How to: Speed Addiction Treatment

What is speed?

The terminology “speed” (see the American Heritage Dictionary) is a slang term for a powerfully addictive stimulant made from amphetamine or methamphetamine. It is one of the 6 primary drug threats monitored by the DEA and law enforcement agencies. Healthcare organizations and the medical community considers speed addiction a serious public health threat as well. This is based on the number of annually reported cases of death due to overdose and serious illnesses that are associated with speed.

Speed addiction is not only an extremely dangerous one, it can become so severe that it becomes life-threatening and eventually fatal. Tolerances to the drug are quick to build up and eventually, an individual develops an addiction to or dependency on the drug when they continue to abuse it. Consequently, the majority of the addiction treatment and recovery centers throughout the US now offer speed addiction rehab and recovery programs, many of which are highly effective and have high recovery success rates.

Speed addiction side effects

There is absolutely no medicinal or prescription value involved with using speed as it is strictly a recreational drug that is sold on the streets and manufactured in clandestine labs throughout the US. Along with club drugs (date rape drugs) or MDMA’s, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and certain prescription medications, speed is one of the most widely distributed and trafficked illegal substances in the US.

According to organizations such as the CDC, NIDA, and SAMHSA, speed addiction side effects are classified into four separate categories that include the following:

•  Long-term effects – anxiety, amphetamine psychosis, criminal or violent behavior, depression, heart disease, suicidal tendencies are the most common side effects.
•  Physical effects – the more common physical side effects are anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth (“cotton mouth”), hyper or hypotension, insomnia, restlessness, tachycardia, and twitching. The more severe physical effects include addiction, convulsions, death from overdose, heart attacks, and strokes
•  Psychological effects – these include numerous effects such as aggressive behavior, anxiety, euphoria, feelings of power and invincibility, improved self esteem, increased self-confidence, irritability, and paranoia. In the more severe cases of speed addiction, amphetamine psychosis oftentimes occur.
• Withdrawal effects – when an individual undergoes a speed addiction treatment and recovery program, the withdrawal symptoms that usually arise can be very unpleasant. Depression, fatigue and restlessness, and increased appetite are the more common ones. However, symptoms such as anxiety, agitation, excessive sleeping, and suicidal tendencies are not uncommon either.

The help you need is only a phone call away

For more information on our facility and our highly effective speed addiction treatment programs, please contact the Freedom Center today at the toll-free phone number listed above and speak with one of our caring addiction specialists.