There are a lot of misunderstandings in the general public about drug usage. Many people think they understand the effects of meth on your health, but some false notions can be damaging when it comes to actual treatment. People may not realize the severity of certain symptoms or may overreact to myths from popular culture. Therefore, if you or a loved one has been using meth over a long period of time, it’s critical that you get the right help.
Effects of Meth on Your Health: Some Misconceptions
One of the biggest misconceptions about meth involves who uses it. There is a certain stigma that meth is only used by lower-class people. This can make it very difficult for friends and family to correctly identify that a loved one is using meth if they don’t look like the “type” to use meth. The truth is that anyone can abuse meth, so don’t let your ideas of what demographics use which drugs prevent you from helping your loved one.
Another big one is that meth always causes incredible dental decay. Given how often people portray meth users as having poor dental hygiene, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that meth leads to bad teeth. However, this is sometimes more a matter of correlation than causation. People who use meth are also often people who don’t take care of their teeth and/or live in squalid conditions, but that doesn’t mean meth leads to bad teeth. You can see someone using meth and with a perfect set of white teeth far more than someone missing half their teeth.
What Are Some Effects of Meth on Your Health?
When it comes to accurately identifying the side effects of meth, the answers lie in the brain. Meth usage over a prolonged period has dramatic effects on the brain of the user, including the weakening of function, the development of disorders, and increased aggression. Just some of the effects include paranoia and hallucinations, lessened motor and critical thinking skills, worse memory and attention span, violent mood swings, growing dependency on meth, and dangerous weight loss.
Helping an Addicted Person
Trying to help someone who is struggling with meth can be particularly difficult. Since the drug has such dramatic effects on the body, there are many different symptoms that you need to be aware of and deal with. For example, given that meth can lead to a neglect of proper nutrition and dental care, it’s crucial that you help your loved one in those two areas. Ensure that they are getting food and that they don’t forget about their personal health.
However, you also may need to maintain distance. Individuals high on meth can be dangerous and irrational, so that’s not the best time to take a cool and logical approach with them. Trying to intervene directly could lead to even more problems if you aren’t properly equipped for the job. This is one of the main reasons that you should consult a facility with a drug treatment program.
How Can a Treatment Facility Help?
At a qualified facility, you can find a number of different services that can be of particular value to someone suffering from the effects of meth on their health. Many treatment facilities offer cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, dual diagnosis treatment programs, relapse prevention, trauma therapy, medication-assisted treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.
At Sunflower Wellness Retreat, you can find these and more. Our highly trained staff is ready and able to provide you with the treatment you need to beat meth abuse from immediate recovery to building better habits in the long run. Remember that beating addiction can be a team game, and you don’t have to go it alone. Give us a call at 855.730.8825 today to get started on your healing in the Kansas City area.
