Amphetamine Addiction Detox – What to Expect

Being addicted to amphetamine is certainly no walk in the park. The short-term effects of the drug are profound enough to cause discomforting hallucinations and aggressive behaviour. Long-term amphetamine use can lead to significant physical problems as well as amphetamine-induced psychosis. In most long-term cases, amphetamine addiction detox is necessary in order to fully recover.

For the record, detox is just one step along the road to recovery. Psychotherapeutic counselling, group support, and life skills building are also part of getting well. The amphetamine addict who expects to overcome his or her addiction with detox alone is not likely to succeed without the psychological help.

As a referral service offering free and confidential advice, we can put you in touch with a private rehab clinic offering detox and rehab for amphetamine addiction. We believe private rehab to be the best choice due to its concentrated care and conducive healing environment.

Below, you will find the most relevant information you need to know about amphetamine addiction, detox, and recovery. If you or someone you know is abusing amphetamine, you should not delay treatment any longer. We can get you moving in the right direction with just one phone call to our 24-hour helpline.

Why Amphetamine Addiction Detox Is Necessary

Every psychoactive drug influences how the brain works in a number of ways. Amphetamine is not an exception. This drug, also known as ‘speed’ in some circles, affects the brain in two ways. First, it inhibits the brain’s ability to produce three natural chemicals that are responsible for regulating mood, among other things. Second, amphetamine interferes with the receptors that typically respond to those three chemicals.

The result of this interference manifests itself in the euphoric and high-energy feelings amphetamine produces. The downside is that the brain responds to amphetamine very quickly. Production of the three chemicals drops off to a point that the brain just does not produce enough. The only way to restore production is to detox from amphetamine.

Detoxing is a process of allowing the body to gradually cleanse itself from the drugs within. The most common way to detox from amphetamine in the UK is with the gradual approach. Gradual detox involves medical supervision that slowly reduces the frequency and dosage of amphetamine until the person is no longer using. This form of detox is the best way to get off the drug while alleviating some of the withdrawal symptoms at the same time.

Another detox option is cold turkey. With this method, the user simply stops taking amphetamine altogether. Withdrawal symptoms tend to be more pronounced, but the process is also completed more quickly.

What to Expect from Amphetamine Detox

Assuming you allow us to help you find and enrol in a treatment programme, you can expect to go through detox at the start of your programme. All of the clinics we work with offer medically supervised detox for your comfort and safety. As you go through the process, trained medical professionals will be on hand to monitor your progress, keep an eye on your overall health, and address any emergencies that might arise.

Withdrawal symptoms tend to begin within 24 hours of your last full dose of the drug. Most people peak on the second or third day before symptoms gradually subside. You can expect to experience all or some of the following:

• Extreme fatigue
• Excess hunger
• Dehydration
• Tremors and minor seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• Anxiety or depression
• Drug cravings
• Hallucinations (auditory, visual, and tactile)
• Extreme mood swings
• Irritability (may become aggression and hostility)
• Psychosis (paranoia or schizophrenia).

Serious physical complications such as cardiac arrest and stroke are rare with amphetamine withdrawal. However, the psychological withdrawal symptoms can cause a potentially dangerous situation as a result of hallucinations or psychosis. You may become violent as a result of amphetamine withdrawal – even if you have never exhibited violent behaviour before.

Be prepared to receive nutritional supplements during withdrawal as well. The need for supplementation is linked to the fact that amphetamine addicts tend to be malnourished. The additional nourishment not only helps the body get back on track, but it also helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms somewhat.

Bear in mind that most of the withdrawal symptoms are completely gone after two or three weeks. Drug cravings are the exception. Some recovering amphetamine users have reported experiencing cravings months or years after formal rehab has concluded. This is one of the reasons psychotherapeutic treatment is so important.

What to Expect after Detox

Assuming you choose a residential detox and rehab programme, your detox will be followed by 3 to 12 weeks of rehabilitative therapy. This can be the most challenging part of breaking free from amphetamine. The psychological effect of amphetamine is so strong that recovering addicts really have to work hard to overcome it. This is what psychotherapy is all about.

The idea behind psychotherapy is to help the recovering addict understand what is happening in his/her brain. The addict needs to know why he/she thinks the way he/she does. The individual needs to understand what triggers the desire for amphetamine, and how those triggers affect his/her perceptions of life and pleasure. Finally, the person needs to learn how to identify triggers and then avoid them.

A big part of this is the life skills building process. Life skills are those skills we need to live lives that are productive and in tune with social norms. Amphetamine addicts lose the skills over time as a direct result of how the drug affects their brains. But those skills can be relearned in therapy.

Kicking an amphetamine habit is not easy. But it is very possible, as evidenced by the large number of drug users who complete rehab on a regular basis. You can be among them if you are ready to bring an end to your drug use. The first step is calling our 24-hour helpline. When you call, we will get you connected to an appropriate detox and rehab programme in your local area.