Stimulants Addiction Treatment & Rehab Explained
What Is Stimulant Addiction Treatment?
Stimulant addiction treatment is a way of helping people who are addicted to stimulants. This type of drug has a broad classification but all stimulants generally raise alertness and increase energy levels in an individual. That’s why stimulants are also called uppers or performance-enhancing drugs. These appealing effects can make them very addictive. Treatment relieves an addiction to stimulants and helps you to break the cycle of dependency.
The importance of treatment
Treatment helps a person to become independent from stimulant drugs. Therefore, through treatment, an addict can avoid both the short-term long-term effects of stimulants. Negative short-term side effects include agitation, muscle tremors, and high blood pressure. Long-term stimulant abuse can lead to psychological problems like hallucinations, depression, and paranoia. Physical side effects can also include breathing problems, reduced sexual functioning, strokes, and seizures.
It is important to recognise the negative side effects of stimulants, which highlight the importance of treatment. It also helps with the mental dependency upon stimulants, which can affect your everyday life and relationships. Treatment is important in allowing an addict to live a healthier and happier life without the need for stimulants.
What is involved in stimulant addiction treatment?
Treatment for stimulant addiction will begin with an assessment to monitor the needs of the individual. A plan will be adapted depending on the type of stimulant abuse, and the severity and length of dependency. Detoxification is the next step, which cleanses your body of harmful toxins and may be medicated. A balance of therapy then helps with understanding the mental roots of addiction.Aftercare will follow to aid recovery and avoid relapse.
Medications Used during Treatment and Rehab
The withdrawal symptoms during detoxification can sometimes be very dangerous. Therefore, medication can help ensure that stimulants are safely removed from the body during treatment. Prescribed stimulants usually require a lengthier than average detox as their effects last longer and build up over time. Prozac and naltrexone are also sometimes used to reduce cravings and help recovery during treatment.
Different types of stimulants and their treatments
Some stimulants are prescription drugs and prescribed for legitimate medical purposes. Adderall is a type of amphetamine used for the treatment of ADHD, which is commonly abused. Because it can heighten focus and concentration, Adderall is becoming increasingly popular with students and workers wanting to stay awake longer and boost their performance. For that reason, they are sometimes called smart drugs (Marsh, 2017).
Ritalin is a methylphenidate and another example of a legal stimulant that can be abused. When used as intended, it is a relatively safe drug, and often prescribed for sufferers of ADHD or narcolepsy. But people often abuse it in order to improve alertness, lose weight or get high by using it in non-prescribed ways. For example, snorting Ritalin can produce a similar feeling of euphoria to cocaine.
Stimulant Addiction Treatment: The Detoxification Process
The detoxification process is when you quit using the stimulant. This creates numerous effects on the body called withdrawal symptoms, which might include intense cravings, depression, and headaches. Detox is monitored to ensure toxins leave the body as safely as possible. The use of medication during detoxification for stimulant abuse is limited. But doctors might prescribe drugs like antidepressants to help ease withdrawal symptoms like suicidal thoughts.
Stimulant Addiction Rehabilitation: How Long Does It Take?
There is no set time limit on stimulant addiction rehabilitation. But rehab generally lasts for up to twelve weeks and detox typically takes about a week. The length of the individualised programme of therapy will vary depending on the individual. Those with a higher severity of addiction might need more time and assistance to change their behaviour. Detox can also last longer for those who have been dependent upon stimulants for a while.
Stimulant Rehab: What to Expect?
Stimulant rehab can be broken down into steps. Firstly, professionals assess your individual addiction, behaviours and needs and creates a personal plan. The next stage is detox, when you come off the stimulant drug and are treated for withdrawal symptoms if possible. Then you will stay in the facility and undergo therapies that explore the roots of addiction and teach methods to change addictive habits. Aftercare is also offered to aid recovery outside the facility.
Using Medication in Stimulant Addiction Treatment and Rehab
Unlike opioid, tobacco or alcohol addiction, medication does little to help treatment for stimulant abuse. There are a few prescriptions that might ease withdrawal symptoms. For example, antidepressants might help during the heavy depression that comes with cocaine detox. Anti-craving agents might also be used but they have limited potential. Antipsychotics can treat those suffering from psychosis, which is sometimes triggered by stimulant abuse.
Suboxone is sometimes offered as part of a slow taper of stimulant drugs during treatment. Sedatives and tranquillizers, like diazepam or benzodiazepines, might calm the behaviour of extreme withdrawal and moderate symptoms. Neurontin and Topamax are anticonvulsant medications that can prevent the crashing hangover feeling that comes after taking Adderall. But these drugs address the withdrawal symptoms, rather than actually treating the addiction.
Pros and Cons
Depression is a very common withdrawal symptom from stimulants. It can be very extreme and even lead to suicide. Therefore a drug prescribed for mood disorders like Prozac has advantages. It means that patients might not need 24-hour observation but can deal with their depression in a more manageable way. However, Prozac itself can be addictive and this could encourage further addictive behaviours for the individual.
Naltrexone is another option for the medicated treatment of stimulant abuse. It blocks receptors in the brain that trigger a high. Therefore, they hinder the release of addictive chemicals. However, although it has been proven very effective in treating opioid addiction, naltrexone has limited success for stimulants.
Medication Replacement Programmes
Medication replacement programmes are when substitute drugs are prescribed to temporarily replace the drug to which you’ve become addicted. Slowly weaning off the replacement drugs often has less severe withdrawal symptoms, easing the recovery process. This is a far more common practice for addictions like opioid addiction. However, some mild stimulants like Provigil might be prescribed, but usually to treat withdrawals rather than as replacements (Addiction Resource).
Mindfulness
Behavioural therapies are much more dependable treatments than medication in the case of stimulant addiction. Mindfulness is a technique where you focus on the present moment. Even if you have negative emotions, this therapy encourages you to accept them without judgement. A heightened level of awareness helps you break away from stimulant abuse being part of an auto-pilot routine.
Mindfulness is a state of mind that can be embraced in everyday life. But there are practices that actively encourage mindful behaviour. For example, mindfulness-based stress reduction teaches how the healthily deal with stress, as an alternative to abusing stimulants. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has also shown positive results in addiction treatment. It helps you develop strategies to relieve anxiety and recognise habits to aid recovery over a long-term basis (Brown, 2018).
Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural therapies focus on monitoring your behaviour and habits and modifying them to fit a healthier lifestyle. This will also encourage a change in attitude towards stimulant drugs, increase applicable life skills, and help you notice the triggers of cravings and how to avoid them. Many are based on the principle that addiction is at least partly a learned behaviour and so happier and healthier alternatives can also be adopted by an addicted individual.
Behavioural therapy is a term for various different and specific forms of therapy based on behaviour. Some examples include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which teaches valuable coping and self-control strategies that last after the completion treatment (Drug Abuse). Contingency management interventions also help to modify addictive behaviour. They work by offering tangible rewards in return for consistent, positive behaviours like abstinence from stimulants.
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Psychological Therapy
Psychological therapy deals with the psychological factors of addictive behaviours. It is a treatment that helps you make the changes necessary to overcome stimulant addiction. In recovery, you must change the way you think and feel in order to make practical changes to your life. Psychological therapy helps an addict restructure their world into one that is healthier, happier, and not dependent upon stimulant drugs.
Innovative therapies (Art, Music, Dance, Sound etc.)
Innovative therapies are those considered more alternative than conventional therapy. They are quickly growing in authority. For example, music therapy encourages indirect self-expression, helping addicts articulate their feelings without words. This might include drum circles, music games, lyric analysis, or songwriting, which can encourage self-esteem, help relaxation, and improve awareness.
Art therapy, such as painting, drawing or sculpting, requires imagination, creativity and a way of communicating emotions through various forms. It is a healthy outlet of expression that faces thoughts and feelings, rather than avoiding them through something like stimulant abuse. Dance therapy is similarly powerful, using movement and order to channel emotion. Many of these therapies also encourage social interaction and feeling part of a supportive community.
Sound therapy is similar to music therapy in that is focuses on audial senses. But it is more about the rhythm, vibration and resonance of sound rather than the harmony of music. It might be used during other recreational therapies like yoga, or it can be used during meditation or counselling. It encourages addicts to find alternative ways to unwind and alleviate stress other than stimulant drugs and learn techniques they can continue to practice outside of rehab.
Choosing a Treatment Centre for Stimulant Addiction Treatment and Rehab
The right treatment centre for each individual differs for stimulant addicts. You should consider the severity of addiction and level of dependency, and decide whether inpatient rehab is the right option. Other factors to consider include co-occurring health issues, treatment duration, location, and aftercare facilities. While each treatment centre will have its own advantages, picking the right one for your needs is an important step in recovery.
Inpatient Stimulant Addiction Treatment Programme (advantages)
Inpatient rehabilitation treats stimulant addiction within a residential facility. That means that 24/7 care is available and you can focus on your recovery without the distractions of daily life. It allows for safe detoxification from stimulants and an individualised plan of therapy. Other practical matters such as diet and fitness are also taken care of for you. Inpatient rehab treats you in a holistic way to promote successful recovery and long-term healthy living.
Getting out of your usual environment inspires fresh perspectives and the sense of a new start. This can be an important part of recovery as a different mindset and establishing new behaviours is a way to fight addictive habits. The social aspects of inpatient rehab also remind addicts that they are not alone in their stimulant addiction or the road to recovery. It is a safe and supportive space that gives time to truly reflect upon your past and addiction-free future.
Outpatient Stimulant Addiction Treatment Programme
Outpatient treatment for stimulant addiction is a regular programme that you undertake while still living at home. It means you can keep your obligations to things like work and family without moving away. Treatment is tailored around the individual so that detox and therapy are still possible within their routine. But although outpatient treatment allows you to continue your daily life, it also keeps you in an environment that might trigger stimulant cravings.
Those undergoing outpatient treatment will also miss out on the peaceful environment of rehabilitation. The structure of rehab plays a big role in reducing stress, which is triggered heavily by detoxing and recovering from stimulant abuse. Constant surveillance is also not possible with outpatient treatment, which is particularly useful for monitoring symptoms like depression, a typical withdrawal effect from stimulants.
Private Stimulant Addiction Rehabs and Confidentiality
Private stimulant addiction rehabs are bound by law to retain confidential information about each patient. But as well as the legal obligations, confidentiality is an important part of the therapeutic alliance. You must feel trust towards the staff and counsellors during treatment. You should feel supported in the facility and know that you are not alone. Confidentiality plays a significant role in establishing and developing that level of trust to aid recovery.
It is entirely up to you whether you tell friends and family that you are in rehab. Sharing the challenges of your addiction and recovery with loved ones is an important part of the process. But it is important that you feel in control of your treatment and tell others when you are ready. You should never feel judged for your thoughts or feelings during treatment. Therefore group therapy is also confidential, which similarly allows the building of mutual trust.
Treatment Near Home vs. Different City or State
However, others choose to be as far away from their usual environment, including drug dealers and other social factors, as possible. Distancing yourself from your everyday life can encourage a new beginning. It can place you in a fresh environment to rediscover yourself before addiction. Putting physical space between yourself and your stimulant abuse habits might help your psychological attitudes towards addiction and aid recovery long-term.
Questions to Ask Treatment Centres
Do you recognise dual diagnosis? Dual diagnosis is an important thing to consider with stimulant addiction. It is a term used when someone has both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem. One issue might trigger or encourage the other. Therefore, treating both conditions simultaneously can greatly improve treatment and recovery success.
Is the treatment centre accredited? Treatment centres should meet a certain standard of official quality. Knowing the specific licensing and certifications of the facility might make you feel more reassured about treatment. If you know that the staff are highly-trained professionals, you will begin recovery with higher trust in its results. Quality resources and a pleasant environment also makes a big difference and can boost your recovery.
What help is available for my family? Addiction also has major effects on the friends and family of a stimulant addict. They similarly require support during the turbulence of addiction and its treatment. Family counselling might be offered to aid individual recovery and support family members. You might also want to know about visiting options so that you can see loved ones while undergoing treatment in a rehab facility.
What are the typical rehabilitation results? Success stories are always a motivational incentive before admission to rehab. Success is a subjective term of different centres might define it differently. But either way, it’s useful to know what results you can aim for. Whether it’s never taking stimulants again or completing a treatment programme, what results does rehab offer? It’s a useful question to consider for yourself too before you begin the process of recovery.
Stimulant Addiction Treatment & Health Insurance
Rehabilitation for drug abuse typically costs around £3000 per week. The longer you stay at rehab, the more your treatment will cost. The three financial options for stimulant addicts are a direct payment, payment through health insurance, or free treatment through the NHS. Although NHS treatment is high quality, referral rates and waiting times are strained under budget pressures. However, private rehab will admit you immediately.
Some health insurance providers cover the costs of private rehab for stimulant addiction. However, you should contact your insurer directly to find out more. Treatment will vary depending on the facilities of the centre. But stimulant addiction treatment and rehab should always be viewed as an investment, both because it will reduce the financial strain of addiction and lead to a happier and healthier life.
Paying for Stimulant Addiction Treatment (Questions to ask your insurer)
Must I go to a specific treatment centre under my insurance coverage? Some insurers might limit the number of facilities to which you can be admitted. This will probably depend upon the expense of each treatment centre. For example, there are some private luxury rehabs that might not be covered by standard insurance.
Are treatment centre options limited to a certain location? Insurance coverage also might vary on whether you can admit to a rehab facility far away from your home. Insurers might not pay for treatment outside your local area, and especially outside the country.
Will my insurance cover all types of treatment? Insurance is more likely to cover outpatient stimulant addiction treatment than inpatient, simply because it is cheaper. A residential stay covers food and facilities as well as accommodation, which raises the costs. However, if you need inpatient rehab then, depending on the insurance, perhaps some or even all of it will be covered.
Will my insurance cover multiple treatments? Unfortunately, relapse is a reality of stimulant addiction treatment. Sometimes, addicts might have to undergo treatment multiple times. It is worth knowing whether your insurance will cover more than one programme or only pay the costs for one.
Will my insurance pay for medication? Effective medication is limited during stimulant addiction treatment. However, anti-depressants and anti-craving agents are often prescribed. It is useful to know whether your insurance will cover these costs. They might pay for the treatment and even residency, but you might have to pay for prescriptions. It is best to ask your insurers directly for answers to these details.
Life after Rehab
After detoxification and therapy, the struggle against stimulant addiction is still not over. However, rehab will provide you with the tools and techniques to make living with addiction manageable. Support is continually offered after inpatient or outpatient treatment programmes. Life after rehab will provide its own set of challenges as you must adapt to a new way of living in an old environment. However, systems are in place to make this transaction adaptable.
Relapse-prevention
Relapse is a process of returning to stimulant abuse. The mental and physical signs might appear weeks before you actually use a stimulant drug. Therefore, prevention is entirely possible. Triggers of relapse might include withdrawal symptoms, poor self-care, and spending time with old, stimulant-using friends. Recognising these triggers can help prevent relapse by avoiding the situations and taking action before it becomes worse.
Relapse-prevention helps you avoid returning to stimulants before it is too late. Techniques for dealing with the mental urge to take drugs might include talking to a counsellor about your thoughts. This support makes the urges real and less intimidating, and you can be assured that such temptations are not shameful but a normal part of recovery. Other strategies might be distracting yourself, waiting 30 minutes, or visualising the real consequences of relapse.
Staying off Stimulants
Detox and rehab intensely focuses on your physical and mental dependency upon stimulants. But staying off stimulants long-term requires the application of techniques learned during treatment to change your everyday life. This can include applying the cognitive behaviour therapy strategies of witnessing and monitoring your behaviour in order to make healthy choices over destructive and addictive-based ones.
During treatment, you will have discovered the benefits of counselling, which can be embraced during life after rehab. Techniques like mindfulness can also help you to stay off stimulants by observing your thoughts and not judging them, even if they are doubts or temptations, and seeking support. Avoiding triggering events or people is also an important part of staying off stimulants as you might fall into old patterns of behaviour.
The Role of Counselling and Aftercare
Counselling plays an important role in the treatment of stimulant addiction. It helps an addict articulate their thoughts and feelings, and discover the roots of their addictive behaviour. Its benefits can still be embraced during aftercare. Talking about the mental urges to relapse, for example, can make the thoughts less intimidating. Plus counsellors can offer advice on how to resist such temptations and practice techniques to manage triggering behaviours.
Stimulant Addiction Rehab and Treatment Statistics
In the US, over 350,000 people received treatment for stimulant abuse in 2012. This is important as stimulants are increasingly popular drugs. Cocaine was the second most commonly used, after cannabis, in 2016/17 among 16-59-year-olds in England and Wales (UKAT).
In 2015, about 1.7 million people in the US, or 0.6% of the population, abused stimulants. While cocaine addiction is more commonly treated, prescription stimulants like Adderall might be more popularly used by teenagers and students. Studies from 2014 show that, between the ages of 12 and 17, 169,000 US people used stimulants outside a prescription. Whereas only 39,000 reported cocaine use (Hedden, 2015).
Stimulant Addiction Treatment and Rehab Success Rates
Many people who get treatment for stimulant addiction have good results. One study showed that 61% of those who underwent treatment for power cocaine abuse stopped using within 6 months (NHS, 2017). Research shows that most people who undergo drug addiction treatment stop using, decrease criminal activity and improve their social, occupational, and psychological functioning.
Some research shows that 40-60% of drug addicts relapse after treatment. But that is certainly not to say that treatment, in general, is not successful, as relapse is often a part of the whole recovery process (Drug Abuse, 2018).
Take control of your life – get started on the road to recovery
You can take your first step on the road to recovery today. A life free from stimulant abuse is entirely possible and many have succeeded in overcoming their addiction and living a happier and healthier life. If you or a loved one needs help and support through stimulant addiction treatment, contact us. Take control of your life, fulfil your potential, and step into an addiction-free future.
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Related FAQ’s
Sources
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