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Meth Detox

Methamphetamine (also sometimes referred to as “crystal meth”, or simply “meth”) is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is mostly used as a recreational drug. It has a long history of abuse and can have extremely damaging effects on your body. Suddenly stopping after prolonged use can produce unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, so it’s important that you seek medical help before attempting meth detox,

Detox is a word that gets used a lot these days, but what does it really mean? While it can be sometimes used to describe an array of health practices, detox is the process by which your body clears out impurities. In the case of drug addiction, it refers to how your body experiences a period of withdrawal as it returns to equilibrium. Meth detox can be complicated, hence the reason why specific treatment programs exist in order to help people go through it safely.

In this blog, we will discuss the effects that meth use has on your body, and how you can safely overcome it at NP Addiction with the use of medically assisted meth detox.

Meth Dependence

Meth Dependence

Meth users may find that the initially pleasant effects of meth make repeated use tempting. However, it is highly addictive and can result in highly uncomfortable withdrawal, along with other problems. Ultimately, it may progress to the point that you may be in need of medically assisted detox to help you break the cycle of addiction and maintain long-term sobriety.

Meth withdrawal is where the brain’s chemistry has been altered to the point that the body struggles to function properly without it. Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that releases huge amounts of dopamine – the neurotransmitter that makes us feel good.

Naturally, dopamine serves to reinforce positive behaviors such as eating, having sex, or socializing. However, meth causes unnatural levels to be released, and when it wears off we “crash”. This leaves people feeling sad, anxious, depressed, and worn out. Some people will continue their meth abuse to avoid this feeling.

Prolonged meth use causes our dopamine receptors to become desensitized, meaning that our bodies become unable to function effectively without the presence of meth. We cannot create enough dopamine to feel happy, and the dopamine we produce doesn’t have as much of an effect as it would in a non-addicted person. This starts a vicious cycle where people compulsively re-dose to avoid this crash but ultimately make their problem worse in the long run.

Why Do People Abuse Meth?

Meth is a very commonly abused drug in the United States. Some studies claim that up to half a million people in the United States use methamphetamine every week. It has certain effects that make it a legitimate prescription medication and has been useful in treating both ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and obesity. This is due to the fact that it improves concentration but also because meth suppresses the appetite. Despite its legitimate prescription use, it’s mostly abused as an illegal substance bought on the black market. It produces effects such as:

  • Increased alertness
  • Increased energy
  • Increased concentration
  • Elevated mood
  • Reduced appetite

Frequent users face an increased likelihood of meth addiction and subsequent meth withdrawal. In high doses, meth can create potentially lethal effects, ranging from dangerously high body temperatures to cardiovascular collapse. Prolonged use can also cause unhealthy weight loss, dental decay, and make existing mental health problems worse.

Recognizing Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

Recognizing Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can have a variety of effects, much of which depends on how long a person has used meth, and in what doses. While not life-threatening, they are unpleasant in the acute phase and can include:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Sudden weight gain
  • Dehydration
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Loss of pleasure
  • Mood swings

There are also more protracted withdrawal symptoms that can affect you over a longer period of time which are known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This is why it’s advised you undergo a medical detox that is followed by addiction treatment. This helps you relieve the meth cravings you may experience and supports you in the critical early stages of recovery.

Meth Withdrawal Timeline

Meth withdrawal can be uncomfortable and the initial withdrawal process is the most intense part. Keep in mind during this difficult period that the crash phase (when you first start to experience meth withdrawal symptoms) is the first step towards recovery and a brighter future. The withdrawal timeline usually happens as follows:

Phase 1: The First 24 hours

Withdrawal from meth can start as early as a few hours after your last dose. Acute symptoms will be visible from this point onwards. This can vary depending on how much meth you have been consuming and over how much time. This will be the most intense period of your withdrawal, but it is a sign your body is starting to recover. In this phase, you may experience symptoms such as lowered energy, nausea, and stomach pain. Your mental acuity and cognitive function could also be affected.

PHASE 2: Days Three to FIVE

These symptoms will gradually become more severe over a period of three to five days before you start to see any improvement in your condition. It is at this point you will be experiencing additional acute symptoms such as extreme fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression. You may also experience physical symptoms of meth withdrawal such as muscle pain and uncontrollable shaking. This is the result of your body slowly adapting to functioning without meth again. The good news is that once this period is over you will start to feel much better.

Phase 3: TwO weeks OnWARDS

At this point, the acute withdrawal symptoms we have described should have started subsiding. You may still possibly experience some degree of fatigue. However, there is also the added risk that once you deal with the acute phase you may start to develop post-acute symptoms (PAWS)which can include:

  • Memory problems
  • Difficulties concentrating
  • Cognitive problems
  • Suicidal ideation

These symptoms can last long after your withdrawal phase is finished. It is the final challenge of your detox process. You may still experience drug cravings once the acute phase is finished, with these lasting an average of five weeks. For this reason, it is advisable that you seek out effective treatment that provides you with a long-term strategy to deal with your meth addiction and the emergence of any post-acute syndrome.

The Difference a Medical Meth Detox Makes

Addiction can lead to a number of physical health, mental health, and interpersonal issues. It comes at a huge cost, both financially and socially. However, quitting isn’t as simple as “just stopping.” Addiction is a complex medical issue that is often a coping mechanism for more deep-rooted problems. In order to start to address these, you need to first rid your system of methamphetamine.

The first step on the road to recovery is detox. If you have tried an at-home detox, your experience of meth withdrawal might be negative. However, starting the journey in a supervised detox facility with the help of counselors and medical professionals can make a world of difference. Here, you’re helped 24/7 by trained staff and peers who understand exactly what you’re going through.

You’ll be given high-quality meals, psychologically supported, and kept safe in a drug-free environment. Sometimes, medication can be used to help with symptoms like insomnia or anxiety. With the right help, you don’t need to fear meth withdrawal, and you can feel confident taking your first steps into recovery.

How Does Meth Addiction Treatment Work?

How Does Meth Addiction Treatment Work?

The fact that meth withdrawal symptoms are not usually life-threatening means that it is not a medical necessity to detox under supervision. However, it will make the process much easier and will help you build a solid foundation for your long-term recovery.

At our treatment facility, we can ensure all your needs are taken care of. You will be supervised by a team of medical professionals that will ensure your meth withdrawal symptoms are managed safely. We’ll develop a structure that will help you heal psychologically and medical supervision to ensure that you are physically healthy, making the detox process as straightforward as possible.

You will also be able to take advantage of support groups that can help you balance yourself by coming to terms with your drug abuse and learning healthy coping mechanisms. The benefits of being in a new environment free of temptation are clear; you can start your recovery under the Florida sun, surrounded by peers on the same journey as you.

To ensure a healthy, long-term recovery it’s advised you choose to recover in a professional environment. Undergoing detox can seem challenging, but it can be what makes all the difference. Rather than just treat the symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal we help you address the root cause of your addiction, empowering you to heal from the ground up.

Medically Supervised Meth Detox at NP Addiction

Medically Supervised Meth Detox at NP Addiction

Methamphetamine withdrawal can seem incredibly daunting. However, at NP Addiction, treatment is accessible and effective. The withdrawal process might seem difficult, and long-term recovery takes hard work. However, we promise that if you choose to detox from meth or other drugs, we are your best route to recovery.

At NP Addiction, we ensure that you can recover in a new, safe environment that does not compromise on comfort. After all, meth detox symptoms are the result of upsetting your brain chemistry with prolonged drug use. With our medically assisted detox, we will help you unlock your natural healing potential, find your former self, and help you cope with cravings. Meth addiction is a medical condition, and it is treatable.

So do not wait, reach out now to NP Addiction and let us help you overcome substance abuse. Our treatment facility in Port Saint Lucie is waiting to serve all your needs. Contact us to start your new life today.

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Samantha Kelly​

Director of National Business Development & Admissions Coordinator

I am a dedicated and passionate professional with extensive experience in business development Admissions and marketing. I have an incredible passion for showing others that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel if someone truly wants it.
Being in recovery myself I understand the struggles of addiction and alcoholism. I Started this Career path in 2009. With multiple years of experience, I bring a multi-faceted approach and am always seeking new ways to make a difference in the lives of those I work with.

Kim L. Buckner

Facilitator

As a Substance Abuse Motivational Speaker, Pastor, Peer Advocate, and Facilitator. Kim helps clients avoid relapse by understanding their triggers. Those people, places and things that can cause craving, as well as internal triggers like feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Kim also clients with identifying and building healthy relationships now that they’re clean and sober.

Kim’s background includes extensive experience as a motivational speaker and work in faith-based organizations helping youth and adults alike. He says he is motivated by giving back to the community, understanding, and not judging who she comes into contact with. Kim’s favorite quote is by Dr. Raymond Johnson: “The respect given to others rebounds to the giver to deny the scared in the Other is to deny it in oneself.”

Caty Burns

Clinician

Caty graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Counseling and History. Throughout her undergrad, she worked at the local CASA program, supporting volunteers advocating for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Caty worked for seven years at a community mental health center (CMHC), partnering with children, adults, and families.

During those seven years, she taught life and coping skills as well as behavior management, provided case management and peer recovery services, and facilitated treatment teams that included the client, family, providers, and community members. I have also worked at an IOP providing group therapy services. She is currently working towards my Master of Social Work.

In her free time, Caty enjoys reading, especially historical fiction, spending time outdoors and having movie nights with her family. Disney World is her happy place, and she dreams of living among the elephants.

Madison Knowles

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Madison Knowles, I am a Mental health therapist at NPAC. I am a single-mother of two and I have a daughter who is globally delayed and has been diagnosed with autism. I have been in this industry since I was 16 years old, as I was fascinated with human behavior. I obtained my masters in applied behavioral analysis and started off working with people with disabilities. I then found my love for counseling when I worked with juveniles who had mental health and substance use issues. I then decided to go back for my mental health therapy license after that and working in a forensic treatment center. I went on to obtain my therapy credentials and since 2017, I have also been working on my PhD in forensic psychology in which I am currently working on my dissertation. I am inspired by change and how resilient people can be. My favorite inspirational quote is “Some will, Some won’t, So what, NEXT!!!” This quote has inspired me to try, try, and try again no matter how hard life gets, someone will give you a chance eventually. As a therapist at NPAC, I have been given the opportunity to work with diverse populations such as in substance use and mental health and I am known for my work with people on the schizophrenic spectrum as well as with other clients with other severe conditions including personality disorders.

Megan Carmona, LMHC

Lead Therapist

Our Lead Therapist, Megan, is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in working with adults who struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma. As Lead Therapist, she provides individual, family, and group therapy sessions to our clients.  Megan says “I am very passionate about therapy, especially about supporting my clients in exploring their strengths and identity. My goal is to provide individuals with the tools that can help them achieve independence in coping with their challenges and facilitating personal development.” In her free time, Megan enjoys watching docu-series and playing video games with her family. Her dream is to own acres of land so she can care for vulnerable animals, especially old dogs, cats, and horses. 

Kristen Bensley

Primary Clinician

As Primary Clinician, Kristen works with all aspects of our clinical team, from case management to primary therapy.  She has broad experience working in the mental health field. Prior to joining our team at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic, Kristen was part of the team awarded the Evernorth Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Designation by Cigna. She says her motivation is to help people rediscover who they are and become excited about the future and all the possibilities life offers. Kristen’s favorite quote is: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Ronn Daigle, MSW

Therapist, Utilization Review Clinician

Ronn Daigle services as a Therapist and Utilization Review Clinician at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has been working in the field of substance use disorder treatment since 2011, with experience in all facility-based levels of care. Ronn earned, both an Associate of Arts in Psychology (2013) and Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with an Addiction Studies Concentration (2015) from Indian River State College. 

Ronn additionally earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2021 and is a current Registered Clinical Social Work Intern working toward licensure (LCSW). He describes himself as detail oriented, and solution focused.

Ronn says: “There is nothing more fulfilling than working with someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself, and being there in the moment with them when the belief begins. We work with individuals who come to us at a point and time in their respective lives where they do not believe that change for others is possible; let alone for themselves…throughout the process they eventually come to a point where they realize that change is not only possible, but achievable.”

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI

Assistant Clinical Director

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI is the Assistant Clinical Director at Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic who specializes in the treatment of LGBTQ, addiction, as well as mental health disorders ranging from depression and anxiety, to Bipolar Disorder, trauma, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders. Erika utilizes a number of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness amongst others. Erika has been in practice for close to a decade and has earned her license in Mental Health Counseling, as well as being a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional. Erika has worked with many individuals including couples counseling and family therapy, and is fluent in Spanish.
 
Throughout my years of practice, one of the things I enjoy helping people find is inner peace. Whether you are in the deepest parts of depression, overrun by your anxiety, controlled by your addiction, or there are certain issues in your life that are negatively impacting your ability to function, and have a happy, healthy life, maybe now is the time to talk about it. I am a big believer in empowerment, working hard in therapy, and utilizing different techniques to help you regain that inner peace that may have been lost along the way. I want to work with you as a team because with two people, absolutely everything is possible. I want to be there as a therapist, to help build you up, support you, but also help you be honest with yourself and accountable. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, my biggest goal for you is going to be simple….for you to no longer need my services. Why? Because if you no longer need my services, it means that you have regained your peace, you have regained your strength, you have regained your confidence. It means that you now have the tools to address any issues that try to derail you, and best of all, you will have the insight to overcome and thrive. So let’s begin this journey together, and get you to the place you want to be, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and in your sobriety.

Aurelio Ayuso, MSW, LCSW, CAP, ICADC

Clinical Director

Aurelio has worked with those that suffer from the disease of addiction in adults and juveniles alike for over 10 years, beginning in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 20 years, working with those that were succumbed by addiction due to trauma and continuing his passion for helping those in need locally in Central Florida.

He specializes in both Addictions and Trauma, he has worked first as a therapist then as the clinical supervisor to both the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court programs in Brevard County. Aurelio has been instrumental in developing substance abuse treatment programs directly tailored to help those that also suffer from complex trauma due to their addiction. He has been recognized by several organizations for his forward thinking and ability to tailor treatment to individuals in the most restrictive environments.

Mr. Ayuso received his Graduate Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as Certified Addictions Professional in the State of Florida, and Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Aurelio specializes in the treatment of Addiction, Trauma, and Abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in Solution Focused, and Mindfulness Therapies. At the Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic he passionately develops holistic curriculums that foster the belief that through addressing the mind, body, and spirit together, the Disease of Addiction can be addressed successfully.

Robert Lehmann, MHSA

Chief Operating Officer

Bob Lehmann is the Chief Operating Officer at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Mental Health Administration and over twenty-five years of experience as a senior executive at addiction and mental health treatment facilities.

One of the reasons for his commitment to excellence in addiction treatment was his experience related to family members who suffered from the disease of addiction. Bob has been actively involved in community organizations throughout his career. Recently he was one of the founders of the Florida Addiction Treatment Coalition (FATC) and is its present Vice President. FATC was designed to bring together treatment executives in Florida to advocate on behalf of treatment facilities and the clients they serve adhering to a foundation of integrity and service excellence.

Jose R. Toledo, M.D.

Medical Director

A well-rounded and accomplished individual, Jose R. Toledo, M.D., is the Medical Director of Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a neurologist with 25 years of experience and has been in private practice since 1991 on the Treasure Coast of Florida. He completed his neurology training at the State University of New York and his Fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh in Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology.

He also completed 24 months of acute inpatient psychiatry at the Western Missouri Mental Health Center, University of Missouri in Kansas City. In 2008, Dr. Toledo participated in and was certified in the continuing medical education activity entitled “Buprenorphine and Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence” from The Medical University of South Carolina during which began his quest to found and head Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a brain specialist with particular competence in addiction medicine and out-patient detoxification treatment and integrates the fields seamlessly. He is certified to prescribe Buprenorphine (Suboxone). He incorporates his background in neurology into the addiction field. Dr. Toledo is member/fellow of The American Medical Association, The Florida Medical Association and The American Society of Addiction Medicine