Methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth, is a popular stimulant drug amongst teens. According to the CDC, 15% of high school students report that they have used drugs such as methamphetamine. While this percentage may appear low, it is essential to remember the impact that methamphetamine can have on a young person’s development. A southern California inpatient treatment center specializing in supporting teens with meth substance use disorders will assist the young adult in your life receive the care and attention they need.
There are many ways to healthily support teens if they are actively using meth. While outpatient programs will allow teens to remain in their communities, residential meth treatment benefits teens and their families in a variety of ways so that they can recover their minds and bodies, remain sober, and enter adulthood successfully.
Signs Your Teen Needs Inpatient Meth Care
Like many other abused substances, meth is a powerful stimulant that is easily addictive. When teens begin using, it is not hard to ignore the warning signs, which include:
- Decreased brain functioning – Prolonged meth use can cause brain damage. Teens who use meth often exhibit a lack of concentration and memory loss.
- Mood swings – Teens using meth will show signs of aggression as well as depression when they are withdrawing.
- Meth mouth – Dry mouth, tooth decay, and burned lips are common indications of meth abuse.
- Tweaking – A teen using meth might binge for days. During this time, they will not sleep or eat. When they run out of drugs or their tolerance becomes too high, they experience rapid eye movement, jerky body movements, and aggressive behavior.
- Weight loss – Meth users often experience a lack of appetite. In addition, since meth is a stimulant, using it will speed up a person’s central nervous system, making them lose weight.
These signs indicate that there is a need for inpatient meth care. Without residential treatment, teens will remain dependent on meth, causing them to develop a deep addiction that will stretch into adulthood and will affect their ability to function and be successful in life.
5 Benefits of Residential Meth Treatment
The effects of meth use, especially amongst teens, are startling. Active drug use has shown to impact teens’ lives in many ways, such as:
- Isolation from family and friends
- Lack of interest in school and extracurricular activities
- Experience legal problems
- Participate in high-risk sexual behaviors
As a result, the impact of use consistently shows that treatment is needed. Residential meth treatment benefits teens in many ways. Below are five of the most significant ways inpatient treatment will help teens.
1. A Safe, Nurturing Environment
When teens and their families decide to participate in residential treatment, they understand that they will be placed in a structured environment that will allow them to heal their minds and bodies.
2. Medication-Assisted Treatment
Deciding to stop using meth is more straightforward than remaining committed to the process. The withdrawal symptoms associated with going “cold turkey” are painful and often leave adolescents vulnerable to using meth. One of the benefits of residential meth treatment is that teens will receive support from physicians and nurses who will help them detox the toxins from their bodies.
3. Participation in Therapy
In addition to medical staff, teens will also have access to therapists who will help them understand why they began using meth. Through one-on-one sessions, group therapy, activity-based, and family therapy, teens will learn their emotional triggers and positive coping mechanisms when facing challenges.
4. Peer Support
When teens experience a substance use disorder, they often feel isolated and alone. However, residential meth treatment benefits everyone participating. In a residential treatment program, they will realize that other people in this world share similar challenges and need support. Instead of experiencing peer pressure in their daily community, teens will look to their new friends for support in creating a new outlook on life.
5. No Interruptions to Education
Often teens using meth have fallen behind in schoolwork and feel like they can never achieve academic success. However, as part of their structured day, teens will receive academic support to catch up on their schoolwork.
Receive Methamphetamine Treatment with Destinations for Teens
Becoming addicted to meth does not take long, but finding a way to rid a teen’s body of the substance is a challenge. To achieve a life without using meth will require commitment and support. For many teens, that will begin in an inpatient meth care treatment program.
Teens will receive medical assistance, therapy, and peer support in a residential treatment program. Once their treatment is complete, they will have access to outpatient therapy, which will continue holding teens accountable for remaining drug-free.
Residential meth treatment benefits teens as it helps them become ready for adulthood without the challenges associated with addiction. If you are ready to help the young adult in your life achieve sobriety and a new outlook on life, reach out to Destinations for Teens. Our team of specialists is available at 877.466.0620 and ready to help your family.