Like many addictive substances, amphetamines were first introduced to the public to treat a variety of medical conditions. These stimulant drugs excite the central nervous system, producing feelings of euphoria, wakefulness, focus, and heightened confidence. While amphetamines are often prescribed for certain sleep and attention deficit disorders, they are also abused for a variety of reasons.  

Stimulant misuse and addiction are ever-growing issues throughout the United States, and recovery requires medically supervised amphetamine detox and treatment. At Sunlight Recovery, we provide a full continuum of care for amphetamine addiction in a safe, healthy, and highly supportive environment. 

You can learn more about the amphetamine treatment options we offer below.  

How Is Amphetamine Addiction Treated?

If you or a loved one is living with amphetamine addiction, several types of treatment are available. Because frequent amphetamine misuse can cause dependence, treatment typically involves a multistep process designed to gradually and effectively guide patients toward long-term sobriety. 

For most people, rehabilitation begins with amphetamine detox. Detoxification may be followed by residential and/or outpatient treatment, depending on an individual’s needs.  

Amphetamine Detox

When you arrive at Sunlight Recovery for treatment, detoxifying your system of stimulants is crucial. Removing amphetamines from your body and clearing your mind of their effects will allow you to move forward with comprehensive stimulant addiction treatment.

When you begin supervised amphetamine detox, be prepared to experience a range of withdrawal symptoms. As your system eliminates stimulants, physical and mental side effects will occur as your body and brain begin to function without these substances. 

The severity and length of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on the seriousness of your amphetamine dependence.

Withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Fatigue and/or excessive sleeping
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Restlessness
  • Headaches
  • Tremors
  • Slowed reaction time and movement
  • Body aches or muscle tension
  • Dehydration
  • Increased appetite
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability or agitation
  • Paranoia
  • Unpleasant or suicidal thoughts
  • Anxiety

Acute withdrawal symptoms can feel scary and overwhelming, which is why it is crucial that a medical team delivers amphetamine withdrawal treatment. Attempting to detox without professional supervision is dangerous, can increase your risk of relapse, and may even produce life-threatening side effects.   

Residential Treatment for Amphetamine Addiction

While acute withdrawal symptoms typically last a few days, long-term side effects can persist for several weeks, so residential treatment is often the best option. This is especially true if you have been dependent on amphetamines for a long time or have a co-occurring disorder. For people living with methamphetamine dependence, residential rehab is always the best treatment for meth addiction. 

When you enroll in residential stimulant treatment, you will live on-site at the rehab facility for the duration of your program. You will receive daily care, therapy, and medical observation. You will also learn healthy coping strategies, self-sufficiency, and other skills you will need to live a sober life. 

At Sunlight, our residential treatment program also places an emphasis on holistic, mind-body healing, and you will have opportunities to engage in a variety of wellness therapies. 

Inpatient treatment programs are designed to provide high-level care for several weeks or months, depending on your needs. Your care providers will evaluate you extensively throughout the program to determine the appropriate length of time for your stay. 

Outpatient Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

If residential treatment is not needed or not an option, a less intensive form of care, known as, “outpatient treatment”, may be recommended. For people working through severe amphetamine addiction, outpatient programs may also function as a step-down treatment after inpatient rehab.  

While enrolled in an outpatient treatment program, you can live at home and go to work while engaging in therapy at the treatment center multiple times per week. Your treatment schedule can be structured so it doesn’t negatively impact other areas of your life.   

At Sunlight Recovery, we offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which lasts a minimum of 90 days. However, many patients can benefit from a longer treatment duration, which can be arranged based on need. 

While in outpatient treatment, you may participate in several types of rehabilitative therapy, including:

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a core component of our outpatient treatment model because it fosters a supportive environment in which participants can share their lived experiences. Research has demonstrated group therapy’s efficacy in amphetamine addiction treatment. 

Group sessions are led by licensed drug and alcohol therapists. Individual progress evaluations are a critical component as they allow the therapist to make ongoing recommendations. While in group therapy, you and your peers will learn how to:

  • Work through the substance abuse recovery process
  • Work through substance cravings
  • Build healthy coping mechanisms
  • Manage stress, anxiety, and difficult emotions in a healthy way
  • Build and maintain healthy social relationships
  • Deal with past traumas in a constructive way
  • Avoid codependency
  • Manage medications in a healthful way
  • Maintain a healthy family dynamic

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy, where you meet with a therapist one-on-one, is also a highly effective treatment for amphetamine addiction. It typically involves weekly meetings with a licensed counselor that last approximately one hour. Most people stay in individual therapy for a minimum of 16 weeks. 

During therapy sessions, you and your counselor will discuss a variety of topics that may be related to your substance abuse issues. These topics may include sensitive subjects and past traumas. While sharing sensitive information can be difficult, it is often a crucial step in overcoming addiction and working toward long-term recovery. 

As part of these sessions, your therapist will introduce you to coping techniques that can help you stay strong in your recovery.    

Why Amphetamine Addiction Needs Treatment

Frequent and prolonged use of amphetamine drugs can produce changes in the body and brain that may prompt serious physical and behavioral issues.

Amphetamine addiction may cause:

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusional behavior
  • Violent behavior
  • Anger during confrontations
  • Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
  • Concealment of drug use
  • Paranoia or anxiety
  • Severe dental and skin problems
  • Stroke
  • Seizure
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Death

The more you use amphetamines, the greater your risk of developing a tolerance to them. As this tolerance builds, you must use increasing amounts of these drugs to achieve the same level of wakefulness and euphoria. The more you use, the greater your risk of experiencing an unintentional, fatal overdose. 

How Long Is Amphetamine Addiction Treatment?

The length of any substance abuse treatment program depends on the needs, addiction severity and life circumstances of the individual. When you enroll in treatment for meth addiction or other amphetamine drugs, you should expect your program to last a minimum of 28-90 days. 

Often, the longer the treatment duration, the better the long-term outcome. People who live with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders typically benefit from a longer course of treatment. Continuing care, which takes place after the completion of intensive treatment, can also last several months or even years, depending on individual needs. 

Therapies Used in Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

A variety of therapies are used to treat amphetamine addiction. Psychotherapy, which may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), is commonly employed. 

Motivational interviewing, family therapy, or counseling, 12-step programs, addiction education, and peer support groups are other forms of therapy used to address stimulant addiction.

Medical Treatment for Amphetamine Addiction

When amphetamine withdrawal side effects become severe, medications may be required to ease symptoms and help patients focus on detoxing and moving forward with rehab.

Medical amphetamine treatment may include:

  • Stimulant agonist medications – These drugs effectively block the effects of amphetamines and other stimulant drugs. 
  • Antidepressant medications – When withdrawal-related depression becomes debilitating, antidepressants can help alleviate symptoms.
  • Anxiety medications – Severe anxiety is a common symptom of amphetamine withdrawal. Anti-anxiety medications can help ease these feelings.
  • Insomnia medications – As the mind and body learn to live without amphetamines, sleeplessness may become a problem. Over-the-counter sleep aids may help, but in serious cases, prescription medications may be necessary.  

Holistic Treatment for Amphetamine Addiction

Holistic, mind-body therapies are effective for improving the overall well-being for those with addiction. These therapies are designed to help the whole person heal rather than targeting a specific symptom or aspect of behavior. 

At Sunlight Recovery, meditation, yoga, mindfulness practices, acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care are just a few of the holistic treatment options we offer for amphetamine addiction. 

Lifelong Recovery From Amphetamine Addiction

Intensive addiction treatment is a key aspect of substance abuse recovery. However, when inpatient or outpatient treatment concludes, the journey is far from over. Many people who have completed rehab find that engaging in an aftercare program provides them with the support and tools necessary to stay strong in their recovery and maximize the likelihood of achieving long-term sobriety. 

If you or someone you love is struggling with amphetamine addiction, getting treatment is the first step toward lifelong recovery.

At Sunlight Recovery, we offer a variety of evidence-based amphetamine treatment options and provide highly individualized care.