Is Meth Detox Dangerous? Considering the Risks
When breaking the cycle of dependence on meth, withdrawal can be both intensely uncomfortable and dangerous. Understanding the potential symptoms during meth detox helps to shine a light on the positive path of medically supervised treatment. With the right help, you can minimize the dangerous risks and improve recovery outcomes.
Withdrawal is a necessary step in the addiction recovery journey. During this process, the body is detoxifying itself of a substance it has come to depend on for day-to-day functioning.
The mind, too, has adapted to believe this substance is necessary. Some withdrawal symptoms you can see, and others you cannot. But all of these symptoms can be dangerous for a person’s well-being.
When someone doubts whether meth detox is dangerous and considers struggling through this process on their own, they are risking their physical, psychological, and emotional health—as well as their real chances for getting clean.
Meth addiction and detox are volatile situations but very possible to overcome with the right tools and the right help.
Is Meth Detox Dangerous?
Certain psychological risks make methamphetamine detox potentially very dangerous: the severity of cravings for the drug, the common occurrence of depression, and the possibility of psychotic episodes. These possible symptoms of withdrawal make detox unpredictable and problematic because of the high risks of relapse and harm to oneself or others. The emotional and psychological instability that accompanies meth detox calls for professional clinical assistance. The outcomes for safe addiction recovery are greatly improved in a controlled and supportive environment.
There are a lot of variables that affect the course of medically monitored detox and recovery, including the severity and duration of meth use, the person’s age, their overall physical health, their overall mental health and any co-occurring disorders, the history of any other drug use, and the extent of stress in their life, which can be a catalyst for substance use in the first place. It isn’t possible to precisely predict how the course of detoxification and withdrawal will unfold, so it’s best to lean on the assistance of experts. Symptoms are usually most intense during the first day of withdrawal, but the discomfort can last for a couple of weeks or even months in cases of heavy long-term use. And the psychological distress and risks of relapse can last much, much longer.
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866-922-1350What Symptoms Can You Expect from Meth Withdrawal?
Withdrawal symptoms are a powerful linchpin of addiction: a user feels compelled to use again and again, in part, to postpone these symptoms. The body and the mind have become used to having the drug in the system and have adapted to function under these conditions. Once the drug is no longer in a person’s system, the body and mind have to readapt, and it can be a very uncomfortable process. This withdrawal and detoxification can even pose some serious physical, psychological, and behavioral health risks.
Physical symptoms will likely go away within several weeks once someone discontinues the drug.
- Extreme exhaustion
- Restlessness and jitteriness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shaking
- Fever
- Chills
- Sweating
- Increased hunger
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Insomnia
Psychological symptoms can arise right away when someone stops using, but these symptoms may linger beyond the duration of physical symptoms and may require more extensive care.
- Intense cravings for the drug
- Depression and hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety
- Irritability and aggression
- Impulsivity
- Paranoia
- Psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions
The amount of time it takes to recover after meth is out of one’s system varies greatly from person to person. But the sooner they can get on this healing path, the better to minimize the devastating direct and indirect side effects of meth use, which can be fatal. Withdrawal is a necessary path to recovery, but it doesn’t have to be uncompromisingly painful or distressing.
How Can You Minimize the Risks of Meth Detox and Fortify Recovery?
One of the most important factors in successful detox from methamphetamines is to be removed from the environment where one uses the drug. Many people attempt to complete the detox and withdrawal process on their own at home, but the challenge to abstain in this environment may be prohibitively difficult. And, at home, they are without support for the extremely uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal—which will apply additional pressure to use again and postpone those symptoms.
Medically Supervised Detoxification
When someone undergoes detoxification and withdrawal in a clinical setting, it makes the detox process more comfortable; helps to avoid physical, mental, and emotional health complications; and lowers the risk of relapse for sustained recovery. The process of detox from meth and other substances is actually carefully studied, and new clinical methods, medications, and therapies are being developed all the time to make withdrawal safer and more comfortable.
In addition to luxurious accommodations, nourishing food, quality rest and sleep, exercise, and stress relief, medications may be appropriate to ease the detox side effects. Certain medications are indicated to reduce cravings, to help with relaxation, to speed up the detoxification process, and to lessen the distressing withdrawal symptoms considerably. But any medication must be administered under close clinical supervision.
It’s also important to have supervision and support in case of severe depression and/or anxiety that could increase the risk of both relapse and harm to oneself or others. Psychosis is also possible during meth detox, and it’s vital that any psychotic episode receives urgent psychiatric attention to minimize psychological damage and distress.
More Comprehensive Care in a Residential Program
Only for very light short-term users would an outpatient treatment program be sufficient. Because the risk of relapse is so high for moderate to heavy users—and the risk of intense withdrawal symptoms is also high—an inpatient meth rehab center can significantly improve the detox process and the recovery outcomes.
A comprehensive residential program introduces healthy lifestyle support and routines to reinforce gradual progress during and after detoxification. Individual psychotherapy is also vital for treating the addiction and developing strategies for managing stress and maintaining a successful recovery. Close clinical assistance is also incredibly important when co-occurring mental health disorders are present. Integrated programs for life and vocational skills support provide valuable education, especially considering the possibility of some cognitive deficits in early recovery from meth addiction.
In a comprehensive meth rehab setting, the recovery community plays an integral role in each client’s journey. And group support makes up just one piece of a holistic after-care plan to fortify one’s recovery following their stay in inpatient meth rehab. From the start, no one has to venture through withdrawal and overcome addiction alone. In the end, it is the help of a supportive community that will pave the way for a brighter future.
Alta Mira offers comprehensive treatment for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders and process addictions. Contact us to learn more about our renowned Bay Area programs and how we can help you or your loved one start the journey toward lasting recovery.
