Meth Addiction in Northern California: Why It’s Rising and How Treatment Helps
Meth addiction in Northern California is a serious public health concern. And the problem may be getting worse.
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Meth Addiction in Northern California
A recently published study is among the latest evidence that suggests meth addiction in California is on the rise.
That study, which was published by the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) last month, found that 14.8% of heart attack patients at Santa Clara Valley Health Care (SCVH) in Northern California had histories of meth use.
This means that meth use contributed to almost one of every six heart attacks treated by SCVH over the 10-year period covered by this study (2012-2022). Other findings included:
- 42.3% of patients who used meth were readmitted to the hospital for repeat heart attacks. This is significantly higher than the 27.2% readmission rate for heart attack patients with no history of meth use.
- The rate of death from any cause was much higher among heart attack patients who used meth (22.2%) than among those who never used the drug (14.4%)
According to an expert who was not involved in the JAHA study, meth use has also been linked to an increased prevalence of heart problems among younger adults.
“People who have used methamphetamine are diagnosed with heart disease about eight years earlier than those who haven’t used it,” Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., M.S.P.H., FAHA, said in a news release about the study.
Causes and risk factors
Addictions can rarely be traced to one underlying cause. For most people, they result from a combination of factors from various stages of life. For example, a December 2020 Cureus article reported that common addiction risk factors include:
- Gender (addiction is more common among boys and men than among girls and women)
- Family history of substance abuse and addiction
- Domestic violence and family conflicts during childhood
- Abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Using substances at a young age
- Prior struggles with other types of addiction
- Having anxiety, depression, or another mental health disorder
The impact of polysubstance use
But why does the data indicate that meth addiction in Northern California may be increasing? One report suggests that rising rates of polysubstance use among people who use opioids may be a key factor.
A report from Millennial Health, a drug-testing company that is headquartered in California, noted that 72% of urine specimens that tested positive for fentanyl in 2023 also had evidence of meth use. This represents an increase of 2,235% from 2013.
“The striking increases we’re seeing in methamphetamine use among people who use fentanyl adds a new layer of complexity to the fight,” Angela G. Huskey, PharmD, CPE, Millennium Health’s chief clinical officer, said in an article about the report.
“Consistent with national trends, the overwhelming majority of people in California who use fentanyl engage in polysubstance use – now mostly involving the use of methamphetamine – which creates unique treatment challenges,” Huskey added.
Meth Addiction Symptoms
Only a trained professional can diagnose someone with an addiction. But friends and family members can play an important role by noticing warning signs and encouraging their loved one to seek help.
Diagnostic criteria
As established in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a person must meet at least two of the following 11 criteria to be diagnosed with meth addiction:
- Using meth in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than you intended
- Having a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to curtail your meth use
- Spending a great deal of time obtaining and using meth, as well as recovering from its effects
- Having strong cravings or urges to use meth
- Having difficulty meeting your responsibilities at work, in school, or at home due to your meth use
- Continuing to use meth despite having recurring social or interpersonal problems as a result of prior use of the drug
- Continuing to use meth despite having physical or psychological problem that are likely to have been caused or worsened by your prior use
- Ending or reducing your involvement in important activities due to your meth use
- Using meth in physically hazardous situations, such as driving while under the influence of the drug
- Developing tolerance, which means that you need to use more meth than you used to in order to feel the drug’s effects
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using meth, or when you’re prevented from using it
Warning signs
Warning signs that could indicate a person has become addicted to methamphetamine include:
- Drastic changes in energy level
- Dramatic mood swings
- Sudden outburst of aggressiveness or violence
- Memory problems
- Impulsive, reckless behaviors
- Significant unintentional weight loss
- Severe dental damage (commonly referred to as “meth mouth”)
- Skin sores or abscesses that don’t seem to heal
- Insomnia
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Unexplained financial problems
- Loss of interest in hobbies or other activities that they used to enjoy
- Notable downturn in performance at work or in school
- Frequent absenteeism from school or work
Benefits of Treatment for Meth Addiction
Effective treatment for meth addiction can occur at many levels and may involve an array of medications, therapies, and support services.
The specific benefits that a person receives from entering rehab for meth addiction will be determined by their unique history, needs, and goals. Generally speaking, though, common benefits of meth addiction treatment include:
- The intensity of meth withdrawal can make it quite difficult for a person to stop using the drug. When you enter a detox program, you’ll be in a safe, closely supervised environment where you can get medical and therapeutic support to ease your discomfort.
- During treatment, you can gain vital information about addiction and recovery, such as learning to identify and deal with your triggers (circumstances that may have contributed to your meth use and could push you back into active addiction).
- In rehab you can also get help for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other co-occurring mental health concerns. In many cases, people don’t even realize they have these types of conditions until they begin to take part in therapy.
- Group therapy sessions can help you discover the power of sharing support with others who have similar backgrounds and who are also working to achieve lasting recovery.
- Family therapy sessions can help your loved ones process how they have been affected by your struggles with addiction. These sessions can also be ideal opportunities to address conflicts and help you learn how to better support each other moving forward.
- Therapy can also help you develop and hone your skills in several areas that will support your recovery. These include conflict resolution, effective communication, problem-solving, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries, and knowing when and how to ask for help.
Find Meth Addiction Treatment in Northern California
If you are seeking treatment for meth addiction in Northern California, Bright Future Recovery is here for you.
Treatment options at our rehab in the San Francisco Bay Area include detox, residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and virtual (online) services. At each level you can expect to receive comprehensive support from a team of skilled professionals who are truly invested in your success.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
