How to Find Meth Addiction Treatment in Atlanta, GA

We all have bad habits, and while those bad habits often impact our ability to live a happy, healthy, and peaceful life, there are a number of things we can do to earn a second chance at life. With quality treatment and a strong support system, your bad habits can be replaced. This is especially true for meth users – who make up more than 2.6 million people. Of those individuals, more than 1.5 million develop a meth use disorder, and another 25,000+ die of overdose every year. The drug impacts millions of families every single year. If your family is being impacted by meth use, it may be essential to find meth addiction treatment in Atlanta, GA.

Meth use often leads to meth abuse, which eventually causes addiction and increases the risk of overdose. Without treatment, the addiction grows worse, and the consequences of long-term meth use begin to surface. Don’t worry; ARP is a Georgia addiction recovery center here to help you today.

What is Meth?

Meth, also known as methamphetamine, is a central nervous system stimulant that’s derived from amphetamine. Meth was originally manufactured in 1919 but wasn’t popularized until World War II, and use eventually exploded in the United States in the 1990s and beyond.

The drug is either found in a white powder, pill, or crystallized form. Users generally smoke, swallow, snort, or inject it. The effects of meth start to hit the body within minutes, and while the euphoria doesn’t last long, it’s common for users to binge with repeated doses.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), meth is a Schedule II drug.

How Does Meth Impact the Body?

Once inhaled, snorted, or injected, meth travels to the brain and triggers the immediate release of dopamine – a chemical that’s responsible for how we feel pleasure and satisfaction. This ignites the ‘euphoric’ and ‘high’ feeling of meth – which people get addicted to.

Let’s take a look at the short-term effects of meth on the body:

Increased alertness and energy
Reduced appetite
Fast breathing and rapid or irregular heartbeat
Increase in body temperature or blood pressure
Euphoric, ‘high’ feeling

Now, let’s take a look at the long-term effects of meth on the body:

Weight loss; changes in eating habits
Dental problems and other issues with personal hygiene
Anxiety, depression, memory loss, and other cognitive issues
Marks and scars from constantly itching and scratching the skin
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting quality sleep
Violent behavior, legal problems, criminal charges
Relationship issues and problems at work/school

As you can see, meth use can and will negatively impact an individual’s life in every aspect – including mentally, emotionally, socially, physically, spiritually, and behaviorally. It changes how the individual acts and how they think, feel, and view their surroundings.

How Addictive is Meth?

Methamphetamine is a highly-addictive stimulant drug, which is why treating meth addiction right away is so important. The more an individual uses the drug, the more their body will become tolerant to and dependent on it. This is where addiction can take a turn for the worse.

As the individual grows more tolerant and dependent on the drug, they start to use the drug more frequently and in higher doses to satisfy their ‘high.’ Of course, this only increases the risks and consequences that come with meth use – which we explained in more detail above.

What Are the Signs of Meth Abuse?

Since most users aren’t going to seek treatment for meth addiction on their own, it’s usually up to the individual’s friends and family members to spot the signs of addiction and confront them about it. Depending on the severity of the addiction, you could be saving that person’s life.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs of meth abuse:

The obvious presence of meth paraphernalia
Financial struggles and constantly asking for money
Secretive behavior and hanging out with the wrong crowd
Appearing ‘high’ – dilated pupils, shaking, red eyes, in and out of consciousness
Needle marks and other injuries on their body
Mood swings, outbursts, and other mood-related issues
Changes to their sleeping or eating habits
Extreme and sudden tooth decay and poor hygiene

If you notice any of these signs in a loved one, don’t hesitate to seek professional and medical help – time is of the essence. Treatment for meth addiction is available to anyone and everyone that needs it, but it requires the cooperation of the individual – otherwise, treatment won’t work.