- Adderall
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Chronic Relapse
- Cocaine
- Codependency
- Compulsive Hoarding
- Crack Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Dual Diagnosis
- Eating Disorder
- Ecstasy
- Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Gender Specific Issues
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Inhalants
- Ketamine (Special K)
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- Marijuana
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- OxyContin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Process Addiction
- Ritalin and Concerta
- Sex and Love Addiction
- Steroids
- Suboxone
- Synthetic Cannabis
- Trauma
- Valium
- Video Game Addiction
- Xanax
Crystal Meth
Crystal Meth is a Schedule II manufactured stimulant, and is pure form of methamphetamine. It is powerful and extremely addictive and its use can cause severe physiological and psychological dependence and addiction. It appears in chunks of clear crystals resembling ice or glass, and is odorless and colorless. It is usually smoked, but may also be inhaled or injected.
Short and long-term effects
The effects of Crystal Meth resemble those of cocaine but last longer. Women often take crystal meth to facilitate rapid weight loss. However, the body builds up a tolerance to the drug causing weight loss to decrease and stop about two months after taking it. Because of this, it highly addict properties, and the fact that the weight that was lost is regained once the drug is no longer taken, crystal meth is not prescribed for weight loss.
Its use can result in both physical and behavioral problems. Among the behavioral problems are:
- Appetite suppression
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Erratic and/or violent behavior
- Mood swings
Physical problems include:
- Brain damage
- Convulsions
- Cracked teeth
- Death
- Heart arrhythmia
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Stroke
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Tremors
Users may also experience psychological problems including:
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Homicidal/suicidal thoughts,
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
Pregnant women who use crystal meth risk premature birth, or their child being born with birth defects – with heart defects and cleft palate among the most common.
Treatment of Crystal Meth dependence and addiction
The most effective programs are individualized and tailored to the unique circumstances of the patient. Examination for co-occurring disorders is also needed. Treatment of crystal meth addiction poses tremendous challenges of the high dropout and relapse rates and ongoing episodes of psychosis, and severe cravings for the drug. At this time, there are no medication based treatments available. The most successful programs combine contingency management with cognitive behavioral therapy.
The underlying tenet of contingency management is that a specified behavior is more likely to be repeated when immediately rewarded. Studies show that participants receiving rewards for achieving certain goals, such as drug abstinence, produce a more consistent pattern of negative urinalysis samples over a longer period while in the program.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping the patient understand the role of substance abuse in his or her life and promotes the development of strategies in order to avoid addiction relapse. Treatment programs structured around a flexible, multi-tiered approach incorporating cognitive behavioral principles, individual and family counseling, education on the nature addiction and relapse prevention, participation in community support or self-help programs, and weekly, or more frequent testing, for drug use have been shown to have the highest success rates.