Amphetamine Detox Methods

How is Medication Helpful in Amphetamine Detox?

Detox centers often use two types of treatments for those going through withdrawal from amphetamine: medication and therapy. These two treatments are used for many types of withdrawal and work to set up a solid foundation for treatment and eventual recovery. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that “pharmacological intervention may be necessary during stimulant-induced drug states.” Here are some of the types of medications used for amphetamine detox patients:

Talk with your doctor about the best method for your amphetamine detoxification.

Neuroleptics

Neuroleptics may be necessary if the person is exhibiting “stimulant-induced psychosis or delirium,” which can be caused by a very strong addiction to amphetamine or methamphetamine. They can be used to ease these symptoms caused by stimulants.

Anticraving agents

Anticraving agents “with a fast onset of action” are sometimes necessary for amphetamine withdrawal. Patients often feel strong cravings in the beginning of the withdrawal process. Chronic amphetamine use can lead to erratic behavior, violence and psychosis that is similar to schizophrenia.

Antidepressants

These may be necessary if the patient displays strong symptoms of depression in the later stages of amphetamine withdrawal.

These medications should all be administered by medical professionals, and patients should know their risks as well as their benefits. Medication can be an important part of the detox process as it often helps patients experience a smoother withdrawal period and allows them to focus on their addictions. However, neither medication nor detox itself is a cure for amphetamine addiction.

How is Therapy Helpful in Amphetamine Detox?

Detox is the beginning of a long road to recovery, but it is not the end. A person who completes a successful detox program must make sure to also treat the addiction he or she is fighting with. That is where therapy comes in. Medication can ease withdrawal and cravings, but therapy gets to the root of the addiction. Those who discuss their addictions with a therapist or counselor will find themselves better equipped to handle the difficulties of the cravings they will encounter, as well as all of the situations where they must be careful not to relapse or choose drugs again. A person needs to make many life changes after detox in order to stay sober and continue treatment for the addiction itself, and therapy lays that foundation.

Amphetamine withdrawal often causes depression, but the symptoms could be indicative of a disorder the person already has. A therapist or counselor should discuss these possibilities with the patient, and it sometimes helps to get to the reason why the person may have felt compelled to do drugs in the first place. Therapy during detox also starts the patient on the right track toward additional treatment for abuse. SAMHSA states that “fostering the patient’s entry into treatment involves… stressing the importance of following through with a complete continuum of care.” This is why therapy is so important, even in the detox stage of amphetamine addiction.

Detoxing from amphetamine is the safest, easiest way to transition from active addiction into treatment. Many individuals need to detox in a clinic as well because the symptoms of amphetamine detox can be difficult and, at the worst, severe. At an amphetamine detox clinic, whether it is inpatient or outpatient-based, you will be cared for during one of the most difficult stages of your eventual recovery.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Treatment of Acute Intoxication and Withdrawal from Drugs of Abuse.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment- 1 Overview, Essential Concepts, and Definitions in Detoxification.