What is Meth Addiction? Symptoms, Detox, and Treatment

Methamphetamine addiction is a dangerous and lethal condition that affects everyone, not just the user. Often referred to simply as “meth,” this powerful stimulant creates intense euphoric effects.

Understanding what meth is, how it works and the risks associated with its use is important for anyone who’s looking for support for themselves or loved ones.

Here, we’ll explore the nature and signs of meth addiction, its effects on the brain and the body and the treatment options available. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or someone else, you’ll find comprehensive and compassionate guidance to recovery.

Key Facts About Meth Addiction

What Is Methamphetamine Addiction?

Types of Meth

There are several different types of meth. Among them are:

Signs and Symptoms of Meth Addiction

Overcoming meth addiction begins with withdrawal and detoxification. This stage can be physically and emotionally difficult and require supportive environments. 

Medical oversight is often crucial when going through meth withdrawal and detox. Since meth significantly alters dopamine production in the brain, the absence of the drug creates an intense crash that leads to deep fatigue, emotional distress and strong cravings.

Withdrawal Timeline & Common Symptoms

Meth withdrawal can differ from person to person. Your symptoms may vary depending on other physical or mental health issues, the severity of your addiction and the amount of time you’ve been using.

Typically, people addicted to meth experience the following withdrawal timeline:

• Crash (24 to 72 hours): The crash period typically begins about 24 hours after your last use. You may experience several symptoms, such as hypersomnia (sleeping more often than normal), anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure), fatigue and low motivation.
• Intense cravings (days 3 to 5): Cravings are often the most intense during the third to fifth day of withdrawal. Relapse is common during this period.
• Sub-acute withdrawal (weeks 2 to 3): During the sub-acute withdrawal period, you may become irritable and experience intense meth cravings, mood swings, anxiety and depression.
• Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (may last for several months): Also known as PAWS, post-acute withdrawal syndrome symptoms may include cognitive issues, emotional numbness and ongoing sleep disturbances.

Medical Detox: What to Expect

In many cases, medical detox is essential for making it through the withdrawal process.

When you enter medical detox, your treatment team talks with you about your addiction and withdrawal symptoms and goes over your medical history.

Care during detox typically includes:

• 24/7 monitoring of vital signs to ensure you’re going through the withdrawal process as safely and comfortably as possible.
• Hydration support and vitamin supplementation to provide you with the nutrients you need to revitalize your health as drugs and alcohol leave your body.
• Ongoing medical monitoring for serious issues that can occur during detox, such as cardiomyopathy and suicidal ideation, as well as medical treatment to address issues promptly.
• Comfort medications like mirtazapine for sleep disturbances and propranolol to manage anxiety and agitation.

Managing Cravings & PAWS

Meth addiction is often framed through the “dopamine deficiency” model.

Since meth severely disrupts dopamine production and receptor activity, people in recovery from MUD may struggle with low motivation and pleasure. This can lead to an increased risk of relapse without proper support.

Many methamphetamine addiction treatment programs utilize a variety of treatment modalities to combat cravings and post-acute withdrawal syndrome, including:

Evidence-Based Treatment Options

Meth addiction is best treated through evidence-based approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Key behavioral therapies and emerging medications offer hope for those in recovery.

Behavioral Therapies: Matrix Model, CBT and Contingency Management

Behavioral therapy works to change the actions that keep you stuck in the cycle of addiction.

Some of the behavioral therapies most commonly used in meth addiction treatment include:

• Matrix model: This structured program runs up to 16 weeks and combines individual and group sessions, relapse prevention, family education and drug testing. Studies show that people who complete a matrix model treatment program are 38% more likely to stay in treatment than those who participate in traditional treatment methods.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: Also known as CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy helps people living with addiction examine the thoughts that lead to drug use and other undesired behaviors. By identifying troubling thought patterns, your therapist and you create new thought patterns while also establishing behaviors that support your ongoing sobriety.
• Contingency management: This type of treatment program offers tangible rewards like vouchers that can be exchanged for goods or entertainment, gift cards, cash and entries into prize drawings for staying sober. A meta-analysis showed that participants in contingency management programs had double the rate of abstinence than those who participated in traditional treatment methods alone.

Emerging & Off-Label Medications

No medication is currently approved by the FDA to treat meth addiction. But some physicians prescribe medication off-label for those beginning recovery.

Prescribing a medication off-label means the physician believes it could be useful for a condition other than the one(s) it’s currently approved for.

Some medications currently used off-label for the treatment of meth addiction include:

• Naltrexone and bupropion: A clinical trial showed that the combination of naltrexone and bupropion therapy led to significantly higher abstinence rates than placebo treatment.
• Lisdexamfetamine: Commonly used for ADHD, it’s being studied as a potential treatment for stimulant use disorder.
• Mirtazapine: This medication shows some promise for reducing meth use in certain populations, but further research is needed.

Support Groups & 12-Step Programs

Peer support allows you to feel less alone in your recovery, and build the strong community that you need to stay on course when life gets hard. More support groups are available online so you can get help in a way that’s convenient for you.

Some commonly offered support groups for people working to recover from meth addiction include:

• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA): CMA is a 12-step fellowship designed specifically to support those in recovery from meth addiction.
• SMART Recovery: This non-religious support group focuses on utilizing science-based recovery tools and self-empowerment techniques.

Levels of Care & Program Types

Recovery from meth addiction typically requires a structured approach.

Your care team works with you to create a personalized treatment plan, as there’s no one-size-fits-all recovery. Choosing the right level of care depends on the severity of your addiction, your personal circumstances and the support systems you have available at home and in your social circle.

Levels of care for meth addiction include:

• Inpatient/residential rehab: This level of care offers 24/7 support in a structured environment. Most people stay in residential care for 28 to 45 days. Inpatient rehab is ideal for those who are living with moderate to severe substance use disorders or those who have unsafe or unsupportive home environments. When searching for an inpatient facility, it’s important to prioritize options that offer onsite detox and a low client-to-staff ratio.
• Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment: These programs allow clients to receive intensive treatment during the day while returning home at night. Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs are ideal for those who need structured care but have strong support systems at home. These services are often covered by insurance under parity laws for mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
• Standard outpatient and telehealth services: Telehealth services are best for those with mild substance use disorder or those who live in rural areas or have barriers to accessing more intensive levels of substance use disorder treatment.
• Sober living and aftercare: Many people in recovery benefit from living in transitional housing for 2-12 months following inpatient or outpatient treatment. Clients receive peer accountability, random drug testing and support meetings. Sober living and aftercare programs often allow clients to be part of an alumni network for ongoing support.

Specialized & Holistic Approaches

Many treatment centers work to incorporate holistic care into the rehab process. Holistic care tackles the full spectrum of meth addiction and discover coping strategies to maintain your sobriety once you return to daily life.

Dual-Diagnosis (Mental Health + Meth Use Disorder)

Meth addiction often co-occurs with depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders. Dual diagnosis treatment facilities offer care for mental health issues and substance use disorders at the same time. This improves the likelihood that you’ll complete treatment—and that you’ll stay sober after treatment ends. 

Treatment in a dual diagnosis facility may include integrated psychiatry appointments, SSRI medications to support mental health needs and antipsychotics for persistent psychosis that can follow meth addiction.

Trauma-Informed & Family Therapy

Many people starting recovery from meth addiction have experienced trauma before or during their active addiction.

Trauma-informed therapy works to support healing, and family behavior therapy creates healthy and communicative family systems that can break negative patterns and provide you with ongoing support.

Some trauma-informed and family-based therapeutic methods often used to support clients in rehab include:

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: This trauma-informed therapy helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, allowing trauma to impact you less severely.
• Seeking Safety: Seeking Safety is an evidence-based therapeutic treatment to assist people in coping with addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma.
• Family behavior therapy: Your therapist may recommend involving your family in therapy to address negative communication patterns and work through generational and relational trauma. Research shows that those addicted to meth who engage in family therapy have a 60% lower rate of meth use six months after completing treatment.

Holistic Therapies (Nutrition, Exercise, Mindfulness)

Holistic therapies address the body, mind and spirit to create a solid recovery foundation.

Holistic methods that can benefit those in recovery from meth addiction include:

• Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP): This type of treatment combines cognitive therapy with mindfulness activities to reduce relapse risk.
• Exercise: Physical activity, such as yoga, jogging, playing sports and strength training, can reduce stress and increase dopamine levels, lowering the likelihood of relapse.
• Nutrition repair: Many people in active addiction suffer nutritionally. Nutrition repair therapy focuses on foods rich in protein, omega-3s and antioxidants to heal the brain and body.

Choosing a Meth Treatment Center

When looking for a rehab facility, you’ll want to look for evidence-based, individualized treatment protocols, experienced staff members, and dual-diagnosis capabilities. Be sure to learn about the levels of care offered, aftercare planning, and mental health/trauma support services at each facility you’re considering for your care.

Cost is also an important factor to consider as you’re choosing a treatment facility for substance use disorder. Your health insurance plan may cover some or all of your treatment. Many addiction treatment facilities accept private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. 

Sliding fee scales and payment plans may be available if you don’t have health insurance coverage. Be sure to verify your expenses and total costs before committing to a detox and/or rehab program.

Some questions you may want to ask potential treatment providers include:

• Is your program licensed and accredited?
• Are the staff members trained specifically in treating meth addiction and dual diagnoses?
• What types of therapy and support are offered?
• How is aftercare handled?
• What outcomes does the program track and report?

Life in Recovery

Recovery is not a single destination or an achievement. It’s an ongoing journey and process that requires daily attention. Building a fulfilling, drug-free life takes time and persistence.

Relapse Prevention & Coping Skills

Your treatment team will work with you to develop skills and habits that support life in recovery, including:

Building a Support Network & Recovery Capital

During and after treatment, you’ll need to build a support network and “recovery capital.” This is a collection of valuable tangible and intangible resources that provide support in your sobriety. 

Your care team will help secure housing and employment assistance, and peer mentors can address social determinants that could negatively affect your sobriety. Engaging in online and in-person support communities aids you to get structure and care to stay sober.

Long-Term Outlook & Success Rates

The bottom line: treatment works.

People who complete 90 or more days of treatment have double the abstinence rate at 12 months after rehab compared to those who completed shorter durations of treatment, or who did not complete treatment at all.

Addiction is a chronic condition that can be well-managed. Relapse does not equal failure. In many cases, relapse is a part of the recovery trajectory.

Meth Addiction FAQs

Find Meth Addiction Treatment Centers Near You

Use the national directory at Rehab.com to locate meth addiction treatment programs in your area. You can filter results by location, level of care, insurance coverage and special programs.

Not sure where to start? Call the number below to talk to someone about your treatment options and see if your insurance will cover rehab.

Call A Treatment Provider

For a conversation about what treatment options are available to you.

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