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Click here to read "Addressing the Complexities of Chronic Pain," by Dr. James Gagne, an internist at The Canyon. The article was published in Marin Medicine Magazine. (This link is provided solely for educational purposes.)

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How Methamphetamine Can Become Addictive

All addictive drugs (like cocaine, marijuana, tobacco, etc) have the same two general effects: the produce a pleasurable initial effect, followed by an unpleasant secondary effect. Methamphetamine (also known as "meth") is no different; it produces positive feelings when it is first used, but after the initial feelings subside, the person is left feeling depressed after the effects have worn off. This is due to the fact that meth suppresses the body's normal production of dopamine, which produces a chemical imbalance in the body and brain. In order to feel like they are back to normal, the user must take more of the drug, and this vicious cycle quickly leads to a drug addiction.

The Canyon is a full-service drug rehabilitation center that helps clients suffering from crystal meth addiction. Through a variety of traditional and nontraditional treatments and therapies, patients are guided along the road of recovery, breaking free of their addiction and returning to a healthy, normal life.

How Methamphetamine Becomes Addictive: The Pleasure Center

The body has various drives and needs; a few of these are sex, hunger and thirst. When these needs are satisfied, the body sends signals to the brain, which then creates chemicals that the body interprets as reward signals. This chemical then travels to the reward center of the brain, causing feelings of pleasure in the individual. Amphetamines produce an artificial feeling of pleasure by copying this process by sending chemicals to the brain that are not naturally produced. This can (and usually does) result in a dependence on the quick (but fake) method of inducing pleasure that is brought about by the drug, which then creates a short-circuit in the body's natural reward system. By creating rewarding feelings immediately after being taken, meth stimulates the body's response system and causes the user to psychologically associate meth with pleasure, rather than associating natural experiences with pleasure.

How Methamphetamine Becomes Addictive: Repetition

The body's memory can be likened to a tape recorder; it stores everything that the body experiences. When it is signaled or stimulated, the body can "play back" experiences that have been stored in the memory center of the brain. Repetition of particular actions and/or consequences from those actions strengthens memories associated with those actions. So, when meth is repeatedly used, its pleasant effect is gradually programmed into the body through the pleasure brought about by its use. Whenever a user thinks about meth, they automatically remember their first experience, which brought about pleasure immediately after they took the drug.

The All-Consuming Nature of Methamphetamine Addiction

Meth is able to override your body's survival system by artificially stimulating your brain's reward center without anything beneficial happening to the body. This is not natural, as a normal body stimulates the reward system in response to natural events instead of artificial drugs. As this happens over and over, it leads to an increased confidence in meth and less confidence in the normal rewards of life. This imbalance can lead to a decreased interest in your life before meth as you continue to rely more and more on it and everything that is associated with it. In fact, research done on animals showed that, when animals were given levers that - when pushed - would release meth into their bloodstream, they became so addicted that they no longer concerned themselves with eating, mating or anything but pushing the lever. They died of starvation, even though food was present, because they were only concerned with getting more meth.

Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment at The Canyon

The Canyon's Healing Life Program is designed to help you develop a positive relationship with yourself. Through a variety of traditional and nontraditional therapies, you will rediscover an authentic relationship with yourself and break free from your addiction. With the help of The Canyon's staff and therapists, you can succeed in returning to a healthy, normal life and remaining free from drug addiction for the rest of your life.

Articles on Crystal Meth Addiction

• Methamphetamine Addiction and Crystal Meth Labs
• Methamphetamine Addiction and Pregnancy
• How Methamphetamine Can Become Addictive
• Interventions for Crystal Meth Addiction
• Effects of Crystal Meth Addiction