A Medication-Assisted Treatment For Meth Addiction Shows Promise : Shots Health News : NPR

The battle against meth addiction is one we must continue to fight, armed with science, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the human capacity for change and growth. The battle against meth addiction is far from over, but we’re making progress. Ongoing research and development are crucial to refining existing treatments and discovering new ones. With each breakthrough, we move closer to more effective solutions for those struggling with meth addiction. As our understanding of addiction and the brain evolves, so too do our treatment methods. Innovative approaches are emerging that offer new hope for those struggling with meth addiction.

Effects of Meth Addiction

There are some promising medical treatments for meth addiction currently in development. Monoclonal antibodies have existed since the 1970s, when researchers gained the ability to isolate cells that create antibodies with only one target. In theory, researchers can produce antibodies with nearly any target, making them tremendously valuable as a therapeutic — they’ve been used in dozens of applications ranging from cancer drugs to Covid-19 treatments. And since the antibodies remain in the body for weeks after they’re administered, even patients who resume meth use would theoretically experience a far weaker high.

Aftercare Programs for Meth Recovery

• In fact, some people go on a « run, » which involves bingeing on the drug every few hours for several days at a time, without food or sleep.
• According to older research from 2013, primate models demonstrate that meth alters brain structures involved in inhibitory control.
• « It’s almost like methamphetamines are falling from the sky right now, with the amount that’s coming through the border and on boats and planes, » says Matthew Donahue with the U.S.
• Yes, plenty of meth rehab centers accept various forms of insurance plans.
• Substance use disorders and addiction aren’t choices you make — they’re mental health conditions that can have long-term effects on your health and well-being.
• It’s like having a custom-made recovery plan, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The exceptions, experts said, are methadone and buprenorphine, which have shown far higher levels of success in treating opioid use disorder. Doctors can prescribe drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for other purposes “off-label” to try to treat methamphetamine addiction. But experts say having clinical trial data validates the approach and could also help convince payers to cover the medications. These programs can help people who are transitioning from inpatient treatment.

Follow-Up Care

The intake process is the first step upon arriving at a rehab facility. These self-help groups are managed and run by other people who are working through recovery themselves. Shen, Y., Cao, X., Tan, T., Shan, C., Wang, Y., Pan, J., … & Yuan, T. F. 10-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex reduces heroin cue craving in long-term addicts.

How to reduce your risk of relapse

Holistic approaches recognize the importance of treating the whole person, not just the addiction. Researchers have begun testing drugs approved for other substance use disorders to treat people with methamphetamine addiction. Examples include naltrexone—which is used for the treatment of opioid use disorder—and bupropion, which helps people quit smoking. In this article, you will learn about methamphetamine treatment options, detoxification, withdrawal symptoms, the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment, and continuing care to support a person during recovery. Nonpharmacological treatments do not involve meth abuse use of medications. Although further research is needed on these approaches, they may provide additional options for treatment providers and patients.