Contingency management, a therapeutic approach in which recovering crystal meth addicts are rewarded with non monetary vouchers for increasing periods of sobriety, has proven a very effective strategy for increasing the long term abstinence of crystal meth addicts in recovery. Research continues on how best to incorporate contingency management principles into existing rehabilitation programs, but the initial news is very good, and provides some additional hope to addicts suffering the devastation of crystal meth dependency.
Recovery from crystal meth can be daunting. Not only is the drug so addictive, and as a result are the cravings for the drug so intense, the negative psychological effects of crystal meth cessation can last or months or even years. When these two factors are combined, the high recidivism rates of crystal meth addicts in recovery are better understood.
In response to the rising rates of crystal meth addiction in the country, and also in response to the devastation that an addiction to crystal meth can cause, there have been a number of research studies done on what treatment approaches are the most effective for crystal meth rehabilitation. As with any drug, any one treatment won’t work for every user, and as a result the best rehabilitation programs will combine both psycho social counseling with behavioral modification programs. But a third strategy towards prolonged abstinence, commonly used for cocaine addiction, also seems to be effective. This strategy is called contingency management (CM).
The carrot and the stick…we all live our lives essentially by the principles of avoiding pain, and seeking reward, and while most drug rehabilitation programs emphasize pain (addiction) avoidance, contingency management provides the carrot to the matrix. What contingency management is, is a system in which recovering addicts are rewarded for periods of abstinence with rewards of increasing values, and the longer the period of abstinence, the bigger the reward.
These rewards are usually non monetary vouchers for things such as movies, gasoline or other entertainment vouchers, and the system has proven reliably effective as a strategy for crystal meth addiction recovery. Clinical studies indicate that the use of contingency management in a recovery program is associated with longer periods of sobriety.
Long used for cocaine addiction, contingency management is becoming an increasingly common element of crystal meth recovery.
You can't have the stick without the carrot, and it makes sense that by making treatment more comprehensive, recovery outlooks would be brighter. Research continues on how best to incorporate contingency management into crystal meth recovery, but it is encouraging that there is at least some good news for the treatment of the ever increasing numbers of people devastated through an addiction to crystal meth.
Recently in Meth Category
Animal studies indicate that the long term consequences of even occasional meth use in people already predisposed to neuro muscular conditions like Parkinson's may be severe.
Even occasional crystal meth binges during adolescence may accelerate the progression of brain aging diseases decades later in life.
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina looked at the long term behavioral deficit effects of binge crystal meth use in an animal study; and they found that a single binge administration of crystal meth in adolescent rats with a predisposition to develop a Parkinson's like disease led to an accelerated presentation of this disorder a few months later, when the rats were approaching old age.
The rats in the study had a gene sequence altered presentation of the Parkinson's causing GDNF protein. This protein, which repairs and restores dopaminergic cells in the brain, was less present in the genetically altered rats, as the protein is less present in humans predisposed to the development of Parkinson like neuro muscular conditions. The rats that were given the dose of methamphetamine developed the neuro muscular symptoms of the disease much more severely and at an earlier age than the rats not given the binge administration of crystal meth.
The implications are that teenage occasional binge crystal meth users with an existing predisposition for Parkinson's like disorders, while not necessarily suffering gross adverse consequences from occasional meth use during their younger years, may be accelerating the progression and intensity of the disease in decades to come. And since meth seems to influence the functioning of the dopaminergic cells in the brain, it may lead to increased presentations of neuromuscular conditions in people not otherwise predisposed to their occurrence.
We already know how physical and mentally destructive meth can be, and the ravages of even a few years of meth abuse are tragic to contemplate; but with research now indicating that even occasional meth use may increase neuro degenerative disease for people who do not develop dependencies to the drug, the tragic net of crystal meth seems to be widening.
It seems that even users who avoid the incredibly destructive and easy to acquire addiction to meth may pay a severe and long term price for their occasional meth usage. The study results are a very preliminary exploration of the long term consequences of meth on the development of neuro muscular pathologies, and future research may uncover some methods to protect users from the mental ravages of the drug. For now though, it's another great reason to avoid even trying meth once. The price of meth on all levels is just too high, and even a single dose may decrease long term health and quality of life.
Long a part of the gay club scene, the use of crystal meth has become synonymous with increased rates of HIV.
While high we do things that we wouldn’t otherwise do, and with a loss of inhibition and a loss of impulse control, it's too easy to contract a deadly disease with a moment's lapse of judgment.
Unfortunately, with the continuing prevalence of recreational meth use within west coast gay communities, and a recent spread of meth within east coast venues, gay community leaders are growing concerned and exasperated.
They bemoan that the hard work of a decade of safer sex campaigns is becoming unraveled through the use and abuse of party drugs…and statistics seem to back their anguish. A major risk factor for the contraction of HIV is the concurrent use of erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra and meth, and in certain west coast communities, more than a third of newly HIV infected men reveal having used meth within the last 6 months.
As if the physical and mental devastation of crystal meth was not enough, while speeding on meth, there is a great loss of inhibitions and a fearless reckless desire to act on impulses. With the internet fueling informally organized home meth and sex parties, the spread of HIV has grown exponentially after years of declines. In addition to meth fueled risky behaviors, HIV advocates explain that a new generation of gay men, aware of the major breakthroughs in HIV and AIDS treatments, simply do not fear the disease as they should, and do not take the needed steps to protect themselves.
Besides the dangers of STD's including HIV, syphilis and others, increasing numbers of long time weekend meth users are ultimately finding the temptations of meth too great, and within the gay community there has been an endemic increase in meth addiction rates. While throughout the country the average meth user is predominantly rural and from a lower socio economic class, the average gay meth user is just as likely to be an urban professional. Meth certainly does not discriminate.
Newly launched public awareness campaigns have drawn criticism for their negativity and scare mongering tactics, but proponents defend the severity of the ads explaining that they wanted to provoke a reaction, and that the scope of the problem demanded a forceful response.
Although the debate about appropriate reactions to the meth fueled HIV increases rage primarily within the gay community, the reality of meth and risky behaviors transcends all communities, and any recreational or dependent meth user greatly impairs their judgment and increases the probability of contracting HIV and other sexually transited diseases.
Another great reason not to use devastating crystal meth, and to get treatment help before it's too late if you already do.
Meth addicts need up to two full weeks of detox before they are able to fully participate in rehab, and get any benefit from the programs and counseling offered. Faced with the increasing devastation of crystal meth addiction, University of Iowa researchers examined what features were most successful in the treatment of meth addiction, and concluded that the standard drug rehab programming was appropriate and beneficial for meth addicts, but that longer term stays were necessary due to the destructive capacities of the drug. The university researchers recommended long rehabs and also recommended that government shift funding away from incarceration for meth offences and towards funding treatment for addicts of the drug.
Faced with the rising epidemic of meth usage and addiction, particularly in the Mid West, researchers at the University of Iowa took a look at what exactly was needed for successful meth addiction treatment; and they concluded that standard drug rehab therapies are effective for meth addicts, but that longer programs are especially beneficial when dealing with the devastation of crystal meth addiction.
A single usage of crystal meth can have physical implications for as long as 6 months, and as such it's not surprising that heavy meth use can devastate, and that the physical and mental repercussions of this abuse can take a long time to heal. Meth is uniquely damaging and uniquely addictive, and is truly one of the saddest stories of modern American drug addiction.
The University of Iowa researchers concluded that almost two full weeks of medically supervised detoxification were required before a meth addict was clear headed enough to even begin to benefit from the therapy and education offered at a rehab facility. A two week rehab does little other than detoxing the meth addict off of the drug, and offers no education or skills for future drug taking avoidance.
Using a variety of drug treatments and therapies together was deemed most effective, but meth addicts benefited uniquely from cognitive training and temptations avoidance counseling. Cognitive and behavioral strategies are emphasized to teach the addict how to minimize the temptation to use. Cognitive therapy requires of addicts to discover the triggers that lead them to abuse, to think about how best to avoid these triggers, and teaches what to do if faced with the temptation to use once out of rehab.
The university researchers ended their report with a recommendation for government to move funding away from incarceration for meth possession offenses and towards better funded facilities geared towards meth treatment, and at least partially funding stays appropriate to the severity of the addiction.
Meth justifiably strikes fear into the hearts of parents across the country, and the devastation of meth is such that if anyone you know and love is using meth, the time to get them help is now. The damage of meth abuse can become irreversible, and even a few months of heavy use can devastate for years to come. Meth is so addictive, and the damage to the body, the mind and the spirit is so encompassing, that treatment should never be delayed a day longer than necessary.
Rehab for meth addicts needs to be comprehensive, and needs to be long enough for a couple of weeks of detoxification, followed by a period of counseling, sobriety and drug education. Detox alone should not be considered an acceptable goal for meth rehab, and the recidivism rates on detox only treatments are unacceptably high.
Meth treatment is tough, but it is possible, and people recover from the devastation of meth abuse everyday. Happy and sober living begins with a serious rehab stay; and the sooner done the better.
Meth addiction is undoubtedly on of the most dangerous drug addictions in America. It has been spreading like wildfire for a few decades. Meth or methamphetamine is a stimulant that is in the amphetamine family. It is the strongest in its class. Meth is a odorless white bitter tasting powder that can be dissolved in water or alcohol. Meth is highly volatile toxic substance that can be highly flammable and very dangerous. Meth has been called crank, speed, meth, and crystal. ice, crystal, or glass is in the smokeable kind and is alot more powerful and much more dangerous to the meth user. Meth is made in America and is manufactured with household products. This is a very cheap and easy to obtain drug.
Their are numerous ways to abuse crystal meth. Most of the time it is snorted or injected, while ice can be smoked in a pipe. The rush from a meth high can be from 2-16 hours. Most meth addicts do not sleep for days. Low dosages can produce more alertness and usually blocks hunger and fatigue.
Their are numerous ways to abuse crystal meth. Most of the time it is snorted or injected, while ice can be smoked in a pipe. The rush from a meth high can be from 2-16 hours. Most meth addicts do not sleep for days. Low dosages can produce more alertness and usually blocks hunger and fatigue.
The side effects of meth addiction include severe paranoia, delusions, welts on the skin, weight loss, severe depression, sweating, stroke, increased blood pressure, aggression and even suicidal tendencies. Meth addiction is more of a psychological addiction than a physical addiction. Fatigue,intense hunger,anxiety, irritability are some of the symptoms of meth withdrawal. Some symptoms of a meth overdose are a high fever, convulsions, sweating, sudden increase in blood pressure. Meth kills by doing damage to the heat and causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke sometimes.
Home grown meth labs are dotting the countryside where meth is being made. Shutting down the labs have been a priority of law enforcement. Meth addiction is becoming a very serious problem in American and it's more than just a recreational drug anymore. Meth has hit mainstream. Treatment for meth addiction is very common all over the country. There are many treatment centers and meetings that focus on refraining from the drug. There is no drug addiction that is more damaging then crystal meth addiction.
