Methamphetamine, usually called meth, is an extremely addictive synthetic drug with long-lasting effects that are highly toxic to the nervous system. In many cases, the damage done to the body by meth can be irreversible. The meth recovery process can be long and arduous for those who have fallen prey to its insidious effects. In the United States, meth has taken the place of cocaine as the most popular drug and it’s easy to see why, as it’s much easier and cheaper to obtain than cocaine.

Meth doesn’t need to be smuggled into the country by drug runners, but is instead easy to make in a variety of venues, from homes to outdoor shops. Meth can be taken in several ways, including eating it, snorting, injecting or smoking. Even though the meth recovery process can be long and difficult, it’s still far preferable to the results of meth use, which can include violent behavior, mood swings, severe dental problems, depression, anxiety, contagious disease like HIV from sharing needles, and eventually death.

What is The Meth Recovery Process After Relapse?

Meth has one of the highest relapse rates of all illegal drugs and thus the meth recovery process for many people can include the threat of relapse at any time. There’s no fixed timeline for the meth recovery process, as it varies depending on your use, age, sex and various other factors. In general though, there are usually five stages to meth recovery, which can begin all over again if you experience a relapse. The first stage is always withdrawal and that can last as much as four weeks or longer, though it’s usually more like one or two weeks.

After withdrawal, there’s often a honeymoon stage where you feel confident about recovery and may even begin to minimize your previous problem, as though it wasn’t all that bad. The third stage is known as the wall and it comes with negative emotions like depression and boredom. This is the stage where many people end up experiencing a relapse, as life feels like it holds no meaning outside of meth. Once you get past the wall stage, then the stages of adjusting to a sober life and ongoing recovery await.

Where to Begin The Meth Recovery Process

The meth recovery process is long and difficult and very few people are able to do it on their own. This is where professional rehab comes in to help get you past the wall and show you how to experience life again without meth and its crippling addiction.

At Steps to Recovery in Levittown, PA, we treat meth and other drug addictions through a range of treatment programs, including residential, PHP, intensive outpatient and general outpatient. Patients struggling with addiction are also frequently experiencing co-occurring disorders, or mental health issues that have triggered or exacerbated addiction.

When patients have co-occurring disorders, it can sometimes be very difficult for them to get the help they need as their mental health issues will often overlap with addiction symptoms. So if you have experienced relapses or have attended treatment in the past and then experienced relapse, Steps to Recovery can be your final stop in getting the appropriate dual diagnosis and the help you need for a lasting recovery.

Don’t wait for the insidious effects of meth addiction to permanently damage your life and health. Call Steps to Recovery today at 267.719.8528 and let us help you get the treatment you need to start living a sober lifestyle.