You may think it is nearly impossible to overcome a methamphetamine (meth) addiction. There are two reasons:
- The high from meth affects the reward areas of your brain, making you feel incredibly euphoric.
- You form strong social bonds with other users centered on your substance use.
Even then, there are numerous choices available to assist you in achieving a complete recovery.
Whether you decide to enroll in an outpatient or an inpatient meth addiction treatment program, it should treat both the physical and psychological elements of your substance use disorder. You have a better chance of recovery if you receive therapy that deals with both physical dependence and psychological issues that led to substance abuse.
Here are some comparisons between outpatient and inpatient treatment programs for meth addiction.
When should I choose outpatient rehab?
Outpatient therapy allows you to keep a big part of your usual daily routine and activities. At the same time, the therapy equips you with skills to operate in your “actual” life without the use of meth.
While receiving treatment as an outpatient, you can continue to work, go to school, and care for your children. This treatment will most likely include physical pain relief from meth detox and withdrawal, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle the impact of methamphetamine in your life. During the process of detoxing from meth, you may be given medications to ease any discomfort from withdrawal. Also, you may be subjected to a range of other behavioral therapies alongside cognitive behavioral therapy. The range of treatments compose a complete meth addiction treatment program.
Practically speaking, outpatient treatment is less expensive than inpatient treatment in a facility. Consider that, in addition to the cost of the care, you will be unable to work and may be required to pay for child care while in residential rehab.
It’s worth noting, though, that many insurance plans will cover all or a portion of the costs associated with both inpatient and outpatient care.
When should I choose inpatient rehab?
For a variety of reasons, patients choose residential rehab to outpatient treatment. Inpatient therapy helps you to focus on getting better by isolating you from your regular triggers. For many people, the 24-hour care provided by inpatient therapy is well worth the extra cost.
In other circumstances, you may be admitted to inpatient rehab as a response to an intervention or because of an emergency. Similarly, serious physical dependence may warrant an initial hospital stay as you begin your recovery process. This medically supervised phase may be necessary to manage the physical symptoms of meth detox and withdrawal.
When health care specialists believe that your meth use is threatening the safety of yourself or others around you, inpatient treatment may be the best option. This is especially true if you’re having seizures, blackouts, or dangerous behaviors like driving under the influence of drugs.
Following a medical detox stay in a facility, you may be able to continue your rehabilitation in an outpatient setting, depending on your needs. But if you have a severe case of meth addiction, you will be asked to stay in a residential rehab.
Which one is the better option?
A suitable rehab program, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will be one in which treatment procedures are tailored to your specific needs. Meth use, for example, can cause cognitive impairments such as verbal memory deficiencies. A program that is aware of this side effect will have elements that rely more on pictures than on words; in concrete terms, this could entail delivering instructional pamphlets with graphics that convey the main points being made.
A successful meth addiction treatment center is one that is sensitive to the adverse effects of meth usage and develops therapeutic aspects around this knowledge.
What treatments are done in rehab for meth abuse?
Pharmacology (authorized prescription drugs) and therapy are the two primary forms of drug treatment services offered to address substance abuse or addiction.
There are currently no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat meth addiction. In other words, there are no targeted drugs available to treat the specific adverse effects of meth, lessen its risk for addiction, or assist recovering users in maintaining abstinence.
The majority of treatment plans begin with medical detox, in which the substance is gradually removed from your body. Medical detox is carried out under the supervision of medical professionals to ensure that you are kept safe and comfortable during the procedure.
Behavioral therapy is frequently done once you have completed detox. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the Matrix Model, and contingency management therapies have all been found to help with recovery from meth addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is founded on the idea that the learning process is crucial in the development of maladaptive behaviors like meth addiction. Part of the objective of therapy sessions is to develop new, drug-free methods to manage the stressful events that trigger urges to use meth. Recognizing your reactions to environmental or emotional signals can help you discontinue an impulsive behavior, such as drug use. You can then replace these with healthy behaviors, such as going for a walk or leaving a party where people use drugs.
Contingency management
This technique uses a reward system to motivate you to stay drug-free. In exchange for accepting therapy and sustaining sobriety, the therapist and program offer you incentives, like cash gifts or redeemable vouchers. A program called Motivational Incentives for Enhancing Drug Abuse Recovery (MIEDAR), for example, has been shown to be helpful in assisting meth addicts in their recovery.
Matrix model
This strategy entails a 16-week behavioral treatment program that includes behavioral therapy, individual counseling, group counseling, family education, 12-Step philosophy support, drug testing, and incentives to engage in non-drug-related activities.
Get help today
Despite the devastating effect meth can have on you, all hope is not lost. It is important for you not to lose sight of available professional help. Contact your primary care doctor or an addiction recovery professional near you to get started.
