What’s the Best Way to Treat a Methamphetamine Disorder?
Key takeaways:
Methamphetamine use disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition that usually requires treatment.
Although no medications have been approved for treating methamphetamine use, there are many types of behavioral treatments that are effective and can help you.
Community resources like 12-step groups aren’t considered medical treatment, but they can also be helpful and give you the support you need while you’re working on your recovery.
Methamphetamine use disorder is a serious illness that usually requires treatment. Methamphetamine — usually called meth, speed, or crystal — is an illicit stimulant drug that is very common in the United States. Around 1.6 million people use methamphetamines every year, and many of these people have a methamphetamine addiction.
If you’re battling methamphetamine use disorder, then you might be wondering about the treatment options that are available to you. Read on to learn more about the most effective treatments for methamphetamine use disorder and how you can get started on the road to recovery.
How do you diagnose a methamphetamine use disorder?
The first step to getting treatment for your meth use is to get diagnosed with a stimulant use disorder. Not everyone who has used methamphetamine has an addiction. Some people may experiment with the drug a few times, for example, and then never touch it again. Others, though, might develop an addiction.
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Stimulant use disorder is a legitimate mental health condition. It’s diagnosed when someone has a serious problem with using stimulant drugs, including methamphetamine. (Methamphetamine use disorder isn’t an official clinical diagnosis on its own, although the term is often used). Most mental health professionals use a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to diagnose stimulant use disorder for meth use. Some of the symptoms healthcare providers look for include:
Using methamphetamines in larger doses or longer than you’d planned to
Trying and failing to cut back on or stop methamphetamine use
Continuing to use methamphetamine even after it starts causing serious problems in your life
How do you know if you need treatment for methamphetamine use?
Even if you don’t think you meet all of the official criteria for a methamphetamine use disorder diagnosis, that may not automatically mean that you don’t need substance abuse treatment. If your methamphetamine use is getting in the way of the life you want to live, and it’s been difficult for you to walk away from your use on your own, then it may be time to seek professional help.
What are the treatment options for methamphetamine use?
There are several different evidence-based treatments that exist for methamphetamine use disorder. Although the treatments we’ll list here have all been found to be effective, what works for someone else might not work for you. Recovery is often not a straight line, and it’s important to try different treatments until you find one that works.
Here are some of the most commonly used methods to treat methamphetamine use disorder. If you’re trying to beat an addiction to methamphetamine, talk to your medical provider about starting any one of these programs.
Medical detox
Some people with methamphetamine use disorder may need to complete a medical detox period right after they stop using. The more you use methamphetamine (or any drug), the more your body becomes used to its presence. Because of this, you might experience some uncomfortable — and even painful — physical symptoms if you stop using meth after a long period of time. This is called the withdrawal period.
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Medical detox facilities can help you manage the uncomfortable symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal, like cravings, fatigue, and body aches. They can also help you with mental health symptoms that you might experience, like temporary symptoms of depression or psychosis.
Behavioral therapies
After you finish the detox period, you can choose to participate in a behavioral therapy program. These therapy models are the most effective for treating methamphetamine use disorder specifically. Keep in mind that these are only three treatment models with the most research behind them. New treatments are being developed all the time.
The Matrix Model
The Matrix Model is an evidence-based treatment program that was designed specifically to treat stimulant drug addiction, including cocaine use disorder and methamphetamine use disorder. Many rehab centers and treatment clinics use this program.
Participants who go through the Matrix Model program meet in small groups several times a week. There are three types of interventions in the Matrix Model:
Learning about methamphetamine addiction and how it affects your body
Getting connected to resources in your community
Urine analysis (drug tests)
Research studies have found that stimulant drug users (including methamphetamine users) who complete the Matrix Model program are more likely to stay off drugs.
Contingency management
Contingency management, or CM, is a model of behavioral therapy that rewards people in tangible ways for remaining sober and going to treatment. For example, people may receive vouchers that are exchangeable for things like food or entertainment tickets. Often, people receive these prizes for each negative drug urine analysis that they submit, or every treatment session they attend.
In basic terms, CM and treatments like it reinforce positive behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. These incentive-based treatment models have been found to be an effective way to treat stimulant use disorder, including methamphetamine addiction. Research has also found that people in CM-based treatment are much more likely to complete their full program than people in standard care.
Motivational Incentives for Enhanced Drug Abuse Recovery (MIEDAR)
MIEDAR is a specific type of incentive-based treatment that’s been found to be highly effective for stimulant use. It was developed because researchers found that giving out a cash voucher for every negative drug test was effective, but costly.
They found that inviting successful participants to draw tickets from a bowl was just as effective, while being more affordable as well. Some of the tickets have large prizes, while some are smaller. Just like other CM-based interventions, MIEDAR has been found to increase the number of former methamphetamine users who stay drug-free and finish treatment.
Which medications are effective in treating methamphetamine use disorder?
No medications have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to treat methamphetamine use disorder. However, some medications are currently being tested, and the research is promising.
The medications that might be beneficial in helping you recover from methamphetamine use disorder are injectable naltrexone (often sold under the brand name Vivitrol) and oral bupropion (Wellbutrin). More research is needed to be able to confirm this and to approve medication-assisted treatment for methamphetamine use. For now, psychosocial treatments like the ones above remain the frontline treatments for this disorder.
What community resources are available for someone with a methamphetamine addiction?
On top of professional treatment, resources in the community can also be incredibly helpful when recovering from any type of substance use disorder. Talking with your peers can be validating, and these types of resources are often available at odd hours when professional support may not be.
Peer support groups
In peer support groups, you can get together with other people who are recovering from methamphetamine addiction and have empathy for your situation. Types of peer support groups include 12-step groups like Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery Groups. The benefits of peer support groups are that they’re free and that they’re widely found in almost every community. Keep in mind that these groups are led by your peers, not a trained professional, so it may not be enough if you need treatment.
Sober living facilities
If you feel like you need even more support, you might choose to live in a sober living facility. If you decide to go into a sober living home, you will pay a monthly rental fee, just like you would at a regular apartment. The benefit of a sober living facility is that you would be living in a community with other people who are also recovering from addiction. You and your roommates can keep each other accountable in your recovery journey.
The bottom line
Not everyone who wants to stop using methamphetamine needs to go through treatment. But many people do, and there is no shame in that. If you are interested in getting treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, there are effective options for you. With the right treatment, recovery is within your reach.
If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.
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References
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Contingency management interventions/motivational incentives (alcohol, stimulants, opioids, marijuana, nicotine).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). The Matrix Model (stimulants).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Methamphetamine DrugFacts.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). What is the scope of methamphetamine use in the United States?
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). What treatments are effective for people who misuse methamphetamine?
National Institutes of Health. (2021). Combination treatment for methamphetamine use disorder shows promise in NIH study.
Petry, N. M. (2011). Contingency management: What it is and why psychiatrists should want to use it. The Psychiatrist.
Shoptaw, S., et al. (1994). The Matrix model of outpatient stimulant abuse treatment: Evidence of efficacy. Journal of Addictive Diseases.
Stitzer, M. L., et al. (2010). Motivational incentives research in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the national survey on drug use and health.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). SAMHSA’s National Helpline.
Zorick, T., et al. (2010). Withdrawal symptoms in abstinent methamphetamine-dependent subjects. Addiction.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
