Crystal Meth Intervention

Can an Intervention Save My Family?

In regards to a crystal meth intervention,
sometimes there is a degree of confusion amongst family members about
Methamphetamine. Generally speaking, Opiate abusers (Heroin, Oxycontin,
Vicodin, etc) refer to Methadone as “meth”. Crystal methamphetamine is a
very potent stimulant. Meth(adone) is a downer, whereas Methamphetamine
(crystal meth) is a stimulant. Be aware, however, than in the late
stages of Methadone abuse, the user actually gains energy from its use,
even though it is a downer or narcotic. Call and speak to one of our
addictions counselors if you need assistance in determining what your
loved one may be taking and whether a crystal meth intervention is
suggested.

Crystal Methamphetamine goes by several
different street names. Crystal, meth, ice, glass, tweak, speed, and
bathtub crank are just some of the hundreds of slang names for
methamphetamine. It can be snorted, ingested, smoked or injected.
Essentially a high-powered stimulant, meth increases the user’s sense of
power, control, ambition, decreases appetite, increases sex drive and
the ability to work longer hours without rest or sleep. It is not
uncommon for a methamphetamine addict to stay awake for days or weeks
without rest. Prolonged usage creates temporary psychosis, paranoia,
obsessive-compulsive behavior, delusional thinking, hallucinations,
aggression, and sometimes violence. Acute usage can actually create
permanent psychosis. Performing a crystal meth intervention on an acute user who has major psychotic symptoms can be extremely dangerous.

Withdrawal after Crystal Meth Intervention

The withdrawal from meth can include
long sleep periods, binge eating, depression, suicidal thoughts,
fatigue, irritability, lowered heart rate, respiration, and blood
pressure. This needs to be taken into consideration when performing a
crystal meth intervention.

Information about interventions for other types of drugs.

Origins of Crystal Meth

Amphetamines were actually used
originally by both the U.S. troops as well as Nazi Germany during World
Word II for greater effectiveness in military campaigns. The more potent
Meth, aka Crystal Methamphetamine, came into prominence in the 1970′s
as the local bike gangs of San Diego, California discovered a cheap,
cost effective approach to creating a more potent
methamphetamine. Building a strong distribution network, crystal
methamphetamine quickly began spreading itself across the nation through
its gang members. The drug of choice for truck drivers who used it to
drive for longer hours without sleep, eventually other “meth labs”
started in rural areas across the country. Due to the ease of
manufacture, the control of methamphetamine soon fell out of the hands
of the bike gangs and into the hands of local drug users and drug
dealers nationwide.

“The Crystal Meth Intervention is the Most Difficult of all Interventions”

The first thing that needs to be said
about a crystal meth intervention is that it is the most difficult of
all interventions. Although the substance itself isn’t usually the true
problem in terms of recovery, it is important to understand that each
substance abused does require a different approach in terms of
intervention. An alcohol intervention is handled differently than a
crystal meth intervention on an addict. In dealing with a crystal meth
intervention we generally have two types of people, each of which is
dealt with in a different way.

Crystal Meth Intervention on a Binge User

The most frequent meth intervention that
we conduct is on the binge crystal meth user. The binge meth user is
someone who can go for days, weeks or months without using meth.
However, over time the amount and duration of the binges do have a
tendency to increase, sometimes even lasting for days even weeks.
Essentially the typical pattern or description of a binge user of meth
is as follows. He may be a highly motivated, outgoing individual with a
great personality. Everything goes fine for a while and then there is a
degree of irritation and agitation, sometimes described as a manic
state. It is soon after this that the binge user goes out and uses his
drug, sometimes with the intention of “only using a little bit”. After
the binge, the user is remorseful, depressed and sometimes suicidal. The
user might not even understand why he went and used the meth in the
first place, maybe he promised himself and others not to do it again.
This time it will be different, though. Never again, he promises. Until
the next time. Oftentimes, even family members are discouraged from
doing a crystal meth intervention on a binge user because they too feel
that after one of these binges he will eventually stop. Unfortunately,
the reality is that with each successive binge, the addiction actually
grows stronger without some form of treatment.

In performing a crystal meth
intervention on a binge user, ideally if one can time the intervention
to within two weeks after the binge, the chances of successfully getting
the addict to agree to treatment can increase exponentially. If,
however, you attempt an intervention on the day prior to an upcoming
binge, or during the manic phase, it has a greater degree of difficulty.
Oftentimes the addict himself is unaware of this “manic phase” or
upcoming binge, but those around him who have observed him for any
length of time can eventually begin to predict the cycle. Does that mean
that if it has been weeks since the binge an intervention is useless?
Absolutely not. An experienced intervention specialist has the ability
to get a meth addict to understand the cycle and necessity for treatment
no matter how long since the last usage. A forewarning: If you attempt a
crystal meth intervention on someone during the middle of their binge
period, you may be dealing with someone in the midst of psychosis and
paranoia. Delivering a crystal meth intervention during this time may
“feed the fire” of their delusional thinking where “everyone is in on
the conspiracy”. In some scenarios, you may be dealing with someone who
is currently seeing visions and hearing things that aren’t there. Trying
to rationally communicate with someone in this condition is extremely
difficult. In the worst case scenarios, you may be dealing with a
completely irrational, violent person, capable of anything. A crystal
meth intervention on a binge user is ideally performed when they are
“sober”. Understand, however, that with enough acute usage of meth, even
a binge user eventually begins to acquire long-term psychotic symptoms,
lasting long after the last usage.

Crystal Meth Intervention on a Daily User

Although we conduct fewer crystal meth
interventions on a daily user, this is becoming more and more common of
an addict than a typical binge user. The “daily user” of meth is someone
who cannot “function” on a daily basis without using the drug. Although
initially having a high degree of functionality, eventually the daily
meth user spirals out of control, often into insanity. Doing a crystal
meth intervention on a daily user is usually more difficult than on a
standard binge user. If the daily user has been using for years he may
have become so delusional, reactionary and sometimes violent that
conducting an intervention can become an explosive or even dangerous
experience. If conducted early enough in his using life, it is important
to make an attempt to perform the crystal meth intervention while he is
not actively using the drug. In some cases this is early in the
morning, before he begins his daily cycle of use. Unfortunately,
however, sometimes it is impossible to conduct a crystal meth
intervention on a daily user when he is not under the influence of the
drug. Although more difficult, however, performing an intervention on a
meth user when he is actively under the influence of meth does have a
higher degree of success than doing nothing.

Our Experience with Crystal Meth Interventions

It is important to understand the danger
of methamphetamine as a drug and the unpredictability of performing a
meth intervention. On several occasions, the intervention specialists at
Intervention Services USA have had guns pulled on us and our lives
threatened during an intervention. On one occasion our interventionist
was held hostage for a period of time. On each of these occasions, 
methamphetamine was the drug involved. Know, however, that sooner or
later an intervention always happens with the methamphetamine addict.
Sometimes in the form of a professional meth intervention guided by a
specialist. On other occasions, it is when the police become involved
due to some aberrant behavior and the addict is taken to jail. In
the worst case scenarios, the intervention occurs when his behaviors
put him in a lethal confrontation with law enforcement, and he never
gets a chance of sobriety again.

Essentially each crystal meth intervention
is unique and after proper analysis and guidance, your intervention
specialist will help you to determine when and what is the best
approach.