Meth Psychosis and Getting Help

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs at Icarus in Nevada

Methamphetamine or meth is a heavily addictive central nervous system stimulant drug. Using meth comes with serious side effects and risks, including psychosis. If you or someone you know is experiencing meth psychosis, you aren’t alone. Statistics estimate that about 40 percent of people who use meth will develop psychosis.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) lists meth psychosis as one of many potential long-term effects of meth addiction. Dental problems, organ damage, and other consequences are also associated with methamphetamine dependence.

Episodes of meth psychosis can be scary both for the person experiencing meth psychosis and their loved ones. Getting help for meth psychosis through addiction treatment can change or save your life. So, what should you know?

Let’s go over what methamphetamine psychosis is and the symptoms of meth psychosis first. Then, we’ll talk about how the treatment options for drug abuse at Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada can help you or your loved one heal.

What is Methamphetamine Psychosis?

Substance-induced psychosis comes with the same psychotic symptoms associated with mental health conditions like schizophrenia and related disorders. During meth psychosis, you may experience auditory and visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, and delusions, just as those with psychotic disorders may experience regardless of drug use.

It is possible to live with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder alongside substance abuse. In fact, schizophrenia and related disorders are known to increase the risk of substance use disorders. In cases of meth psychosis and other substance-induced psychotic episodes, however, only some people have a pre-existing or underlying mental health disorder.

Such symptoms of psychosis can persist, long after the crash from meth occurs, and linger for weeks or months dependent on underlying mental health and external triggers.

The Development of Psychotic Symptoms When Using Meth

While psychotic symptoms can last for years in those with chronic meth psychosis, others with meth psychosis will find that psychotic symptoms dissipate much more quickly. Some will be in the clear once they are sober and through the withdrawal process, and after meth has fully left their system. As noted above, for others with predispositions to psychotic episodes, the effects can linger much longer.

Meth users living with a psychotic disorder other than substance-induced psychosis often experience worsened symptoms of acute psychosis while using and can better control symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia when off drugs.

Since some signs of meth addiction and psychotic disorders are similar, it can be hard to differentiate between them at times. Treatment can help whether you experience meth psychosis due to addiction alone or alongside another mental health disorder.

What are the Most Common Symptoms of Meth Psychosis?

Knowing the signs of meth-induced psychosis can help you identify it in yourself or someone you know. In some cases, this can be the first step toward staging an intervention for a loved one or seeking treatment for yourself. Regardless of the cause, psychosis symptoms feel very real for the person experiencing them.

Attempts to make a loved one comprehend that hallucinations aren’t real are unlikely to work. Your loved one may be suspicious of you. Alternatively, if you’re the one experiencing psychosis, you may feel suspicious of loved ones trying to help.

Symptoms of methamphetamine-induced psychosis may include but aren’t limited to the following:

• Paranoia.
• Delusions (false beliefs).
• Aggressive or violent behavior.
• Disorganized thinking or speech patterns.
• Visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there).
• Auditory hallucinations (hearing things that aren’t there).
• Tactile hallucinations (feeling things that aren’t there, like ‘bugs crawling under the skin’).

We can help set you up with an interventionist if you have a family member experiencing meth psychosis, addiction, or other psychiatric symptoms who does not intend to seek help on their own. Research shows that interventions are often effective and are a key first step in recovery for many people.

The admissions process at Icarus Nevada involves an intake assessment that will help us better understand your or your loved one’s treatment needs and the treatment program or level of care best suited for their current needs.

Treatment Options for Meth and Psychotic Episodes at Icarus

Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada delivers dual diagnosis treatment at all of our care levels. In other words, treatment at Icarus will address co-occurring mental health disorders as needed, regardless of whether you’re in an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. Our staff are experienced in mood disorders, personality disorders (e.g., antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder), meth psychosis and schizophrenia or related disorders, anxiety, trauma, and other concerns.

Many clients start with residential inpatient treatment and move down to PHP, IOP, or outpatient care once recommended. This is called a “step-down approach,” which is a well-regarded approach to treating substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. A step-down approach makes a difference because it lets you transition smoothly from your highest level of support back into daily life, watching out for warning signs of relapse and helping you through potential triggers.

Each level of care or treatment program at Icarus has distinct features, which may make one more or less ideal for you or your loved one than another. With that in mind, here are the treatment offerings at Icarus and what each entails.

If you have any questions about treatment at Icarus for meth use and applicable co-occurring psychiatric disorders, please call our admissions line for more information.

Medical Detoxification Programs

It can be challenging to stop using meth and detox due to its high potential for addiction, even in spite of negative symptoms and effects like meth psychosis. Medical detoxification programs, often simply called “detox,” are designed to help people get off of drugs and alcohol safely, effectively, and with less discomfort.

Our detox program will help you or your loved one stop using and reach a place of physical stability before entering another level of care, such as residential inpatient treatment.

Residential Inpatient Treatment

Residential or inpatient treatment requires that you eat, sleep, and live on-site at a treatment center for the duration of your treatment program. During the day, you will engage in groups, individual therapy sessions, family therapy, medication management, and other treatments. The level of supervision provided in residential inpatient treatment makes it an ideal fit for someone experiencing meth addiction, though everyone starts at a different level of care.

We offer extensive recreation options and comfortable living spaces for clients in our residential inpatient program. Long-term rehab is available to those who need long-term residential or inpatient treatment for meth addiction, another substance use disorder, or mental illness.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) provide the most intensive care you can get on an outpatient basis. As a PHP client, you will attend care for most of the day, at least five days per week. Unlike in residential inpatient treatment, however, you’ll live off-site, whether in sober living facilities, with family, or elsewhere.

In PHP, your daily treatment schedule will remain comprehensive, consisting of groups, individual therapy, and other treatments. Like in all of our levels of care, you will get an individualized treatment plan as a PHP client, which will determine your unique treatment schedule.

Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are the next step down from PHP. As an IOP client, you will have a shortened treatment schedule and attend care less often throughout the week than a PHP client.

Usually, you can expect to commit to a treatment schedule of about 3-5 partial days per week (about three hours per day) as an IOP client. Your IOP schedule will most likely involve treatments similar to those in PHP, including regular groups and individual therapy sessions.

The decreased time commitment IOP requires makes it an ideal fit for those who have completed another level of care and are ready to transition back into typical daily life activities, such as work, school, or caring for your family.

Outpatient Treatment Program

Outpatient rehab programs are less structured than intensive outpatient programs. As an outpatient client, you can expect to attend treatment with a schedule you and our staff members will work to decide on together. Treatments may include but aren’t limited to groups, individual therapy, continued medication management, and other services.

Our outpatient program may be recommended for you once you are in a stage of the recovery process where you’re ready for involvement in typical daily life activities (e.g., work or school). Typically, outpatient programs are used to help clients maintain sobriety and continue working on long-term elements of recovery once addiction and psychiatric symptoms are more controlled.

Recovery can take extensive time, and many find it important to stay connected to their treatment team even after the need for intensive care has passed.

Aftercare and Alumni Support

Before you exit your treatment program, you’ll work with our staff to build an aftercare and relapse prevention plan. Aftercare plans can involve support groups, continued therapy, work, education, or housing support, and various other services relevant to your post-treatment needs.

Once you finish treatment with us, you can access our alumni support options. Alumni support lets you stay in touch with the support system you built while in treatment and can help you maintain sobriety. Some activities for alumni are just for fun; others help you stay dedicated to recovery.

Icarus in Nevada offers a range of alumni services. Alumni services you can access after your treatment program with us include but aren’t limited to check-in calls, meetings, celebratory events, and outings or trips.

Get Help for Meth Abuse at Icarus in Nevada

Getting help for meth psychosis can change or save your life. Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada is a leading choice in addiction treatment for those seeking help with meth addiction and other substance use disorders. Our staff can help you through meth psychosis and anything else that may be going on for yourself or a loved one experiencing addiction.

If you’re ready to find help for meth use for yourself or someone else, contact the Admissions line on our website today for a confidential discussion of options.