Crystal Meth Addiction Treatment and Weight Gain
It’s a common story among crystal meth addicts: women, especially, fall victim to crystal meth addiction or amphetamine addiction because they want to lose weight – or they don’t want to gain it. The added energy is a bonus as well, allowing overworked women to keep up with children, family members, spouses or partners, work and more. One of the biggest obstacles to women in crystal meth rehab is the change in their metabolism when they stop taking the drug and the weight they gain as a result. It can mean serious depression during and after treatment and many women relapse quickly after treatment in order to get their weight under control – simply because they haven’t learned healthier ways to maintain their goal weight.
When crystal meth addiction treatment is woman-centered and addresses the issue of healthy living, women addicted to crystal meth can make great strides in drug and alcohol addiction recovery and remain drug-free for years.
Methamphetamines and Weight Loss History
The effects of weight loss and appetite suppression caused by methamphetamines have long been noticed by the medical community. In the past, it was relatively easy to get a prescription for methamphetamines or amphetamines in the form of diet pills. The problem that the medical community quickly found was that the initial effect of appetite suppression lasted for about 30 days – then, patients needed a higher dose in order to maintain that level of weight loss. After a few months of increases – and the constant need for increases – patients were addicted to the stimulant drug and had no way to stop taking methamphetamines without immediately gaining back all the weight they lost and more. Doctors soon began pulling the prescriptions and now those kinds of drugs are only available to those who are morbidly obese and in serious health crisis due to their weight.
Effective Crystal Meth Rehab Should Address the Issue of Weight Loss
Weight loss is not the only reason that women develop a crystal meth addiction – some want the added stamina to get everything done on their to-do list, others use it for sexual purposes, others feel that it adds to their “badass” image – but even if one of those other reasons is also a part of a woman’s crystal meth addiction, weight loss is often also an issue. Women who are considering crystal meth addiction treatment should make sure that the rehab they choose is aware of the issue of health and body image and provides care designed to increase a woman’s ability to take care of herself properly after treatment without gaining weight.
For some, a certain amount of weight gain may be healthy – most are underweight when they begin treatment – and psychological treatment may be needed to help women to develop a more healthful body image. For others, too much weight gain after crystal meth addiction can mean other chronic health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and more. It’s important that crystal meth rehabs provide health food, incorporate exercise into the treatment plan and address the issue of body image and self esteem in multiple aspects of treatment.
If you would like to learn more about our woman-centered drug and alcohol rehab programs, contact us today.