Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. This is true both in the U.S. and around the globe. This makes addiction one of the deadliest diseases in the world (and yes, addiction is a disease). Meth and alcohol addiction can be particularly harmful and deadly.
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
Many people don’t realize just how common alcohol use is. According to the National Institute on alcohol Abuse and alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “224.3 million people ages 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes 111.1 million males ages 12 and older (80.1% in this age group)” and “113.2 million females ages 12 and older (78.1% in this age group).”
The number of people who struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is also staggering. According to NIAAA and NSDUH, “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group)” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group).” Similar troubling numbers also exist with methamphetamine addiction.
Understanding Methamphetamine Addiction
Methamphetamine use is both highly prevalent and dangerous. According to the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, “The psychostimulant methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive drug that has surged in popularity over the last decade in North America. A burgeoning number of clandestine drug laboratories has led to dramatic increases in MA production, which have resulted in significant public health, legal, and environmental problems. Current evidence indicates that exposure to MA is neurotoxic, and neuroimaging studies confirm that long-term use in humans may lead to extensive neural damage.”
Methamphetamine use also has both short and long-term effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Methamphetamine’s short-term effects typically include feelings of euphoria and increased alertness and energy. It can also cause serious negative health effects, including paranoia, anxiety, rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, stroke, or even death. Long-term use may lead to insomnia, memory loss, development of a substance use disorder, and other health problems.”
The Dangers of Mixing Meth and Alcohol
Mixing meth and alcohol can be particularly dangerous. This is because mixing meth and alcohol can increase the negative effects of both substances. For example, taking meth and alcohol can lead to greater chances of alcohol poisoning because meth can cause one to drink more quantities without passing out.
Alcohol can also cause a person to use more and more meth because the depressant effects of alcohol can temper the stimulating effects of meth. This makes a person feel that they need to use more to get their anticipated euphoric effects. Using both of these substances also increases the chances of both depression and anxiety. The good news is there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for recovery from meth and alcohol addiction.
How to Best Recover From the Effects of Meth and Alcohol
The key to recovering from meth and alcohol addiction is to utilize as many tools as possible. This means using methods from all areas of recovery. This includes the realm of psychotherapy, experiential therapy, and holistic healing methods like mindfulness meditation.
Meditation can be particularly helpful for recovery. According to Ayu: An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda, “Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency. Physiological benefits include reduced blood pressure, heart rate, lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine; decreased metabolism, breathing pattern, oxygen utilization, and carbon dioxide elimination; and increased melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), skin resistance, and relative blood flow to the brain.”
Utilizing The Twelve Steps to Recover From the Effects of Meth and Alcohol
Working with others can also be helpful for recovery from meth and alcohol addiction. This can be particularly true because it can help connect people with 12-Step recovery.
Working The Twelve Steps can help individuals establish a new safe and sober “design for living.” This includes the tools that can help one navigate recovery when times get tough. It also keeps the cycle of recovery going by encouraging people who have recovered to help the “newcomer.”
Taking Long-Term Success Seriously at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future.
At Lantana Recovery, we believe in offering unconditional love to our clients until they learn to love themselves. The love available for those in recovery is real. It’s time to experience it for yourself. The time is now, and we can help.
Alcohol and meth on their own are dangerous enough, but when they are mixed, the dangers increase significantly. It is critical to understand those dangers as well as the best ways to recover. The good news is that there have never been so many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help you achieve long-term recovery success. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through your healing alone. For more information about the dangers of mixing alcohol and meth, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
