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Using meth is dangerous in any form. Short for methamphetamine, this substance is a powerfully addictive drug that increases your heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and body temperature—often to a point your body cannot handle. It’s also extremely difficult to quit without support. If you or someone you love is using meth, there is help. Our meth rehab center is available to help you learn to live freely again.
At Washburn House, your path to recovery can begin with just a single step. We’ll help you find the new life you’re looking for.
Understanding the dangers of meth
Meth is a powerfully addictive drug. It’s a stimulant, which means it increases functioning in areas of your brain related to focus, energy, and pleasure. It looks like a white powder, but can also be found in a clear, glass-like form called “crystal meth.” However, the dangers of meth are significant.
Meth is typically consumed by:
- Smoking
- Injection
- Swallowing
- Snorting
Using meth in any form can be deadly. If you or someone important to you has been unable to stop ingesting this substance, there’s no time to wait. Get the support you need from a professional meth rehab center like Washburn House.
How do I know if I’m addicted to meth?
Meth is addictive because using it even once triggers chemical changes in your brain. When an individual takes meth, their brain produces a hazardous amount of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control your brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Meth damages the dopamine-producing cells, making it hard for people to find enjoyment in anything besides meth. The biggest sign of meth addiction is feeling depressed or empty when coming down off a “high.”
Physical signs of meth addiction include:
- Weight loss
- Sleep deprivation
- Osteoporosis
- Dehydration
- Tooth decay and gum disease (often referred to as “meth mouth”)
Meth also causes mental health and behavioral signs of addiction. You may either notice these in a loved one, or have them pointed out to you if you’re struggling with meth addiction:
- Paranoia and isolation
- Panic
- Extreme mood swings
- Decreased libido
- Aggressive behavior
- Psychosis
The good news is there is meth addiction help. An effective substance abuse treatment center can help you get clean and understand the root causes of your addiction, helping you to find long-lasting recovery.
How is meth dependence treated?
People often become addicted to meth because the drug serves a purpose for them, even if it has many other negative consequences. Meth can help someone:
- Lose weight: Meth has a hunger-suppressing effect
- Stay awake: Increased energy for people who want to avoid sleeping
- Suppress emotions: Difficult emotions like sadness and grief can be avoided
Meth is effective at helping people not have to feel difficult feelings and emotions. Some co-occurring disorders, meaning a substance use disorder in addition to a mental health condition, have their roots in someone’s desire to escape trauma. This is why it’s vital to seek therapeutic treatment through a meth addiction treatment center such as Washburn House. By addressing your underlying motivations to use meth, your desire to return to it will dramatically decrease. Then we can teach you how to live a healthy, fulfilling life free of substances.
What happens at Washburn House’s meth addiction treatment center?
When you’ve been admitted at Washburn House’s meth addiction treatment center, our compassionate medical team will conduct an assessment to determine the level of care you’ll need during meth detox. If you’d like, you can complete a pre-screening assessment over the phone or in-person at our rehab center. We know you’re more than just an addiction. You’re a complete person who has lived a unique life. That’s why we’ll consider multiple factors while creating a custom treatment plan.
Those factors include:
- The typical amount of meth you ingest
- How long you’ve been taking it
- The ways substance use has impacted your life
Once you’ve completed an assessment, you’ll be matched with the right program, and assigned a clinical care team, who will work with you throughout your recovery. They’ll help develop a comprehensive treatment and aftercare plan to help you combat your addiction as effectively as possible.
What is recovering from a meth addiction like at Washburn House?
Our meth addiction treatment center is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and is a nurturing, strength-based, and highly individualized program. From the moment you meet our friendly admissions specialists you’ll feel at home. We view each and every one of our clients as a person struggling to overcome a disease and we don’t judge.
You’ll always have a say in the direction of your treatment, and we’ll prioritize your goals. We’ll support you as you identify your biggest reasons for wanting to be sober, and structure your treatment around what matters to you.
Does Washburn House use medications during detox?
Your experience in detox depends on how severely dependent you are on a substance. Withdrawal symptoms can start anywhere from a few hours to a few days after you’ve taken the drug for the last time.
Our skilled nursing and clinical team will monitor you 24 hours a day during medical detox. Their goal is to keep you safe during a challenging period of recovery.
Withdrawal signs and symptoms can be daunting. That’s why we provide you with proven medications to help relieve some of the more severe symptoms and to prevent relapse.
It’s common for clients to experience the following during detox:
- Severe agitation and aggression
- Extreme mood swings
- Depression
- Extreme fatigue
- Hallucinations
Not everyone who comes to Washburn House with a meth addiction needs to move through medically monitored detox. Symptoms are milder for some people. Our Washburn House admissions and medical staff will help you decide what’s right for you.
Inpatient meth rehab
In our inpatient or residential program, you’ll live on-site in gender-separated accommodations. Those enrolled in inpatient rehab benefit from high levels of structure and care, including individual and group therapy, and wraparound case management. During this time, you’ll focus solely on your healing in a warm and supportive atmosphere.
Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
Our PHP involves spending most of your day in treatment and going home in the evenings. Clients enrolled in PHP still benefit from high-quality therapeutic care but have the flexibility of going home in the evenings and begin to apply what they’re learning in treatment to their daily lives.
Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
The IOP at Washburn House allows you to transition back to your home environment and apply the therapeutic skills and concepts you learn in treatment to your personal relationships and lifestyle.
How long does recovery from a meth addiction take?
Everyone is different. However, withdrawal symptoms usually peak between 7 and 10 days. It’s important to note, however, that even after acute withdrawal has passed, lingering effects may be felt for a while—even years. These might include depression, cravings, and cognitive difficulties. Through long-term abstinence, these effects typically decrease or disappear entirely.
Substance use treatment at Washburn House will not only help you achieve sobriety, but teach you the skills you need to prevent relapse.
What happens when I leave Washburn House?
Knowing what to expect after treatment is important, and preparing for it is even more crucial. Effectively treating meth dependence means learning new coping skills and ways of functioning in the world.
You’ll continue to receive support from Washburn House even after you’ve completed formal treatment. Your assigned therapist and case manager will both have regular check-ins with you as you transition back into day-to-day life. Maintaining sobriety happens with the help of a strong support system. Through your time at Washburn House, you become part of our close-knit community of staff and residents. We’ll stay committed to your progress for the long haul.
Contact Washburn House today for detox and meth addiction counseling in Worcester
If meth has taken over your life, it’s time to step out of its shadow and get back to who you are. We can help you do that. Call 855.298.3104 today for a free, confidential assessment or submit our online contact form. Take the first step toward a brand new life.
FAQs
What medication is used to treat meth addiction?
While there’s no FDA-approved medication specifically for meth addiction, Washburn House may provide medications during detox to manage severe withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and help prevent relapse. Each client’s needs are evaluated individually to determine the safest and most effective treatment plan.
How do you treat meth dependence?
At Washburn House, meth dependence is treated through a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and supportive aftercare. Our programs address both the physical symptoms of addiction and the underlying emotional or psychological causes—often including past trauma or co-occurring mental health conditions. Treatment may include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual and group therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
How can I tell if I’m addicted to meth?
Common signs of meth addiction include feeling depressed when not using, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, and using the drug to cope with stress or emotions. Physical signs might include rapid weight loss, severe dental issues (“meth mouth”), and sleep problems. There may also be mental and behavioral signs like paranoia, mood swings, or aggression.
How do outpatient meth treatment programs differ from inpatient meth rehab?
Inpatient rehab at Washburn House provides 24/7 support in a residential setting, allowing you to focus fully on your recovery in a structured and supportive environment. Outpatient programs, like our PHP and IOP, offer high-quality care, while allowing you to return home in the evenings. These options are ideal for clients transitioning from inpatient care or those with strong support systems at home.
What is detox from meth like?
Detox is different for everyone, but withdrawal symptoms can include extreme fatigue, depression, agitation, and hallucinations. At Washburn House, we offer 24-hour medical supervision and may use medications to ease symptoms. Our goal is to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible.
How long does meth addiction recovery take?
While acute withdrawal symptoms typically peak within 7–10 days, long-term recovery is a process. Emotional and cognitive symptoms can persist, but with continued support, those symptoms usually improve over time. Washburn House provides extended care and aftercare planning to help you stay on track.
Will I still get support after leaving Washburn House?
Yes. Ongoing support is a vital part of any recovery journey and an essential part of our program at Washburn House. Our aftercare and alumni programs offer continued therapy, regular check-ins with your care team, and community-based support to help you maintain the progress you’ve made.