Question about getting sober from meth.?

Question

Does anyone know anything about meth? I have a friend who is going on his sixth day with out it, but he feels like crap. Does anyone know how long it takes for the drug to leave your system? Is there anything that can be done to make him feel a little better? He says he feels dizzy and like his skin is crawling. I assume your body has to re-train itself to function without the drug in its system but how long does it take? Is it possible to get sober by yourself or will he need to go into in or out patient treatment. Any info will be helpful.

Answer 1

The drug itself has already left his system... it's the lack of dopamine that's hardest to deal with when recovering from meth addiction.

Dopamine is the "feel-good" chemical that is released in the brain when we feel happy. Using meth releases HUGE amounts of the dopamine all at once... which is very destructive. In turn, the brain cannot produce enough dopamine to compensate for what was lost... creating moodiness, unhappiness, and depression.

It can take up to 18 months for a recovering meth user's dopamine levels to return to roughly 85% of what they were before the meth was introduced; levels might never return to 100% of what they were prior to the addiction.

The first 72 hours are most difficult. As bad as he's feeling right now, he needs rest assured that it WILL get better. The longer he stays clean, the better he will feel!

If given the truth, a Dr. may be able to prescribe an anti-depressant that will help... I've heard that Wellbutrin is good, but think it's really different for everyone. I do know that exercise and a healthy diet will help, Ltyrosine can help with the cravings... and B vitamins are good, too.

Whether he will be able to stay clean on his own or not is up to him... everyone's different. Some can quit cold turkey & never relapse, while some can go to rehab & start using again as soon as they are released.

NA meetings are free & would be a great place to start.
Also, the message board on this website is a wonderful place to find support:

www.kci.org

People CAN and DO recover from this!
Best of luck!

Answer 2

Being an ex Meth head. With draws usually consist of a week of Sleeping, eating, and Sleeping some more. there will be cravings but they are usually passed by the tiredness. After a week the worst is over. two at the most. If this guy is really wanting to sober up then the worst will be over in a couple of days if he is on his sixth day. Now if he goes on for about a month with the same symtoms and no obvious weight gain, then you might need to get him into a clinic, because that is a sighn he is still using. Another hard withdraw symptom is depression. Depression and the feeling that nothing seems to be going right in life. Sad songs will Greatly increase this feeling.

Answer 3

I have been sober 14 years using AA. I never tried meth; never even heard about it until after I was sober. I did sponsor women in AA though, who were meth users as well as drinkers. They were all in a live-in treatment center that lasts 9 months. It is a work-program; there is no "charge" to stay there but they find you a job and the money you make goes to the facility. You may be able to find something similar in your area. They teach you how to live your life without drugs in the long term. 30 days of treatment isn't long enough for a serious long-term addict. I think the key to staying sober is committing to it one day at a time or one second at a time if necessary. I personally have the mindset that alcohol and drugs are no longer an option for me (I used to smoke pot too and tried lots of other stuff). Using a mind-altering chemical only made things worse, never better. Support is also very important and helpful. AA and NA are free and you won't believe how understanding and helpful people are. You said you've been "through" so many programs, but did you try being "in" them? Like actually reading the literature, actually taking the steps and attending meetings, doing service work etc.? There is no magic answer. Maybe AA or NA isn't for you. But if you don't want to die, you will find SOMETHING that works for you. There is a new meth hotline in Oklahoma--you just have to dial 211. Maybe there's something like that in your area. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 4

Withdrawal - No acute, immediate symptoms of physical distress are evident with methamphetamine withdrawal, a stage that the abuser may slowly enter. Often 30-90 days must pass after the last drug use before the abuser realizes that he is in withdrawal. First, without really noticing, the individual becomes depressed and loses the ability to experience pleasure. The individual becomes lethargic; he has no energy. Then the craving for more methamphetamine hits, and the abuser often becomes suicidal. If the abuser, however, takes more methamphetamine at any point during the withdrawal, the unpleasant feelings will end. Consequently, the success rate for traditional methamphetamine rehabilitation is very low. Ninety-three percent of those in traditional treatment return to abuse methamphetamine.

Answer 5

Good for him - he definitely is doing something really hard. As his friend, stay at his back and support him.

He is going to have to get through this and there isn't really a way to go around it.

I believe he is almost done and you can read what other people say on the Internet.

Lots of sleep is good, lots of liquid, some vitamins will help him rebuild his system which he knocked out by being on the drugs.

Answer 6

Meth is a very dirty drug and highley addictive I Smoked a lot of marijuana to come it off myself. Some patients need supervised detox, other alternative is to go to the doctor and get on the benzo plan where they give you benzodiazepines like valium, nitrazepam to help with anxiety and sickness from coming off, but if he do that he better be serious about doing it cause they'll give him drugs to help him but also blood test him and if he tests positive to amphetamine he'll be kicked off the program and will be back on gear(meth) in no time. Is friend but don't let him use you. Clinic and drug counselling needed, he'll have psychotic episodes no doubt with or without it. Its the worst drug there is. He will die if he doesn't stop now. If he starts doin crime ditch him straight out, they steal off their own friends and family, Your more important when it comes to the crunch o.k. look out for yourself too please.

Answer 7

Your friend has to outlast the drug and not give into his body's craving. I think the only one who can truly help and support him would be a drug support group or clinic, because they know your friend's feelings and what they are dealing with. More often then not the counselors are recovered addicts themselves so they know what it feels like and what to expect. The least your friend could to would to go to a support group so he/she has people around him/her who understand and then your friend can learn how to get better and live a clean lifestyle. They will know how to adjust from being an addict to being sober, from people who have been there and are proof that one can get through it and live a sober life after being an addict.

Answer 8

Friend really really really needs help if they want to succeed.
If they cannot get into rehab they're are free alternatives. Look in phone book for narcotics anon. Go to meeting- work the steps. It works if they really want to change. I personally turn to God to help me through and the motivation to not return to that sad way of living, too. There is hope! Tell friend to look to a Higher Power ( God works good). I believe we are no good with out Him. Blessings from Texas- I will be praying for the both of you.

Answer 9

Good for your friend and good for you for sticking by him! Definitely seek substance abuse treatment programs and just keep telling him what a good job he's doing. Remind him that if he relapses, he'll just have to go through withdrawal all over again so he needs to stay strong. Don't take it week by week take it day by day and hour by hour. Your friend is doing AWESOME, keep doing what your doing and stay positive. I will pray for him! God bless the both of you!

Answer 10

Good for your friend. Poor Anna never got out of the haze she was in. :(

Look in the yellow pages for substance abuse and drug related groups. They can tell you, from experience, what is the best way to do this.

Pray for your friend's strength.