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There was a time when many felt meth use and addiction were so powerful nothing could be done to help the individual or family cope with this most powerful addiction. That is no longer the case. We know the treatment protocols for methamphetamine use and addiction are similar for those of other drugs of addiction; it just requires a longer treatment regime. As with most drugs of addiction, the longer an individual is in treatment, the greater their chance of success. This is particularly true for methamphetamine. Further, treatment for methamphetamine is far more successful if there is strong family and community support.
Understanding Meth and Preparing for Treatment Solutions
Meth is highly addictive. For some people who use meth to stay awake or lose weight, the process of addiction may take place slowly over many weeks, months or even years. For others, the transition from abuse to addiction is a shorter, faster path.
Like other drugs and alcohol, every person's addiction is the product of the interaction of the drug with that individual's unique history, personality, and the subculture they live in. To complicate this picture, many people who become addicted to meth also abuse and may be addicted to other drugs and/or alcohol.
Treatment professionals already know that Meth addicts can and do recover. They can and do go on to lead productive lives and to be responsible, caring parents and family members.
Most treatment experts believe that the best treatment for meth addiction is the same treatment used for other drug and alcohol addictions, only more of it. For instance, meth addicts may need four or five outpatient treatment sessions per week rather than just one or two times a week, and they may need to stay in treatment for several extra months. While it takes an average of 12 months to graduate from treatment for other drugs and alcohol, it takes an average of 18 months for recovering meth addicts to do so.
Incentives for Treatment
When a meth addict comes to treatment programs, they are usually without anything. They have lost their jobs, their homes and their ability to provide for their children. Their whole life has become focused on finding and using the drug.
Keeping meth addicts motivated to stay in treatment is difficult, so severe sanctions are sometimes effective. When the consequences of dropping out of treatment is a jail or prison term, or the permanent loss of custody of children, treatment providers find people are more likely to succeed. The Family Services Treatment Program of Washington state and other states have found that when the court supervises recovering addicts they are able to use a system of penalties and rewards to give them compelling incentives to succeed. Potential sanctions include loss of child custody and the threat of jail or prison time. In addition, participants must attend treatment sessions and undergo urine drug tests to determine if they are clean.
Drug Courts
The Drug Court Model has proven successful. The following Websites are good resources for treatment research information related to methamphetamine:
Treatment Model Policies for Washington State
The following information concerning methamphetamine treatment policies was taken from the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse Report: Methamphetamine Abuse in Washington State.
Most of the treatment models targeting meth addicts combine elements from several treatment models (such as the Minnesota Model and Reality Therapy) that use strategies such as family therapy, group therapy, and 12-step abstinence-based programs with reality therapy techniques.
Reality therapy elements help the patient reconnect with other people and their living environment in order to meet the basic human needs for survival, love, belonging, power, freedom, and fun.
The most recognized model for treating meth addiction is the MATRIX Center model. This model incorporates elements of behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, positive reinforcement, drug education, 12-Step relapse prevention, and family cooperation and focuses on a longer course of treatment.
MATRIX participants indicate significant reductions in drug and alcohol use, improvements in psychological indicators, and reduced risky sexual behaviors associated with HIV transmission.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, psychosocial treatment approaches that incorporate well established psychological principles of learning are appropriate for and effective in treating meth addiction and preventing relapses.
Relapse prevention teaches clients critical skills to prevent resumption of use and minimize impacts of reuse, how to cope with cravings, how to use substance refusal assertiveness skills and general coping and problem solving skills, and how to apply strategies to prevent a full-blown relapse should an episode of substance use re-occur.
Treating Methamphetamine Addicts with Children
Children found in the homes of meth addicts may be neglected and are often found living in filthy, unsanitary conditions.
It is routine now for law enforcement to call in Child Protective Services (CPS) to intervene on behalf of these children and children are usually removed from the home until meth-addicted parents have stabilized and are no longer using drugs.
Below are recommended steps for family recovery:
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Remove the child
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Mandate the parent to undergo treatment
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Monitor the addict randomly during treatment using urine analysis to document that sobriety is being maintained
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After a period of sobriety has been established, continue monitoring and treatment as the family is reunited.
Child Protective Services’ (CPS) experience in working with meth addicts is that this process works best when inpatient services are provided for three to six months, and parents have demonstrated the ability to remain drug-free before family reunification takes place.
Life After Meth - experiences from
people who are in recovery
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