Amphetamine Addiction & Treatment
Amphetamine abuse can quickly become a far-reaching problem due to the addictive properties of the drug. Once addiction takes hold, substance use disorder treatment is often required to overcome the underlying causes of addiction.
What is Amphetamine?
Amphetamine is a stimulant that can be both legal and illegal – it has medical uses but is also abused for the euphoric effects that it produces. Medical uses include the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, and narcolepsy. Prescribed brand names for amphetamine include Evekeo, Dyanavel XR, and Adzenys ZR-ODT.
Without a prescription, the drug is commonly abused to produce euphoria, extremely clear thinking, self-confidence, increased energy, and to make it easier to talk to others and be sociable. Some of the common street names for the drug include uppers, whiz, goey, louee, speed, and more. The drug can be taken orally as a pill, smoked, injected intravenously, or snorted.
Amphetamine Effects
As a treatment for mental health disorders, amphetamine can help to stabilize brain function but when it is misused or abused, the drug can produce intense joy or euphoria which includes a rush that is often similar to feeling drunk. It also makes people feel like they are more in control and more sociable, allowing them to more easily socialize with others. People also report a very clear level of thinking.
Signs of Amphetamine Abuse and Addiction
When the drug is abused, there are several signs that misuse is taking place. Some of the physical signs include the negative effects of abuse such as:
- Skin sores
- Weight loss
- Flushed skin
- Tremors
- Sleep problems
- Tooth decay
- Track marks if the drug is injected
- Intense cravings
- Memory loss
Signs of drug addiction may be present but to properly diagnose an addiction, a professional diagnosis is needed.
Amphetamine Withdrawal Symptoms
Since amphetamine is a physically addictive drug, an addiction can form relatively quickly when continued use of the drug persists. The body becomes reliant on the drug just to function because a new balance is created where the body becomes used to the drug. When drug abuse suddenly stops, then amphetamine withdrawal symptoms occur that can last between 5 and 10 days.
Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense cravings
- Persistent fatigue
- Inability to concentrate
- Mood swings, depression, and anxiety
- Headaches
- Aches and pains
- Increased appetite
- Sleep problems
- Agitation
Long-Term Side Effects of Amphetamine Abuse
Long-term abuse of the drug can lead to addiction and the longer abuse continues, the greater the chance of a drug overdose which can be life-threatening. Many psychological and physical long-term side effects of amphetamine abuse are common including:
- Violent behavior
- Psychosis which includes paranoia and hallucinations
- Dental problems (meth mouth)
- Increased stroke and heart disease risk
- Impeded immune system leads to frequent illnesses such as the flu
- Kidney problems
- Increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) due to sharing of needles and risky behavior such as unprotected sex
- Financial problems
- Problems at work
- Legal problems
- Malnutrition and extreme weight loss
- Panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation
- Convulsions
- Respiratory issues
- Obsessive behaviors
While the long-term effects of addiction can be severe, there is always a path to recovery available which is paved by evidence-based therapies and holistic treatments at an addiction treatment center such as Novo Detox.
Amphetamine Addiction Treatment
The intensely addictive properties and underlying causes can make stopping amphetamine abuse difficult alone. However, effective treatments for drug addiction are available at our accredited addiction treatment center. Our alcohol and drug rehab has been helping people to heal from the causes of addiction and find a long-term solution to their substance use disorder.
Novo Detox is a clinically-driven drug addiction treatment center that provides comprehensive evidence-based behavioral therapy and a holistic approach to treatment. Our success rates come from our drive to help our clients to overcome drug addiction in the long term by providing robust long-term treatment plans that can help you through a lifetime of recovery.
Get in touch with Novo Detox today to find out more about our substance abuse and addiction treatment programs. Our full-service inpatient and outpatient treatment programs can help you to overcome substance abuse and addiction.
