Detoxification // Stimulants
What You Need To Know About Stimulants
Overview of Stimulants
Stimulants are a category of psychoactive drugs that speed up the messages sent between the brain and the body. This can cause the user to feel energetic, confident, alert, and productive.
Some common stimulants that are abused are:
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Methamphetamine
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Prescription Amphetamines: Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta
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Cocaine/Crack
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Caffeine
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Nicotine
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MDMA
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Ecstasy
When stimulants are abused, the feelings can turn to aggression, panic, and paranoia, and mild to severe hallucinations. Like all substances, the signs of abuse and effects on the body look different depending on the individual. Here we will describe what stimulants are, some of those signs and effects, and their detoxification processes.
Signs & Effects of Stimulants Abuse
Like all drugs, the excessive use of stimulants carries risks. After abusing stimulants for long enough to cause dependency, their psychological and physical well-being are greatly affected. Those who are psychologically dependent will begin to feel urges to use their stimulant of choice in any situation and physical dependence begins when the body adapts to the stimulant which requires an increased amount of the substances to be used in order to achieve the desired result. Some of the effects of stimulant abuse are:
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Anxiety
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Tension
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Increased Body Temperature
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Hallucinations
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Seizures
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Death
These effects vary based on the individual's height/weight, the amount used, and the length of time it has been abused at this rate.
Some signs that you are your loved one is struggling with Stimulant Dependency are:
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Dilated Pupils
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Restlessness
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Hyperactivity
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Rapid Weight Loss
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Constant Sweating
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Deceptive Behaviors
Our Stimulant Detoxification Process
Prior to admission, our dedicated team will conduct a “Pre-Screen” in order to gather the necessary information regarding the individual. This will identify the substance that is being abused, any medical history, and any assistance such as FMLA paperwork that is needed during the individual's stay at LA Valley Recovery.
Withdrawing from stimulants is relatively safe in comparison to some substances such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Treatment for stimulant abuse increases the overall chance at sustained abstinence from the stimulant being abused. When stimulants are being abused, sleep is usually not a consistent part of the daily routine for its users. This causes those who abuse stimulants to need many hours and possibly a few days of sleep until the individual is coherent and able to function at a normal rate. Due to this, LA Valley Recovery continues to do our part in getting clients through the admissions and intake process as quickly as we can while still ensuring that our clients are aware of the policies and procedures, financial agreements, and other necessary parts of the LA Valley Recovery program.
Once the initial intake procedure is completed, the clients will see our Medical Director, Dr. Courtney Scott. At this point, there will be a medication-assisted detoxification process put in place to help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal as best as possible.
Clients at LA Valley Recovery are consistently monitored throughout each day. During detoxification, clients will be checked on during staff rounds every 15 minutes at the most. This will allow the client to get rest right away while still being monitored for any increased severity of the withdrawal symptoms.
