CRYSTAL METH
Crystal
Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment Program Highlights
Executive
Recovery unique Crystal Meth Abuse medical treatment program,
developed and supervised by physicians specializing in addiction
medicine, helps patients addicted to crystal methamphetamine/stimulants
lose their craving for the drug. We believe our researched medical
approach gives the amphetamine addicted patient a firm foundation
for achieving comfortable sobriety by creating a negative response
to crystal meth /stimulants and encouraging the development of
a natural reward system, once again. The Executive Recovery experience
helps restore to the addicted patient their sense of self-esteem
and feeling of dignity in an unparalleled atmosphere of understanding,
and respect.
- Proven
by Medical Research
- Short Inpatient
Stay
- Effective
Counter-conditioning Treatment
- Caring
and Compassionate Staff
- Counseling
and Continuing Support
What
is Crystal Methamphetamine?
Crystal Methamphetamine is a chemical that has stimulant properties
similar to adrenaline. Crystal Methamphetamine has several different
names (i.e. Crank, Crystal, Speed). It may be used through snorting,
smoking or injection. While there are some users who will smoke
amphetamine, this is not a common practice.
Stimulants
mimic the action of adrenaline and dopamine which increase heart
rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, constrict blood vessels,
dilate pupils, release sugar and fat into the blood stream and
energize the brain. Feelings of increased alertness, angers or
fear, or agitation (flight or fight) and feelings of well being,
riding high, exhilaration or euphoria result from using amphetamines.
When the stimulation goes too high, it produces feelings of panic,
paranoia, hallucinations, rage, seizures and stroke.
Why
is Crystal Methamphetamine Addictive?
All addictive drugs have two things in common. They produce an
initial pleasurable effect, followed by a rebound unpleasant effect.
An amphetamine, through its stimulant effects, produces a positive
feeling, but when it wears off it leaves a person with the opposite
feelings. This is because of the suppression by the drug of the
normal production of adrenaline. Now, a chemical imbalance is
created and the result is irritability that physically demands
more of the drug to go back to normal and feel good again. This
pleasure/tension cycle leads to loss of control over amphetamines--and
addiction.
Where
Does the High Go?
Usually a person using amphetamine never gets as big a "high"
as she or he did on the first dose. This is a result of the drug's
ability to suppress and deplete the brain's production of the
normal chemical messenger on which the brain relies to generate
positive feelings. The brain adapts to the presence of amphetamine
by decreasing production of the normal chemical messenger. The
user then begins to use more -- he has to work harder to get less
and less pleasurable effect. Ultimately he crashes. As tolerance
develops to the euphoric effects, higher and higher doses of amphetamine
are needed to get pleasurable effects. Then, the more you use,
the greater risk from toxic effects of amphetamine.
People who
use amphetamines often lose weight because the drug turns off
the drive to eat. The drug produces a feeling of satisfaction
with regard to food, even though no food was eaten. Tolerance
to this effect develops. When the person stops using the amphetamine,
there is usually a rebound increase in appetite as the body discovers
it has been literally feeding off itself and wasting tissue.
Why
Does Crystal Methamphetamine Take Over Your Life?
Methamphetamine, like other addictive drugs, is able to short-circuit
your survival system by artificially stimulating the reward center,
or pleasure areas in your brain without anything beneficial happening
to your body. As this happens, it leads to increased confidence
in methamphetamine, and less confidence in the normal rewards
of life.
This first
happens on a physical level. Then, it affects you psychologically.
The big methamphetamine lie results in decreased interest in other
aspects of life, as you increase your reliance and interest in
methamphetamine. People, places and activities involved with using
methamphetamine become more important. People, places and activities
or lifestyles that worked through your normal reward system, before
using methamphetamine, become less important to you. In fact,
after awhile, a heavy methamphetamine user will actually resent
people, places and activities not able to fit in with methamphetamine
use.
In certain
studies, animals would press levers to release methamphetamine
into their blood stream, no longer concerned about eating, mating
or other natural drives. They will, in fact, die of starvation
in the process of giving themselves methamphetamine even though
food is available.
Is
There Methamphetamine Withdrawal?
Yes. As more of the methamphetamine comes into the body, more
of the body's natural chemistry is suppressed. Eventually, natural
reward messenger chemical production is almost shut down completely.
If the drug is removed at this time, there will be a feeling of
panic. This extreme state of irritability, tension and anxiety
is what is called withdrawal.
The severity
and length of the symptoms vary with the amount of damage done
to your normal reward system through amphetamine use. The most
common symptoms are: drug craving, irritability, loss of energy,
depression, fearfulness, wanting to sleep a lot, or difficulty
in sleeping, shaking, nausea and palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation,
and increased appetite. These symptoms can commonly last several
weeks after you stop using amphetamine. With medical treatment,
these symptoms can be handled and eliminated much more quickly.
If
you need help, or just have a question, please contact us today
800-338-0710.
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