Methamphetamine Addiction

Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, or injected. The drug alters moods in different ways, depending on how it is taken. Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it, the user experiences an intense rush or ‘flash’ that lasts only a few minutes. Snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria -- a high but not an intense rush. As with similar stimulants, methamphetamine most often is used in a ‘binge and crash’ pattern. Because tolerance for methamphetamine occurs within minutes -- meaning that the pleasurable effects disappear even before the drug concentration in the blood falls significantly -- users try to maintain the high by binging on the drug.

This is a broad general view of addiction as different substances create different symptoms and effects on the individual and often addiction is to more than one substance. Addiction generally is a condition characterized by repeated, compulsive seeking and use of drugs or alcohol despite adverse social, mental, and physical consequences. It is usually accompanied by physiological and physical dependence with the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when the drug or alcohol is rapidly decreased or terminated. When addiction exists, the drug use controls the individual rather than the individual controlling the usage.

Substance abuse treatment on any type begins to be more and more effective as the addict or alcoholic becomes more and more willing to be helped and to help themselves. Most interventions prior to treatment have this goal in mind, to get at least some willingness on the part of the addict. This willingness is often tenuous and fleeting at the start of substance abuse treatment. Part of effective withdrawal would be the actions taken to extrovert the addict from current pains and discomforts that can and do play havoc with any willingness. At Narconon Arrowhead our substance abuse treatment continually involves fortifying the existing willingness of the participant as well as actions designed to increase willingness all along the way. The being himself always is seeking to do better and beat the addiction despite any appearances, statements, or actions to the contrary. The more the addict wins at the battles of addiction the more willing he becomes and the more energy he will expend on his own survival. Substance abuse treatment is about much more than simply ceasing drug or alcohol use.

There are three key components to any alcohol and drug abuse treatment. These are a full address of and handling for cravings, guilt, and depression. Without a full resolution of these three factors one cannot expect real and lasting results from any alcohol and drug abuse treatment. These are the three points that have lead up to the addiction or alcoholism and are the three main points that create the continuation of the addiction or alcoholism. When it comes to addiction or alcoholism there are only three choices – jail, death, or sobriety, there really are no other options. Lasting sobriety can be obtained through a full handling of cravings, guilt, and depression.

The dangers and harm done by marijuana use has been under debate for decades and show no signs of lessening. Whether marijuana addiction exists or not is even more hotly debated. Addiction is a condition characterized by repeated compulsive seeking and use of drugs, alcohol or other substances despite adverse social, mental and physical consequences. When addiction exists, the drug controls the individual rather than the individual controlling the usage. Statistics do show increasing numbers of people entering addiction treatment reporting marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. Add to this the much stronger strains of marijuana available and the tendency to mix the drug with other substances such or crack and PCP and the potential for addiction becomes more pronounced. Rather than endlessly debate the issue, one should simply look at the marijuana use of self or a loved one against the above definition.