Amphetamines Treatment and Rehab

Amphetamines Info

• Amphetamines Addiction and Abuse
• Amphetamines Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Amphetamines Treatment and Rehab
• Amphetamines Withdrawal and Detox

Amphetamines are a classification of drugs with a stimulant effect. They include prescription drugs like Adderall, Ritalin and illicit substances like ecstasy (MDMA) and methamphetamine. Amphetamine is very addictive and from 2010 to 2015, the number of related deaths rose to 280% -an astronomical increase that doesn’t fully cover the havoc this stimulant causes.

Amphetamine Abuse and Addiction Treatment

Amphetamine is a synthetic stimulant, meaning that it isn’t plant-based like heroin, cocaine and marijuana. It is mostly sold in powdery form as speed by underground networks and illegal laboratories, where most of the purity has been watered down and mixed with other chemicals. By the time Amphetamine hits the street, the purity is between 5-15%. The rest of the composition includes powders such as Vitamin C, dried baby milk, aspirin, glucose, talcum powder and rat poison.

People abuse Amphetamine because it makes them feel energetic and alert. Amphetamine also reduces tiredness and increases breathing and heart rate. The ‘high’ is not all fun, as amphetamine has severe side effects, ranging from malnutrition, weight loss, heart attacks, as well as damaged livers, lungs and kidneys.

If you know someone who is abusing amphetamine, it’s time to consider helping your loved one into drug rehabilitation for substance abuse. Addiction Helper will find the best match for your needs, taking into consideration the length of abuse, addiction, as well as any mental health problems or other medical issues.

What is amphetamine addiction?

Amphetamines look like grey or white powder. They are sold as wraps of self-sealed plastic bags or squares of glossy paper. It can be swallowed like a pill and injected, smoked or mixed with drinks.

Long-term use of amphetamine results in addiction. The synthetic drug works by stimulating your Central Nervous System. This activates the reward centre of your brain and encourages you to take the next dose. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, the stimulant properties of amphetamines were only discovered in the 1930s, when it was used to treat nasal congestion.

The drug changes the way your brain performs normal functions such as feeling pleasure, reacting to physical pain, cognition, movement and learning. It destroys pleasure receptors in the brain until you only feel pleasure when you take the drug.

After the high comes the crash, which is the part that actually fuels addiction. To avoid feeling miserable, depressed and sad, people keep taking the drug until they develop a dependence, which ultimately leads to addiction.

Warning signs of Amphetamine abuse and Addiction

Before the world knew about the addictive side of amphetamines, it had several medical uses, such as treating depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, weight control and nasal congestion. When people develop addiction, they experience chest pains, irregular heartbeat, blurred vision, amphetamine-induced psychosis, delusions of grandeur, increased sexual appetite, nausea and convulsions.

Effects: short and long-term

When doctors prescribe speed as a legitimate drug for treating narcolepsy and other medical conditions, they consider several factors beforehand. They understand that even as prescription pills, the risk of dependency and abuse is high. As users continue to ingest amphetamine, they build up a tolerance. You’ll need a higher dose each time to experience the previous high.

As you continue using, there are short and long-term effects of abusing amphetamine. People who snort amphetamine might choke on the powder. As a stimulant that hits the brain hard, you’ll feel excited, wakeful and experience faster reaction times, intense focus, concentration and attentiveness. People under the influence are able to accomplish a lot of work within a short period of time.

As you increase dosage, you’ll experience negative side effects, such as cognitive impairment, extreme anxiety, teeth grinding, hypertension, hostility, rapid breathing, dizziness, increased temperature and heart palpitations.

The long-term effects of taking amphetamine include: heart failure, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, obsessive behaviour to seek drugs, hallucination, poor coordination, convulsions, paranoia, violent behaviour and respiratory problems.

Alcoholism, heroin abuse, cocaine addiction and mixing amphetamine with other additives could cause serious issues in your body. Alcohol depresses many processes in the body, while amphetamine amplifies body and brain function. The clash of these dangerous substances sometimes leads to fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Why you should seek Rehab for Amphetamine Abuse and addiction

Many addicts have tried to quit ‘cold turkey’, detox at home or taper off until they stop altogether. Most fail and realise that the best environment and recovery approach for substance abuse is at a rehab facility.

You need rehab for amphetamine addiction if you experiencing the following:

You suffer from withdrawal when trying to quit without help: What happens when the drug is unavailable? Can you function properly without obsessing about where the next fix will come from? If you feel any withdrawal symptoms when you’ve gone without the drug for up to 12 hours, you need detox treatment.

Is the dosage prescribed by your physician not working for you anymore? Have you increased the amount you take to feel the effects of amphetamine ‘high’? This means you’re building up a tolerance for the drug and are at risk of drug dependence.

Are you noticing adverse health issues arising from your drug use? It could include nosebleeds, sudden weight loss or gain, liver problems, insomnia and hallucination. Physical and mental health disorders are also signs of drug abuse.

Do you hide your drug habit from your friends and family because you know they will urge you to get help and you enjoy the high too much to quit?

If your behaviour has changed or you’re experiencing any of these signs, you need rehab for amphetamine abuse.

Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

People who use amphetamine for a long time become dependent. The factors of determining dependence are different for everyone, because each individual has a unique reaction to stimulants. This makes it harder to know when drug use has transgressed to addiction. Individuals who have a legitimate prescription for mental health problems – and recreational users – can develop an addiction to amphetamines, such as crystal meth, ecstasy, Adderall, Benzedrine and Dexedrine.

Treating amphetamine addiction requires an understanding of the symptoms an addict is showing, their medical history, mental health history, sex, age and other factors. Amphetamine changes the brain structure with long-term chronic usage and the side effects like depression and loss of pleasure are amongst the hardest parts to treat.

The most effective treatment for addiction combines pharmacology, therapy and counselling. The goal is to treat the individual and disease at the same time. Detox cleans the system, but doesn’t tackle the underlying reason why an individual started abusing amphetamine or teach strategies for staying sober after detox.

Treatment and Therapy Options

People with amphetamine use disorders have a combination of psychological and physical signs that need treatment from a team of medical professionals. Signs of addiction include: repeated cravings for amphetamine, inability to stop despite a willingness to quit, building up tolerance, experiencing withdrawal after abstinence, buying amphetamines illegally or using higher amounts than prescribed.

When enrolling at a treatment facility, a combination of pharmacology and therapy models are used to rehabilitate you. Research has shown that if you’re a chronic user, you need to commit to three months of addiction treatment to stop abusing amphetamine. The longer your stay in rehab, the greater your chances of sobriety.

Pharmacology treatment for amphetamine is an essential part of detox and rehabilitation. Used in conjunction with therapy, it’s effective at helping recovering addicts reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. Currently, there is no approved medication for amphetamines, but evidence shows that antidepressants like Bupropion work to reduce abuse in moderate and low users. Researchers are working on vaccines that will block amphetamine’s effect on the CNS.

Amphetamine detox only clinics: detox clinics are state or private facilities that specialise in helping substance abusers get clean. They provide a safe environment for people to detox through medical supervision and also manage side-effects of chronic drug use.

Clinical psychologists for amphetamine addiction: they specialise in using a variety of therapeutic treatment to communicate directly with patients and help them learn positive behaviour that replaces negative behaviour.

Animal-assisted therapy: several studies show that exposure to animals helps treat addiction and improves mental health. Pets promote empathy, increased sense of empowerment and a unique connection with another living being. It’s’ easy to become close friends with a pet, which reduces isolation and depression – two factors that improve chances of sobriety.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): outside of traditional treatment such as contingency management and cognitive behavioural therapy, many rehab facilities are integrating alternative techniques to their treatment process. Such methods include yoga, acupuncture, biofeedback, exercise, massage and nutrition. These techniques facilitate recovery, manage stress and reduce craving.

Family system theory: addiction affects your entire family and close friends. This treatment model works with the individual as a member of the family unit to address issues through short-term focused treatment.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: CBT for substance use disorder is founded on the assumption that people learn drug use behaviour and individuals who are willing, can learn new, positive adaptive behaviours. Therefore, coping skills training is an integral aspect of CBT, as it’s mostly responsible for the efficacy of CBT as a treatment for drug addiction.

The Matrix Model: the Matrix Model was developed to help people recover from abuse of stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines like meth. It is an outpatient therapy model that integrates different psychological orientations and therapeutic styles. The programme lasts 16 weeks and according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), helps extend recovery and maintain consistency.

Support Groups: Recovering addicts are advised to utilise available resources in their sobriety journey. Support groups maintain recovery and connect struggling people with those who’ve experienced similar problems. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups accept amphetamine addicts.

Outpatient amphetamine rehab allows recovering addicts to receive treatment from outside rehab. You can go to work, complete tasks, fulfil responsibilities and attend rehab. Outpatient rehab is mostly recommended for light amphetamine users who’ve not used for lengthy periods. The program utilises CBT, contingency management, matrix model, motivational interviewing (MI) and multidimensional family therapy (MDFT).

Inpatient amphetamine rehab is recommended for people who want to avoid the distractions of the outside world and focus on their recovery. People who should choose inpatient addiction rehab include addicts with a history of chronic usage, individuals with co-occurring disorders, people who have special needs, individuals at high risk for psychosis and those who’ve tried to quit in the past, but failed.

At an inpatient facility, the first step is intake and assessment, followed by medically administered detox to safely manage withdrawal symptoms during detox. Counselling programmes and a variety of therapy techniques are part of the residential rehab programme.

Programmes that produce long-term results: The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that exposure to stress and cravings are the major causes of relapse for recovering amphetamine addicts. The longer your stay in rehab, the better equipped you are to deal with triggers. If you’re a chronic user, a three to six-month stay will help you more than a one month stay.

Programmes that treat the individual, not just the disease: The best rehab design programmes treat both psychological and physical parts of substance abuse. There’s a reason why you started using amphetamine and these psychological issues might drive you right back to drugs after rehab, if not properly addressed.

A wide range of therapy programmes: Most people can detox from amphetamine at home, because withdrawal symptoms are not as obvious or devastating like heroin or cocaine. Behavioural therapies like group counselling, 12-step programmes, individual therapy and family therapy are pivotal to the success of any treatment for addiction.

Look for rehab facilities close to you: Don’t make rehab harder than it should be. Look for rehab centres close to you if you’re registering as an outpatient. This way the commute is easier and you reduce stress factors that inhibit recovery.

Licensed therapists and medical professionals: To increase your chances of receiving specialised care for amphetamine abuse, it’s important for the rehab centre to be licensed or certified (to offer medical care). Check licensing regulations for the UK to confirm what certifications are required.

Specialised Treatment and Therapy options

Specialised substance abuse treatment varies across the UK, as some places have different specialities. The first step in finding specialised care is by contacting Addiction Helpers. We’ll provide you with information about facilities that offer specialised treatment and therapy.

Specialised addiction treatment centres cater to groups who require special treatment. Most substances have the same effect and come with withdrawal symptoms, but the diversity of people and unique needs of every individual means specially-tailored treatment is required to achieve the desired results. Some treatment programmes are not equipped to care for speciality groups, so it’s important to find one that caters to yours.

Groups that require specialised substance abuse treatment include:

Across these groups, the treatment options include behavioural therapy, counselling and medication therapy. A multidisciplinary team consisting of nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, social workers and therapists administer care.

Withdrawal from Amphetamine

Repeated use of amphetamine leads to psychological and physical dependence, which many people around you won’t recognise until you’re addicted. When a user abruptly stops without tapering off, you risk withdrawal effects. These are risky and uncomfortable.

Physical symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal include: extreme fatigue, excessive hunger, long period of sleep, lack of coordination, stomach ache and discomfort, cardiac arrest, dehydration, shaking and potential seizures, arrhythmia and tachycardia.

Amphetamine withdrawals are dangerous when you consider the risk of psychosis, heart attack, seizures and stroke in long-term users. In rare cases, symptoms persist beyond ten days, especially in chronic users. Most addicts suffer moderate symptoms that last seven to ten days. Psychosis during withdrawal mimics schizophrenia, and mental problems that result from amphetamine use are difficult to treat.

Continuing Care: What Comes Next

Your journey to sobriety and drug rehabilitation doesn’t end in rehab. Staying clean takes the rest of your life to accomplish. To maintain a sober life, you have to reevaluate your work, friends, family and hobbies – everything that could present temptations and triggers. By understanding your triggers, you can learn coping strategies. Studies have shown that most recovering addicts relapse in the first six months after rehab. Hence, you need a plan of action that will guide your life after rehab. Options for continuing care include:

Individual therapy: therapy addresses personal issues that were present prior to drug abuse. Addiction is more than just a dependence problem, but is based on lifestyle choices that trigger substance use. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has proven successful to help people recognise problems and apply holistic solutions.

12-step meetings: An essential part of sobriety is attending group meetings. The 12-step programme is based on reliance of a higher power and admitting powerlessness.

Other methods include regular psychological checkups with a mental health profession, attending NA meetings or Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART). Volunteer at shelters, learn a new language or even a musical instrument. Keep your mind and body active to prevent idleness.

Relapse prevention

When you’re in rehab, it’s important to have a relapse prevention plan in place. Staying sober is easy in a controlled environment like rehab, but after treatment, challenges arise and triggers turn up unexpectedly, so how can you prevent a relapse?

Attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and find a sponsor. You need someone who can talk you down when you’re stressed, panicked or facing temptation. Your sponsor has faced what you’re going through and can help you stay sober. Expect the unexpected and understand there is a possibility you’ll be faced with triggers at any moment. Learn how to deal with feelings in a positive way. The skills you’ve learned in therapy will guide you.

Live a sober life again – call now for treatment options

If you’re experiencing problems because of amphetamine use or need help with addiction treatment, Addiction Helpers will find the best rehab facility in your area. You don’t have to live as a slave to your addiction any more. Help is only a phone call away. Contact us today and we’ll guide you in finding a treatment plan that caters to your individual needs.

Amphetamine: true stories of addiction

Using drugs helped him deal with stress and increased energy levels, yet in the end, amphetamine made his life unbearable. The longer he used, the harder it was to quit. His longest sobriety was 11 days in five years.

Stories like this show the devastating effect amphetamine abuse has on individuals and families. It’s not too late to get help. Call Addiction Helper today and we’ll get you started.

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