How to Wean Off a Meth Addiction

The Meth Taper Process and When to Seek Treatment Support

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Statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) show that about 500 people try meth for the first time each day, and about two million people use meth per year.

Methamphetamine addiction is one possible risk of using meth, and physical dependence can develop quickly.

You may already be aware of this reality if you are looking at ways how to wean off a meth addiction.

As a central nervous system stimulant, some are drawn toward meth due to effects like a spike in energy, but the implications of meth use, like meth mouth, hallucinations, memory problems, and employment issues, are grave and destructive.

Methamphetamine detox is often the first step toward recovery from the highly addictive substance. This might lead you to ask again, “How do I wean off a meth addiction? What is the meth withdrawal process like?”

This article will cover what to expect when you quit meth and the importance of treatment.

What is the Meth Withdrawal Process Like?

Getting off of meth often comes with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. However, they are typically short-lived. Meth withdrawal can involve both physical and emotional or psychological symptoms.

Psychological symptoms of meth withdrawal may include depression, anxiety, trouble focusing, irritability, and intense cravings for meth.

Physical meth withdrawal symptoms may include but are not limited to sleep problems, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and discomfort.

Acute Methamphetamine Withdrawal

When we say that meth withdrawals are usually short-lived, we’re talking about acute meth withdrawals. In the context of drug use, “acute” withdrawals refer to the part of the meth detox and withdrawal timeline (or the detox process from other types of drugs) where symptoms are at their worst. T

he acute withdrawal stage tends to last about one week, with acute symptoms of meth withdrawal peaking on day two or three, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms refer to longer-lasting withdrawal symptoms from meth or other drugs. Unlike the acute withdrawal stage, where detoxing from some drugs (e.g., alcohol) can be very dangerous, post-acute withdrawals are not as dangerous or severe.

In the case of methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms, this stage may include low mood, anxiety, or continued cravings for meth, which may last for several months.

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The Importance of Professional Support in Meth Detox

Going through acute meth withdrawal on your own is not ideal or recommended, and you should not try to wean off of meth by yourself. Enduring a cold turkey methamphetamine detox at home can come with a high risk of relapse due to symptoms like drug cravings.

Professional detox programs like our sub-acute detox program can help you manage withdrawal symptoms on your own terms. If you are a sub-acute detox client at Changes Healing Center, our medical professionals will be able to prescribe medications or recommend additional solutions to help you get through meth withdrawals as needed.

Medications used in withdrawal management frequently include non-habit-forming sleep aids, mental health medications, or medications used to address symptoms like headaches.

Hydration and nutrition support can also be helpful for withdrawal management in those getting off of stimulant drugs.

Types of Programs for Managing Meth Withdrawal Symptoms

There are two main types of detox programming. The first is sub-acute detox, which is designed for people who are not at risk of life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Changes Healing Center offers sub-acute detox, which is suitable for nearly all people who detox from meth.

The other type of detox program is medical detox, which provides constant (24/7) monitoring for more severe withdrawal symptoms. Our team can refer you to an inpatient medical detox program if needed. We provide prospective clients with free intake assessments so that we can give you individualized guidance and suggest a treatment trajectory.

When to Seek Treatment for Meth Addiction

Since detox programs for meth abuse do not address the underlying causes of addiction, ongoing support is something we and other addiction treatment professionals advocate for strongly. Changes Healing Center offers extensive treatment options for those overcoming meth or crystal meth addiction.

If you use meth regularly or experience the symptoms of meth addiction, seeking substance abuse treatment matters. Meth addiction treatment at Changes Healing Center can help with all of the following aspects of addiction recovery and more.

General Mental Health Support After Acute Detox

While medical detox programs address the symptoms seen in the acute withdrawal stage, professional treatment provides emotional support during the post-acute withdrawal stage and beyond.

Those with a stimulant use disorder who go through suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and other symptoms after stopping meth need support. In time and with proper medical care, these psychological symptoms will dissipate.

Rebuilding Your Life Post-Addiction

Changes Healing Center teaches life skills, communication skills, and relapse prevention techniques to help you succeed once treatment is over.

All Changes Healing Center clients work with staff to build an aftercare plan to strategize for their life post-rehab. This could include job and education plans, housing arrangements, support groups, or anything else that supports your lasting recovery.

Developing Coping Skills and Habits

Structured inpatient treatment and outpatient rehab programs help you learn healthy coping strategies and habits that you can use to care for yourself.

We use a combination of treatment options, such as medication management, motivational interviewing, behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma therapies, and creative therapies, to fit the needs of each unique client in our programs.

Family therapy sessions, life skills, and other treatments are also offered at Changes Healing Center.

Working Through Underlying Causes of Stimulant Use Disorders

Professional Help for Stimulant Use Disorder

People develop stimulant disorders for different reasons. Factors like past trauma, the desire for rapid weight loss and increased energy or other effects of meth use, and family history can all play a role.

When you seek professional help at Changes Healing Center, we’ll work with you to address the root causes of meth addiction so that you can truly break free.

Combined Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Treatment

What if you or your loved one recovering from meth addiction has another disorder? For example, anxiety, depression, a personality disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or a trauma disorder, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

At Changes Healing Center, we address both substance addiction and any diagnosable mental health disorders a person may have through our dual-diagnosis treatment programs.

For those with co-occurring disorders, undergoing dual-diagnosis treatment supports better health outcomes and a higher likelihood of recovering from both conditions.

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Types of Meth Treatment Programs

After meth detox, you might choose to attend an inpatient rehab program, an outpatient rehab program, or both. Changes Healing Center provides inpatient and outpatient meth addiction treatment programs for people facing substance use and dual-diagnosis disorders.

Although it’s most commonly recommended that you go through detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient care (in that order), everyone is different. We provide inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient services in addition to our detox program.

By offering a full continuum of care, we make it viable to get all of the services you need at each stage of addiction recovery in one place.

When you call Changes Healing Center and set up an intake assessment, our team can help you choose the right starting level of care to proceed with after detox.

Family members and others interested in learning about treatment for another person in their life are 100% welcome to contact our recovery center on their behalf.

Call Changes for Meth Detox and Recovery Support

Changes Healing Center is an addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment center in Arizona. We accept most forms of health insurance and offer multiple levels of care to make substance abuse treatment accessible for you or your loved one who is going through methamphetamine addiction.

Whether you want to inquire about our programs, schedule a tour, or run an insurance verification check, please get in touch with the Changes Healing Center team by calling our admissions line today.

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FAQs Regarding When to Wean Off a Meth Addiction

What is the hardest drug to quit?

Any drug can be hard to quit. Since everyone is different, it’s tough to say what type of drug is the hardest to quit across the board. The good news is that, regardless of if you use meth or other substances, it is possible to quit and recover.

Recent data indicates that 72.2% of United States residents who perceive themselves as having had a substance abuse problem of some kind consider themselves to be recovered or in recovery.

What is the rate of meth relapse?

Research shows that 61% of meth users relapse within one year of getting treatment, and an additional 25% relapse within the first five years.

That said, relapse is a part of recovery for many people. It doesn’t mean you won’t ultimately get and stay sober.

How long does meth withdrawal last in total?

Everyone is different when it comes to how long meth withdrawal lasts, but most people experience the most noticeable withdrawal symptoms in the first week.

After that, your symptoms should level out, and your physical health will stabilize.

Is it possible to break the addiction cycle?

Yes. At Changes Healing Center, we watch people recover from meth use and the use of other drugs every single day. No matter what your story is, we believe in your ability to heal and are here to stick by your side during the process.