Crystal Meth Addiction

One of the saddest effects of substance abuse that I have witnessed in my office has been crystal meth users.  Basically the drug is an extremely addicting stimulant that gives the person increased energy and makes them feel more vital than before and its effects last up to 24 hours, so it is one of the longest sustaining drugs out there. Crystal meth ages the person, I have had people walk into my office balding, with hardly any teeth in their mouths, with sores on their face because their skin is so dry, it itches, they scratch it and these awful sores come out and their jaws look like they have collapsed.  I ask the patient their stated age and when I look at them, I can’t believe it, they look like they have aged 20 years on that drug! In this session I will discuss what my patients have told me being on the drug is like and what are some of the symptoms one can experience using this drug.

Why People Use This Drug:

• It increases your energy, it is a stimulant
• The side effects last up to 24 hours
• It is highly addicting
• The person never feels tired on this drug
• It is cheap to get this drug or make it too

The Symptoms Of Being Under Crystal Meth

• It can make the person become violent
• Increased paranoia
• Increased sweating
• Decreased appetite
• Short term memory loss
• The person can experience suicidal ideation

The Steps Necessary For Recovery:

• The person has to admit there is a problem and cannot stop on his/her own accord
• Go to a sober living recovery homes – so the person can detoxify his/her system of the drug in a safe setting and process these changes with individual l and group counseling and medication if needed
• There are also Crystal Meth addiction treatment programs
• Crystal Meth Anonymous
• Individual or group counseling in the community mental health centers
• To realize that no one is alone with an addiction, there is help out there, just reach out and try your best to face the problem, take the steps necessary to a program that will work for you and if you relapse, get up, wipe your knees and keep going, one day at a time, one step at a time, it is a slow process but not an impossible one

Support Is Very Important In Your Time of Need:

• Family
• Friends
• Neighbors
• Co workers you can trust
• Other people in the support groups you meet and get to know their story
• Spiritual, priest, pastor,etc. from whatever religion you believe in

I know Crystal Meth Has Taken A lot From You But It Has Not Taken:

• Your integrity – who you are and what you are about
• Your hopes and dreams – you can recover and move on from there, be stronger and wiser and make better decisions
• Your ability to learn and teach others what you have learned, so that you can help others see what you have seen
• Your opportunity to make this life be a happy one and surround yourself with amazing people who love you, are good to you and want the best for you
• You are special and unique and have been given the opportunity to change and have a better life, make it count

An Addiction is a problem that you can resolve if you believe and think you can, a wise doctor I work with always says, ” You move in the direction that you think”… and he is right, believe with all your heart and mind that you can and are able to recover from this addiction and you will be free from it !!!

Best regards and happy healing !!!