Pubdate: Mon, 13 May 2002
Source: Parkersburg News, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002, The Parkersburg News
Contact:  http://www.newsandsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1648
Author: Roger Adkins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ADDICTION TO METH DIFFICULT TO BEAT

The methamphetamine problem does not stop when an offender is behind bars, 
area drug counselors said.

Even when dealers are put away, they said users are left to cope with a 
very serious disease: Addiction. Addiction brings many adverse conditions 
to those it afflicts, said Jessica Trippett, certified addiction counselor 
at Westbrook Health Services in Parkersburg.

Addicts often are referred to Westbrook via the legal system, and 
counselors must invest a great deal of time in each person after the legal 
system has finished, she said.

"One of the biggest problems with crystal meth that I've seen personally is 
you're more prone to violence," Trippett said.

"Anger control problems are going to be found with any kind of amphetamine 
addiction at all. You don't even have to be addicted."

As with any drug use, a poor ability to reason and make sound decisions is 
prominent in the meth subculture, Trippett said.

Many referrals to Westbrook are made by child protective services when 
workers discover crystal meth is being produced in a home where children 
may come into contact with the drug.

"If they find crystal meth in a home, they will remove a child," Trippett 
said. "It's a danger."

There are seven consistent signs of addiction to any substance, Trippett 
said. The signs are increased tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, 
unsuccessful attempts to quit continuous use despite adverse consequences, 
preoccupation with the drug and using more than intended.

Crystal meth addiction is hard to defeat, Trippett said. The withdrawal 
symptoms can be horrendous and can include irritability, sleep problems, 
shakes and nausea.

"Crystal meth is highly addictive and it's a hard drug to beat," Trippett said.

The addiction must be defeated in four phases biologically, 
psychologically, socially and spiritually, Trippett said. A recovery plan 
must be individually designed for each addict, she said.

"The first thing is you would need to be detoxed," she said. "Medical detox 
is where they can monitor you to make sure that you come off the drug 
safely. Some people don't necessarily need to go through detox."

Biological recovery means abstinence from the drug and maintaining physical 
health, Trippett said. Psychological recovery involves learning to deal 
with problems with out the aid of narcotics. Social recovery comes when a 
person has been removed from the influence of others who use the drug.

Most relapses occur in the social phase of the recovery, she said.

"That's where everybody falls apart on their recovery plan," Trippett said. 
"You've got to hang around with nonusing people. You can't continue to hang 
around the same group and stay clean, it's not going to happen. You are who 
you hang out with."

The meth subculture is so tight addicts are saturated in it, presenting 
immense temptation to revert to drug use, Trippett said. She compared the 
culture to a gang.

"It's almost like a cult," Trippett said. "If I hang out with people who go 
to the opera and listen to classical music, then I'm going to go to the 
opera and listen to classical music. Try being on a diet and going to 
Holl's Chocolate every day."

Relapses can occur in any of the stages of recovery. Trippett, in her 
experience, has observed a few interesting phenomena with drug users.

"Intravenous drug users, what I've found fascinating with them is it's 
almost like they're addicted to the needle more than they are the drug," 
she said. "It's weird. An IV drug user, if I put an needle in front of 
them, they start Jonesin'

"A pill addict, if you shake a pill bottle, you can see them start craving 
it," Trippett said.

Drug users use their addiction to numb life's problems, Trippett said. 
Addicts struggle to balance the everyday tribulations of a normal person.

"Anger, stress management," she said. "When you're addicted to drugs, it 
takes away so much. You can lose your job, you can lose your family, you 
can lose your friends, you can lose your freedom and you lose tons of money."

Everything with addiction happens in stages, Trippett said. As drug use 
progresses, so does the addiction and the repercussions.

"You progressively lose more and more in your life," she said.

Losses from drug addiction are not immediately returned when one kicks the 
habit, Trippett said. Recovering addicts must work hard to regain what 
they've lost.

"It gets worse before it gets better," she said.

The biggest challenge a drug counselor must face is gaining the trust of 
someone they are trying to help, Trippett said. Addicts generally are 
referred to treatment by the court system. Therefore, they associate 
treatment centers with the authorities.

"We're not the police," Trippett said. "If they (addicts) come in here and 
they disclose an illegal activity, we don't tell the police unless someone 
is in danger."

Anyone who believes they may have a problem with addiction may contact 
Westbrook Health Services at 295-5665.

Various programs are available as is federal aid.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager