There’s no one right way to talk to someone about potential substance use, but you’ll want to avoid a few things along the way. After sharing your worries, give them the chance to talk — and listen. They might feel ready to give you more details or explain why they started using it. This can give you more insight into how you can best help them. People begin using substances for any number of complex reasons, including trauma and other emotional distress. Only your loved one can tell you about any factors that play a role in their use.
Recognize that there’s a lot to learn about substance use disorder
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Finding a rehab center can feel overwhelming, but there are resources available to help. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, and there are people who want to support you on your path to recovery. Even after rehab, continuing therapy and aftercare programs can give you ongoing support. Therapy helps you understand the reasons behind your meth addiction and develop new ways of thinking and behaving. Aftercare programs can connect you with resources and support groups to keep you strong in your recovery journey.
Meth Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments
You might notice them acting paranoid or suspicious, even of people they’re close to. They might also have trouble sleeping (insomnia), or seem much more active or energetic than usual. Avoid the temptation to get into an argument with them or a back and forth dialogue where you try to dispute what they’re saying and prove that you’re right. Avoid blaming and say that you’re concerned about their drug use. You can also calmly lay out clear boundaries delineating what you’ll accept in the future, but avoid making threats. Before you begin detox, you’ll undergo an initial assessment and screening tests for other medical conditions.
What are the long-term effects of meth use?
This video for middle school students describes what Opioids are, why doctors prescribe them, and how they can be… NDAFW is an annual health observance that teaches teens the science of drug use and addiction among youth. Educate teens about drugs, drug use, and life skills with activities and lessons from Scholastic. Using the device with the antidepressant led to even better results, with remission rates at 67.1% when combined with an antidepressant, the study in 174 patients with depression found.
«Doctors are going to be reading about it and may prescribe the medications off-label to their patients,» Volkow says. Researchers say it’s not entirely clear why these drugs worked more effectively in tandem. «As we understand the complexity of the human brain, it becomes very much of a magical thinking that one pill will solve the problem of addiction,» she says. «It’s progress and it’s quite significant,» says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Addiction, which funded the two-year clinical trial involving roughly 400 patients.
You can find local treatment providers with a therapist directory like Psychology Today, or just searching Google for addiction therapists in your area. Their primary healthcare provider can also offer a referral. It’s helpful to keep calm when talking to your loved one, but you don’t have to refrain from showing any emotion.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 100,000 people died of drug overdose in the United States in 2021, a figure that is increasing significantly every year. By taking the above-mentioned steps, multiple action points are resolved and in a sense, answer “How do you help a Meth Addict” with love and care. Building a network of individuals that are there to support your loved one is a crucial aspect of the question, “How do you help a Meth Addict? ” Addiction-prone individuals get reminded that they are not fighting their disease alone.
Developing Coping Mechanisms and Healthy Habits
Even if they feel ready to accept help, they might have lingering worries about judgement from others or legal meth abuse penalties. It’s impossible to determine what someone does (or doesn’t) need without talking to them. What’s more, not everyone who uses meth will show these signs.
- Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area.
- These are just some of the physical signs of meth addiction.
- Your support network can include family, friends, a therapist, or people in a support group.
- Your involvement can make a significant difference in their journey to recovery.
CM interventions for meth addiction typically offer incentives for continued abstinence. You may receive a voucher or other reward in exchange for drug-free urine samples. The voucher’s monetary value increases the longer you go without using meth. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs. When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.Regular drug use changes your brain chemistry, affecting how you experience pleasure. This can make it difficult to simply stop using the drug once you’ve started.