How to Detox from Meth: Guide for a Safe Recovery

Methamphetamine (also known as meth or crystal meth) is a stimulant. This drug helps keep people awake and stay active even with less sleep. Due to its effect, a lot of people abuse it leading to crystal meth addiction.

Sivana Bali offers a treatment plan to help deal with the effects of addiction. This comprehensive treatment plan includes meth detox. 

What is the Meth Detox Process?

Detox is the first step towards recovery from addiction to meth. This drug detox is a method to safely purge the drugs from the body, ensuring that it’s cleansed of any harmful chemicals and toxins. It is medically supervised and usually comes in three phases. The meth detox process depends on how often an individual use meth and their body’s reaction to the treatment.

What to Expect During Methamphetamine Detox

A detox centre like Sivana Bali aids individuals throughout their detox treatment. Here’s what you would expect:

Evaluation

The first step in the detox process, and also the most important, is evaluation. An individual cannot proceed with treatment until they are thoroughly assessed. Their physical and psychological health will be evaluated to create a plan tailored to their needs.

Stabilisation

This is the main part of the process, where medication and therapies will be administered. Medical professionals will guide the person throughout the process, supervising and monitoring their progress and addressing any issues that may arise as the detox progresses.

Transition Into Further Treatment

As mentioned, detox for meth is just the first step to recovery. After detoxification, the individual will be prepared to transition into further treatment. Depending on the person’s needs, they will be transitioned to inpatient treatment or given other forms of modality. Support is continuously provided until long-term recovery is achieved.

How Crystal Meth Detox Works

Different types of detox can help a person to recover from meth use. Here’s how a person can detox from meth safely:

Medically Supervised Detox

A medically supervised meth detox can be an inpatient or a home detox approach. In this programme, medication is administered to manage symptoms of meth withdrawal effectively. An inpatient medical detox programme is done at a residential rehabilitation centre. There is also an option to do outpatient treatment and detox from meth at home.

Depending on your condition, you can get off meth without rehab. A person feels relaxed and less anxious as they’re doing a detox at home, where they are more comfortable.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a professional detox approach. This is just one of the addiction therapy or treatment modalities that Sivana Bali offers to help an individual safely detox from meth. CBT targets destructive thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to addiction.

As a way to detox, the therapist will guide the person on how to overcome addiction by teaching them how to replace their destructive thought patterns with constructive ones. This reduces the chances of an individual going back to meth abuse as their coping mechanism.

Holistic Approaches

Holistic approaches aim for overall wellness. It nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. Sivana Bali has various holistic methods that you can take to detox from crystal meth. This includes yoga—exercise, dance therapies, etc.

Support Groups

There are support groups that help people on their way to dealing with addiction and detox process. A person can join group sessions, or if they want privacy, individual sessions are available. Meth detox and withdrawal is a challenging phase, but with the guidance that a person gets from support groups, they can cope and manage their situation better. Support groups give people a sense of community and assurance that they are not alone in their journey.

Crystal Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

Meth withdrawal symptoms and detox are correlated. As the person undergoes detox and stops their long-term meth use, meth withdrawal symptoms may start to appear. Without meth in their system, the body reacts differently. These withdrawal symptoms can be physical or physiological. 

Physical symptoms of meth withdrawal include:

• stomach ache
• increased appetite
• excessive sweating
• red, itchy eyes
• fever
• fatigue
• tremor

Symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal can also be physiological. The following withdrawal symptoms are often experienced in the initial phase of stopping meth use:

• anxiety
• depression
• paranoia
• psychosis
• hallucinations
• suicidal thoughts

Various signs are associated with meth withdrawal. This is why it is important to seek the help of medical professionals to get a full assessment of a person’s condition. The ones discussed above are just some of the most common symptoms of withdrawal you would see in meth users.

Crystal Meth Withdrawal Timeline 

The timeline of the methamphetamine withdrawal process varies for each person. If they have been taking meth for a long time, their meth withdrawal may last longer. The severity of meth withdrawal also depends on how much meth they have taken. As a guide, here is a general timeline to help you know what meth withdrawal symptoms to expect, especially during the initial withdrawal process. 

• 0-48 hours: This is the acute phase of withdrawal and begins almost immediately after a person’s last few doses of meth. In the acute withdrawal phase, a person starts to experience fatigue. As there’s a sudden halt in their chronic meth use, they begin to have intense cravings for meth.
• 3-7 days: As you stop using meth, within the first week, your mood starts to decline. One would feel tremors,  fatigue, and insomnia. This is also a phase when a person begins to feel intense withdrawal symptoms like paranoia and depression. The intense meth cravings are still there as well.
• 1-3 months: One month and beyond is the post-acute withdrawal phase. In this phase, your symptoms of withdrawal from meth start to subside. However, some may still experience depression, anxiety, and cravings for the drug.

Side Effects of Meth Addiction

Meth works by increasing the levels of dopamine in our brain. This stimulates pleasure, hence the reason why people become addicted to it.

Meth abuse should not be ignored. It does not only have short-term effects on our body, but meth may also negatively impact our overall health in the long run. These are some of its side effects:

• mood swings
• rapid heart rate
• elevated blood pressure
• chest pain
• seizures
• depression
• psychosis
• extreme weight loss
• heart problems
• liver damage
• kidney disease

When you see any of these signs, please consult a medical professional to manage its effects through addiction treatment.

Meth Addiction Treatment 

Stopping meth abuse before it gets worse is crucial. After the detox and withdrawal phase, a person then proceeds to the treatment for meth addiction. A meth rehab like Sivana Bali has a wide array of meth addiction treatment programmes available.

Family Therapy

Family plays a vital role in a person who wants to recover from meth addiction. The individual addicted to meth is not the only one affected by the circumstances. It involves the entire family as well. Through family therapy, there will be open dialogues that aid in reconciliation. It rebuilds broken relationships and fosters an understanding environment at home.

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy sessions are important for those who want to quit using meth. The person engages in a one-on-one session with a therapist. By doing so, the therapist can fully understand the individual and address the challenges that have contributed to drug abuse. 

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions provide a person with a sense of community. As they connect with other people who experience the same challenges with addiction, they get to share their experiences and gain the support they need. They no longer feel that they are alone in their battle.

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis (or co-occurring disorder) is when a person has both a methamphetamine addiction and a mental health problem. It is essential to recognise its early signs to conquer your inner demons and get your life back on track. Get dual diagnosis treatment that is tailored to your needs.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one method that professionals utilise to alleviate an individual’s withdrawal symptoms and provide relief. This form of treatment combines therapy, counselling, and medication. Medication helps with physical health, while therapy and counselling provide mental and emotional healing.

Sober Living

Sober living spaces provide a safe and drug-free environment to individuals who want to continue to work on their recovery outside of the usual inpatient treatment programme. It is aimed at helping those who wish to overcome meth addiction and start transitioning back into their daily lives as they recover.  

We Can Help You Detox from Meth at Sivana Bali

The first step in meth addiction recovery is to seek professional help. If you or your loved one is struggling with meth addiction, please don’t hesitate to contact us. From our tailored detox programme to our wide array of therapy methods, Sivana Bali is here to help you fight meth addiction and start a healthier, brand-new life.