What You Need To Know About Amphetamine Addiction

Amphetamine is one of the most dangerous drugs around. It is considered an 'upper' because it stimulates the central nervous system to create a feeling of well-being and euphoria on the user.

Thus, in an attempt to recreate the pleasant feeling, a newbie will take one dose after another on a regular basis until he becomes addicted. Soon enough, it is already too late. He will attempt to quit but will have a terrible time dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. Mental fatigue, depression and suicidal tendencies will worsen and he will soon need to have professional help.

History and Statistics of Amphetamine Addiction

Amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany in the late 1800s. In the 1920s, due to its known effect of increasing focus and reducing appetite, it became available in the market to help those who have ADHD or have problems with obesity.

The substance gained popularity and was eventually used for purposes other than purely medical. In the 1960s, illicit laboratories that manufacture the drug became widespread. It did not take very long for the US Government to react and shut down illicit laboratories However, these drugs keeps finding its way in the illegal market.

In the United Nation's amphetamine addiction statistics in 2010, an estimated 4.4 to 38 million people have used amphetamines in Asia the previous year. Southeast asian countries like the Philippines, Laos and Thailand are the countries where the prevalence of amphetamine use is highest.

In the European continent, the number of people who used the drug in 2009 stands at around 3 million people. There is also an increasing trend in the use of amphetamine in Africa.

The figures in Canada and the United States are close to 1.5%, although there is a slight decline in amphetamine use in the United States.

Effects of Amphetamine Abuse

The intended effects for amphetamine users when they first tried the drug are actually just the tip of the iceberg. The initial feeling of euphoria, high energy and alertness is gradually replaced with anxiety, irritability, paranoia and a variety of undesirable psychological effects.

Furthermore, the effects of the drug is not confined only to the mind. It has very real physical effects that can be really serious, especially in high dosage. Small doses of amphetamine may include seemingly trivial ill effects like bloodshot eyes, hyperactivity, fever, irregular bowel movements and dizziness. With increased dosage and more severe abuse, these physical effects will easily turn into something very serious like high or low blood pressure, seizure, stroke, coma and even death.

The Need for Professional Treatment of Amphetamine Addiction

To counter the increasing trend in amphetamine addiction statistics, there are a variety of treatment facilities for drug addiction all over the world. They may not be very cheap, especially for people from developing countries. However, saving someone from amphetamine addiction is arguably saving lives itself, as an addict usually poses great danger to himself and to others.

In the case of an addiction, the patient will be unable to play doctor to himself. Even family members who are not professionally trained or are too emotionally attached to handle the situation will not be of much help.

For this reasons, professional drug counselors and rehabilitation centers are superior choices for the treatment of amphetamine addiction.

How It Is Treated

Amphetamine addiction is hard to treat, more because of the patient's psychological rather than physiological dependence.

The treatment process is divided into two major phases: detoxification and the actual treatment phase.

In detoxification, the body is allowed to get rid of the harmful substance. It is in this phase where withdrawal symptoms will first surface in the form of intense cravings, body pains, irregular sleeping patterns and high irritability. The duration of detoxification phase varies, depending on the intensity of the addiction and the amount of amphetamine consumed.

After the detoxification, the patient is taken to a drug rehabilitation facility where the actual treatment process continues. There, the patient undergoes behavioral therapy to cure his psychological dependence. Measures are also taken to ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent a relapse when the patient shows signs of progress. He will also be examined and treated for other diseases that may be related to his drug dependence.This cycle is repeated until the patient is fully recovered.

In choosing a drug counselor or rehabilitation facilities, it is best to double check their accreditation with the state you live in and see if they are abreast with the most modern and effective approach to amphetamine abuse.