Meth Addiction in Mesa, AZ
Methamphetamine or crystal meth is a highly addictive stimulant that causes a person to experience an intense, euphoric high, often followed by a crash that prompts the person to seek out more methamphetamine. Abusers of the drug may eat, smoke, snort, or inject the drug in order to get high.
Methamphetamine abuse is not only problematic because it causes addiction. It also causes changes to a person’s physical health and personality. These changes can unfortunately end in incarceration or sometimes death. Meth addiction is extremely hard for someone to overcome on their own. Drug Detox Centers Mesa offers connections to intervention and treatment help for those who struggle with meth addiction.
Meth Addiction in Arizona and Beyond
Methamphetamine is the illegal drug most commonly cited when people seek medical treatment for drug-related health effects in Maricopa County, according to the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine. An estimated 44 percent of those treatment admissions were for adults ages 40 and older. Another estimated 15 percent involved admissions for those under age 25. Methamphetamine is also the second-most seized drug in drug busts in Maricopa County as well.
Across the United States, an estimated 1.2 million people reported using meth in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While methamphetamine abuse rates seem to be reducing in the United States, they are much higher in the Phoenix-Mesa area – the third-highest in the United States for meth-related drug treatment admissions.
How Does Meth Addiction Affect a Person’s Health?
Methamphetamine abuse affects a person’s brain and body. Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine in a person’s brain. Dopamine is associated with a euphoric feeling that a person can quickly become addicted to. Studies have shown methamphetamine abuse can cause damage to the areas of the brain associated with emotion and memory.
In addition to effects on the brain, methamphetamine can cause harm to the body. Examples of these effects include:
• Appearance changes, such as rotting teeth, skin sores, pimples, and dry mouth.
• Rapid heart rate
• Quickly increasing body temperature that can progress to dangerously high levels
• Experiencing psychosis, which occurs when a person loses touch with reality
A person who abuses meth by injecting it is also at greater risk for diseases associated with intravenous drug use, such as HIV and AIDS.
Help Is Here for Those Who Struggle With Meth Addiction
Meth addiction creates such as high level of euphoria and steep symptoms associated with withdrawal that overcoming addiction can be difficult. That’s why it is important for those who experience meth addiction seek medical treatment and support. Having the best possible support for overcoming a meth addiction is vital. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, some of the most successful treatment approaches include using cognitive-behavioral techniques that involve teaching a person how to learn to recognize and overcome cravings for methamphetamine. Getting sober may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
For more information on treatment for meth addiction, contact Drug Detox Centers Mesa. We can help you and your loved ones establish a treatment program that can best benefit your health and family. Just give our recovery advocates a call today at (480) 750-2471.