Using Depression Medication to Help With Meth Addiction

silhouette of man smoking meth small

Using Depression Medication to Help With Meth Addiction

One of the difficulties with overcoming an addiction to crystal meth is that it takes a toll on a person’s serotonin levels. As a person becomes addicted to crystal meth and uses more and more of the drug, their serotonin levels will change. Ultimately, it makes it necessary for them to abuse the lethal drug in order to experience positive emotions and cope with life on life’s terms. A study that was released by the San Francisco Public Health Department states that methamphetamine addicts who take antidepressants regularly are more likely to be less dependent on the drug and more apt to avoid a relapse. This research is providing optimism for many addiction treatment experts as meth addiction is notorious for being one of the hardest addictions to overcome. It is not uncommon for meth addicts to experience numerous relapses during their attempts to become clean and sober.  Any advantage they can gain is of benefit to them. There are more than 1 million Americans who use methamphetamine on a daily basis. Meth addiction comes with a high cost as people who abuse it are likely to engage in risky behavior that could lead to health implications. Methamphetamine is a lethal drug that has countless effects on the individual’s brain. The hope is that antidepressants will help target the area of a recovering meth addict’s brain that correlates with cravings and rewards making it easier to recover from meth addiction.