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Meth and Addiction: Understanding the Source

It goes by many names, including speed, crank, chalk, crystal, or ice, but regardless what you call it, meth is a very dangerous drug. Methamphetamines are stimulants. This means that they increase heart rate, blood pressure, and the metabolic system. As a result, they give people a feeling of being more awake, which can last for as many as twenty-four hours. That, however, is not good for the body and this type of drug can be highly addictive a program similar to cocaine rehab in Texas.

Where Does it Come From? Meth labs have been popping up all over this country for decades, but in very recent years, laws have been passed that make it difficult for these small home- and garage based labs to get the goods they need to make this chemical stimulant. Nevertheless, the drugs continue to reach the public via very sophisticated black market systems that are set on foreign soil. There are many ingredients that can be used to produce this drug, including gas additives, paint thinner, rubbing alcohol, camp stove fuel, battery acid, drain cleaner, and cold medications. This list alone, which does not contain even half of the known ingredients that have been used to produce meth, is enough to tell a person how dangerous the drug really is.

How Addictive? Methamphetamines are highly addictive. Whether snorted, injected or swallowed, the drug provides a very desired high, which is immediately followed by a severe crash. In order to prolong the high, users will continue to push the drug into their systems. This so-called ‘binge’ can last as long as two weeks. No matter what the person does, it cannot last forever. The highs stop occurring until the drug leaves the system, which also means a drastic depression and sadness followed by the need for seemingly endless hours of sleep. A person who stays awake from many, many hours, but then must sleep for hours upon hours is showing warning signs of meth use. It may be time to consider drug rehab Texas in order to help that individual reach a healthy state again.

Once the crash period is over, the person returns to a normal state and can begin the high once more. Before long, the body becomes accustomed to the drug interaction. More meth will be required to maintain the high and the effects of the wear-off will be even more severe. That period, which is often referred to as ‘tweaking’ places the person in an extremely frustrated and dangerous state. It can often come after days upon days without sleep. This is a dangerous time to confront a user about the possibility of treatment. Like heroin treatment program, there are those which are specifically intended for people with meth addictions. However, it may be safer to suggest this once the person has reached a semi- or fully-normal state. Often it will require arrest and prosecution for a person to find the help they need, which is why it is important to recognize the disease and to not bail a loved one out of that situation.

As meth becomes more readily available across the country, it is more important than ever to understand how likely relapse is, even after a very thorough rehab program. There are processes which can be followed in order to lessen the likelihood of that occurring, so be sure to inquire with the treatment facility about relapse prevention.