If you have a family member that is addicted to methamphetamine (meth), you need to seek help for them quickly. Drug rehab is one option you have. When it comes to this, there are different methods that are used. Below is some information about what meth does to the body, and the types of rehab available to help someone addicted to it.

What it does

Learning what meth does to their body may give your family member an incentive to quit. A lot of times, someone that does a drug is likely not thinking how it is harming them, but instead the high they will get from it. Meth affects the nervous system and can cause symptoms like:

• Insomnia that lasts a long time
• Convulsions
• Paranoia
• Irritability
• Confusion
• Tremors
• Aggressiveness

Long term side effects of meth include:

• Damage to teeth
• Cardiovascular problems
• Skin abscesses
• Osteoporosis

Meth can also damage the blood vessels in the brain, which can lead to a stroke or irregular heartbeat. Brain damage may also occur, causing symptoms like an inability to grasp thoughts, memory loss, and extreme mood things.

They also may have symptoms like violent behavior, confusion, and anxiety. Meth addiction may cause some psychotic features like delusions, paranoia, mood disturbances, and auditory hallucinations.

Drug Rehab Methods

The type of treatment your family member will receive depends much on the treatment center they go to. Below are some of the different methods you may find at these centers.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will teach your family member why they use meth in the first place. They will figure out triggers that may cause cravings, as well as certain situations that may cause a trigger to cravings. They will teach your family member how they can avoid their cravings, and how to deal with any of them that may occur.
• Contingency Management. Contingency reinforcement uses positive reinforcement or rewards when someone meets a goal, such as a drug test that came out clean. Rewards they may use include movie tickets or gift cards. On the other hand, if a goal is not met, such as a failed drug test, then a punishment is used. This may be something like decreasing the amount of time they spend socializing.
• Family. It is important that you and other family members are involved in their treatment, as this will give your family member a much better chance of sticking with treatment. They can get support from you and other family members, which is especially important during the first few weeks when treatment is at its most challenging.

Meth is a highly addictive drug, and it will take time for your family member to get off of it. Drug rehab may not work the first time, but if they keep working at it they can become drug free. Visit http://www.olalla.org for more information about recovery.