Methamphetamine (meth) is an increasingly popular drug. In fact, its popularity has caused many researchers to find new ways to combat meth addiction. Just a few years ago, meth was thought of as only a regional problem. However, in the mid-1990s, it reached the rural Midwestern communities; and hospitals and treatment facilities were caught off-guard by its detrimental effects.

Meth is an extremely potent stimulant, which causes physiological changes in the user; booting her heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. While some users smoke or inject it to get a brief, intense “rush”, others may use it to suppress their appetite or as a weight loss method. Additionally, some use it as an energy-booster. Snorting or taking meth orally does not provide an intense “rush”; however, the user experiences a “high” that generally lasts up to 12 hours or more.

Meth addition is often linked to many severe medical problems, such as heart damage, stroke and psychosis. However, the most devastating long-term side effect is the neurological damage meth causes, unlike anything seen with heroin or cocaine. Too much dopamine in the brain can produce aggressiveness, irritability and schizophrenic-like behavior, as is often the case when an individual abuses meth. Dr. Nora Volkow, senior scientist, Brookhaven National Laboratories, Upton, N.Y., said, “Meth has more long-term, serious effects on the brain than cocaine.”

When meth began spreading into the smaller Midwest communities, it gained a reputation as being untreatable. This was mainly because so many patients suffering from meth addiction entered treatment facilities in a psychotic state; medical practitioners found handling heroin and to be more manageable.

It is not impossible to treat someone who is addicted to meth; however, the disorder is difficult to treat. The trouble does not lie in the physical withdrawal symptoms, which are often not severe, but in the inability to experience the pleasure that using meth brings. This feeling can last for months, consequently leading to many relapses. Additionally, there are no pharmacological treatments for meth. Behavioral therapy is the only available treatment for meth.

Behavioral therapy includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the user confronts her meth addiction in a safe and controlled environment. Under the guidance of a therapist, she learns to identify the root of issue, pinpointing what led to her abuse of and addiction to meth. Behavioral therapy also teaches her how to refrain from situations that could ultimately lead to relapses. The use of meth is becoming a national epidemic, and abusers and addicts are urged to seek immediate help at a treatment facility.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/