Mephedrone Addiction Treatment
Last Updated:
January 3rd, 2024
Known for its stimulant effects similar to those of amphetamines and ecstasy, Mephedrone presents unique challenges in recovery treatment. Mephedrone’s addictive potential stems from both its impact on the brain’s reward system and its complex personal and mental causes, making effective recovery a multifaceted process. At UKAT, that process encompasses medically supported detox, an extensive rehab programme and long-term relapse prevention.
We are dedicated to guiding you on this journey with compassion and expertise and giving you the best chance of a full and lasting recovery.
What is mephedrone detox?
Mephedrone detox is a vital, yet sometimes challenging, first step towards recovery. It is the process of ceasing mephedrone, allowing your body and brain to heal and breaking physical dependence.
Taking mephedrone affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, creating a sense of euphoria and increased sociability. While this can be initially pleasurable, regular mephedrone use leads to the body becoming reliant on the presence of mephedrone for you to feel “normal”. If you then try to quit the drug, unpleasant mephedrone withdrawal symptoms arise, which can cause you to relapse and can also be potentially dangerous.
Medically monitored detox like that provided by UKAT involves carefully managing the reduction of Mephedrone use, mitigating withdrawal symptoms and supporting the body’s adjustment.
The spectrum of mephedrone withdrawal symptoms
Mephedrone withdrawal can manifest a diverse range of symptoms, which vary depending on how long you have been using mephedrone, your health and any underlying conditions. Symptoms you may experience include:
Psychological distress: Symptoms can include mood swings, anxiety, depression and intense mephedrone cravings.
Physical manifestations: Users might experience symptoms like fatigue, sleep issues and physical discomfort.
Cognitive challenges: Impaired concentration and memory issues are also common during withdrawal.
The mephedrone withdrawal process
The experience of mephedrone withdrawal varies from person to person, but it typically follows a general pattern:
Mephedrone detox at UKAT
At UKAT, we recognise that successful mephedrone detox requires both medical oversight and compassionate support. Our legal high detox programmes are tailored to individual needs, recognising the unique challenges posed by mephedrone addiction. Some of the key features of mephedrone detox at UKAT include:
A full medical assessment upon admission
When you first arrive at UKAT, you will undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation. This allows our detox team to assess your health, the extent of your dependency, any co-occurring conditions and how likely you are to experience severe mephedrone withdrawal symptoms.
A mephedrone detox plan tailored to your needs
With the assessment results, a detox plan can then be formulated which considers anyindividual needs. This will include any necessary medication for managing withdrawal symptoms and any other special requirements.
Around-the-clock professional support
Mephedrone withdrawal can be a difficult process, so professional support is key. UKAT’s medical and recovery teams are on hand 24/7 during the mephedrone detox process to provide any assistance you need. They will also closely monitor your progress and make any adjustments to your detox plan.
Simultaneous rehab treatment
At UKAT, we offer our legal high rehab and detox programmes simultaneously. While mephedrone detox helps you to recover physically, our mephedrone rehab programme will help you work through the other aspects of legal high addiction to heal your mind, body and soul.
What is mephedrone rehab?
Mephedrone rehab is the second key stage of overcoming a dependency on mephedrone. Like all forms of legal high rehab, it aims to identify underlying issues which have led to drug use so you can address them one by one.
UKAT provides inpatient mephedrone rehab, which means you will stay in our residential centre during both the detox and therapy stages. This has several advantages over outpatient rehab, including:
An immersive schedule and environment
At inpatient mephedrone rehab, you will be fully immersed in the recovery process. Your daily schedule will be planned out for you with various forms of therapy, skill development sessions and other forms of treatment, all offered in a safe, comfortable environment.
Sanctuary for mephedrone and triggers
There is no access to mephedrone or other substances at UKAT rehab centres, which makes relapse during your stay impossible. You will also be shielded from the triggers and daily stressors which fuel your mephedrone use, allowing you to focus solely on recovery and healing.
The chance to make real and lasting connections
During your stay, you will have fantastic opportunities to get to know the other clients in rehab as well as the recovery staff. These connections can be crucial in breaking the isolation often caused by mephedrone dependency and providing support in tough moments during detox and rehab. Many of the friendships made in rehab also continue once treatment is done, with fellow clients and staff becoming key support pillars in ongoing sobriety.
Mephedrone addiction treatment at UKAT
Mephedrone rehab at UKAT offers a multifaceted treatment approach, incorporating a variety of therapeutic modalities. This ensures a holistic approach that caters to each client’s physical, emotional and psychological needs.
Some of our most important therapies include:
Individual therapy
Individual therapy is a crucial aspect of recovery but it is usually only offered in inpatient rehab. Under the guidance of your personal counsellor, you will be able to dive deep into the causes, symptoms and consequences of your mephedrone use.
This will give you key insights into the journey and help you make meaningful breakthroughs.
Group therapy
Group therapy is just as important as individual therapy as it allows you to share your experiences, learn from others and help to create the sense of community that rehab thrives off. Sometimes, just hearing someone else’s story can be a crucial realisation as it shows you that you are not alone and that other people can relate to your situation.
While you may find opening up in group therapy a little difficult initially, you will soon see that there is no judgement and everyone is working towards the same goals.
Cognitive and dialectical behaviour therapies
CBT and DBT are cornerstones of mephedrone addiction treatment that address the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. They will teach you to change negative thinking patterns and regulate emotional reactions so you can deal with stressful moments or addictive triggers without resorting to mephedrone use.
Holistic therapies
These include modalities like art therapy, sound therapy and meditation, which offer alternative mediums for expression and healing. Art therapy gives you the chance to explore and express your inner thoughts without the need for words, while sound therapy can bring a sense of deep peace, which has major benefits for emotional health. Mindfulness and meditation practices are also offered to enhance self-awareness, improve stress management and enable you to regulate your thoughts and emotions more effectively.
Preventing mephedrone relapse
Sustaining long-term recovery means an ongoing commitment to sobriety long after you leave mephedrone rehab. While you are in rehab, you will create a relapse prevention plan which will help you in the first difficult weeks and months of transitioning into your new mephedrone-free life. Some of the important strategies in this plan will likely include:
Attending aftercare: UKAT provides all our clients with aftercare programmes to reinforce the coping strategies developed during rehab. This involves one year of free weekly group therapy sessions designed to provide peer support, accountability in recovery, and prevent isolation.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle: Establishing a structured daily routine, including healthy habits and regular physical activity, is crucial for maintaining balance. You may take up new hobbies, continue the meditation practices you developed in mephedrone rehab or try a new diet. Anything that makes you feel good without needing mephedrone can help sustain a positive outlook.
Building a supportive network: Cultivating and maintaining relationships with supportive peers and family members offers a safety net against relapse. Mephedrone rehab will help you repair relationships that may have been damaged by drug use and will also give you a chance to meet staff and other people in recovery to add to your network.
Committing to personal growth: Committing to ongoing personal development, continuing therapy and joining local support groups can all help to address any unresolved underlying issues and maintain focus on recovery goals.
Begin mephedrone addiction treatment at UKAT
Reaching out for help is the first and most important step to recovery. UKAT provides holistic mephedrone rehab programmes as part of our mephedrone addiction treatment, which has helped many people overcome dependency and begin a whole new life. We recognise the unique challenges everyone faces in rehab and are committed to offering the necessary tools and support for a successful recovery. Contact UKAT today to find out more.