referred to this irritation as a "crawling" under the skin. This feeling causes the user to pick, scratch, or dig at their skin causing open sores. These sores generally appear on the more sensitive face or arms, but can appear anywhere. When meth use is stopped these sores heal into permanent scars. If the sores stay open, or are continually picked at the potential for infection, and staph infection is very high, sometimes causing limb amputation.

The Need for Treatment of Meth Abuse

The abuse of meth is highly addictive and the effect the drug has on the brain chemistry is so dramatic that it is often extremely difficult to quit using meth on one's own. After abuse of the drug is stopped, several withdrawal symptoms can occur, including severe depression, anxiety, fatigue, and intense craving. Psychotic symptoms can continue for moths or years after stopping.

At Cirque Lodge we take methamphetamine addiction seriously and once a person is medically stabilized after use we begin the process of cognitive behavioral therapy, experiential therapy, 12 Step groups, and education. It is sometimes hard for a meth addicted person to be able to feel happy or even "ok" after meth use and we explain that this is normal, and the body will be able to correct itself after a substantial period of abstinence. With the proper tools and time away from the substance the user can begin the process of recovery and hopefully the body and mind can begin to restore itself.

For more information offered on our private meth abuse treatment center, please see our main Meth Addiction page. For immediate assistance, please call Cirque Lodge at 1-877-997-3422.