Meth Abuse Treatment Helps You Explore the Roots of Your Drug Use

Treating psychological or emotional problems isn’t a new endeavor. As far back as the ancient Greeks, people were identifying mental illness as a disorder and attempting to treat it. Although the methods they used were often bizarre by todaysí standards, consoling and encouraging words were also used and continue to be today.

Therapy is the most popular treatment approach used in meth addiction treatment. Therefore, it is likely that you will be expected to participate in it when you attend meth abuse treatment. For it to be as successful as possible, you will need to trust the process and to remain engaged.

Why Is Therapy Important?

Meth addiction is more than a simple physical dependence upon the drugs. Even when the physical dependence has been addressed during the detox phase of meth addiction treatment, there is still a high chance of relapse. This is due to the social and psychological factors of meth addiction.

Factors like stress and environmental cues to use create continuous, practically irresistible urges to use meth. Through therapy. Addicts learn to conquer cravings and to cope with their problems without falling back into drug use.

Is Group Therapy Better Than Individual Therapy?

There is no single form of therapy that is effective for all people. Therefore, the best therapy for you will be the one you can best participate in.

Some people prefer group therapy because participants are challenges and supported by other participants in the meth abuse treatment program. These peers know better than anyone what it feels like to be a meth addict.

If a patient has a dual diagnosis coexisting mental health condition that also requires treatment or individual therapy can be extremely useful.

Will Therapy in Rehab Fix Me?

There is no cure for addictions – prescription drug addiction, so a period in meth addiction treatment won’t correct all of your problems. Instead, it is likely that you will need to participate in open-ended, long-term therapy for some time.

There Are No Drugs Approved Specifically for Use in Meth Addiction Treatment; Other Interventions Used in Meth Abuse Treatment

In some drug addiction rehab scenarios, medication-assisted treatment is a crucial part of the treatment plan. For example, both alcohol addiction and opiate addiction have treatment medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

However, this is not the case for meth addiction treatment. There are no medications that are designed and approved for use in addressing meth cravings or withdrawal symptoms. Instead, meth abuse treatment relies on behavioral therapy and support group meetings to help meth addicts regain control over their lives.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapies are actually considered the most effective treatment for meth addition.

One of the most used forms of behavioral therapy is the Matrix Model, a 16 week program designed specifically for use with stimulant use disorders. This type of therapy mixes:

• 12-step support
• Family education
• Encouragement of sober activities
• Individual counseling
• Drug testing

It has been shown to be successful in treating meth addiction.

Another popular approach is contingency management, which gives participants tangible incentives when they remain abstinent and engage in their treatment.

Support Group Meetings

Unlike group therapy, during which a professional, trained leader directs the experience, support groups, also known as mutual help groups, rely on peers helping peers. In Alcoholics Anonymous, this is referred to as “addicts helping addicts” These groups have a long history and are consistently included in structured, formal meth abuse treatment.

Members of these groups are able connect with people who genuinely understand what they are going through and this may be the first time they feel fully listened to and understood. This feeling of belonging helps patients stay motivated and remain positive. Further, group members expect their peers to maintain responsibility for their choices and actions, so these groups keep people accountable.

Does Treatment without Medication Work?

Yes. There are many drug addiction rehab programs, in addition to meth addiction treatment, that do not use medication. They still continue to produce positive outcomes for patients.

Meth Abuse Treatment and Enabling; How to Get a Loved One into Meth Addiction Treatment

Family members take it upon themselves to form a united front against the harsh realities of the world. They share each other’s burdens in order to help ease the ups and downs that life throws at us. But, that love and support has a dark side too. It can be warped when a member of the family is an addict. It is possible for family members to begin enabling, a process that keeps people using and allows them to avoid meth abuse treatment.

What Is Enabling?

All family members should provide support for one another. Enabling is more than simple support. Enabling family members actually take over and/or replace activities a meth addict should be able to handle independently. When the addict is forced to take responsibility for their life, they are more likely to enter meth addiction treatment.

A person in a healthy relationship, for instance, might take responsibility for doing laundry during a period when their partner is facing a slew of work deadlines. Both of them are capable of doing the laundry, but they generally share the work. This is just a short-term assist. However, in an enabling scenario, one partner may be the only person doing the wash because they are worried their partner isn’t capable of doing it. They need the laundry spotless because they are trying to eliminate any possible evidence of a problem in their household.

Why Is Enabling a Problem?

When a family begins enabling an addict, they make continuing to use meth that much easier. No longer are discomfort, awkwardness, or consequences are something that the meth user needs to experience. Their life becomes much easier because other people are picking up their slack and making excuses. They need to be accountable before they will enter meth addiction treatment.

How Can Enabling Be Conquered?

Enabling is a habit and it is one that can be broken. Try:

• Joining a support group and getting the backing of understanding peers
• Talking openly to the addict about the enabling and why it is going to stop
• Working with other family members, so you arenít the only one dealing with the addict
• Stopping all the excuses you have been making
• Refusing to buy alcohol or drugs for the user in your family

These are the first steps to changing your life and they can lead your loved one to enter drug abuse treatment. You can read more about it here: https://www.addictions.com/prescription-drug-addiction-treatment/