Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health

Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

Overview: Amphetamine Addiction Treatment In Ontario

Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health is here to help those looking for amphetamine addiction treatment in Ontario. Our inpatient treatment facility is located just outside of Toronto (GTA). For those unable to join us at our facility for inpatient treatment, we offer 1-on-1 counselling services to those in need of amphetamine addiction treatment in Toronto, the GTA, Ontario and across Canada.

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What Are Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs that are used to increase alertness, energy and focus. To be effective, they raise concentrations of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. With the aid of these molecules, maintaining concentration and alertness is less of a struggle. They are used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and other medical conditions. They are also used as appetite suppressants. Amphetamines are available by prescription and are also used as recreational drugs. They can be taken orally, snorted, or injected.

Are Amphetamines Addictive?

Amphetamines do have the potential to be addictive. In Toronto, the prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric problems and opioid use has increased along with amphetamine use. Amphetamine-related inpatient admissions rose from 2% to 8% in 2021.

Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health is here to help those looking for amphetamine addiction treatment in Ontario. Our inpatient treatment facility is located just outside of Toronto (GTA). For those unable to commit to an inpatient treatment program, we offer one-on-one counselling to help while on the road to recovery.

Amphetamine Addiction Toronto Stats

Among major Canadian cities, methamphetamine possession rates in 2017 were the highest in Edmonton (80.82 per 100,000), Saskatoon (66.9 per 100,000), Vancouver (42.22 per 100,000) and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (34.12 per 100,000)
Between April 2014 and December 2021, CAMH had a total of 90,276 ED visits and 28,834 IP admissions. Of those, 5,390 ED visits and 1,773 IP admissions were amphetamine-related, accounting for 6.0% and 6.1% respectively.


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Amphetamine vs Methamphetamine: What’s The Difference

There are legal and illicit versions of the drug class known as amphetamines. Conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy may be helped by them. Methamphetamine, most often known as “meth,” is a highly addictive and potent stimulant.

In Canada, methamphetamine is a Schedule III restricted drug. Schedule III chemicals pose a danger to public health, although less so than Schedule I or Schedule II narcotics, according to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

Therefore, it is forbidden to have methamphetamine in one’s possession, manufacture the substance, or sell it without the proper paperwork. In addition to fines and jail time, anyone caught manufacturing or selling drugs faces even harsher consequences.

The use, possession, and distribution of methamphetamines are all considered illegal activities in Canada, with heavy repercussions for anyone found guilty. Methamphetamine use is associated with a wide range of negative health outcomes, including but not limited to addiction and psychosis.

Amphetamine Side Effects

Although this class of drug can produce the desired effects needed, amphetamines also have unwanted side effects such as:

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Bladder pain
  • Bloody or cloudy urine
  • Crying
  • Delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
  • Difficult, burning, painful urination
  • False or unusual sense of well-being
  • Feeling of unreality
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Lower back or side pain
  • Mental depression
  • Nervousness
  • Quick to react or overreact emotionally
  • Rapidly changing moods
  • Sense of detachment from self or body

Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health offers programs for amphetamine addiction treatment that accomplishes several goals. Any effective treatments should include the following principles.

  • Detoxification is the first stage and can be medically assisted because withdrawal can often be severe and even life-threatening.

  • Treatment plans that address more than just drug abuse. Effective recovery addresses all of the client’s needs, including any behavioural and psychological issues.

  • Medications can be an essential part of any successful recovery plan. These often work best when they are combined with behavioural therapy sessions.

Successful amphetamine addiction treatment also includes relapse prevention. Having one of these in place can help you from repeating unhealthy old behaviours.

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Amphetamine Rehab Options

Inpatient Amphetamine Addiction

Most rehabilitation centres offer 12-step programs as part of their treatment options. These programs typically last 30 days or more and involve detoxification, medication treatment, therapy, and education. However, at Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health, we do not offer a 12-step program. Instead, we utilize an evidence-based treatment program that provides our clients with the best results.

Inpatient programs for amphetamine drug addiction focus on individual and group therapy. An inpatient program is ideal for residents who need a safe and controlled environment. The average length of stay in an inpatient program is between 30 and 90 days.

Counselling for Amphetamine Addiction

Counselling is available on a per-session basis and requires participation online or in person. Counselling is typically less time-intensive than inpatient treatment but does not have the same impact on recovery as inpatient treatment would. Counselling can help clients continue working on skills they started developing while on their recovery journey.

What To Look For When Picking A Rehab

If you’re in the process of seeking a rehab center, there are a couple of details you’ll want to inquire about.

It is important for an addiction treatment center to offer a personalized approach that takes into account the unique needs and circumstances of each individual and to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to heal and recover. An addiction treatment center should offer a comprehensive range of treatment options when treating amphetamine addiction, including:

  • Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
  • Behavioural therapies: CBT, DBT, and MI
  • Contingency management
  • Holistic therapies
  • Aftercare support


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Amphetamine Aftercare Treatment

One of the essential components of rehabilitation after being treated for amphetamine addiction is the recovery process. At Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health, we can guarantee lifelong support to all of our graduates.

Conclusion: Getting Amphetamine Addiction Treatment

Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health provides amphetamine addiction treatment in Ontario and across Canada. Our inpatient treatment centre is situated outside Toronto (GTA) Ontario, and we provide a virtual outpatient program for amphetamine addiction treatment in Ontario and throughout Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions: Amphetamines

Examples of amphetamines include prescription medications such as Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, Concerta, and Ritalin, typically used for treating ADHD and narcolepsy. Amphetamines are stimulant drugs designed to boost energy and concentration. On the illegal side, substances like methamphetamine (“meth”), “speed,” “Ice,” “Blue,” and “Crystal” are also amphetamines. These substances can lead to addiction and pose serious health risks if abused.

Amphetamine withdrawal symptoms are the physical and emotional symptoms that occur when someone stops taking amphetamines after using them for a long time. Depression, exhaustion, insomnia, and an increased hunger are among symptoms that may arise.

Yes, Adderall is an amphetamine. Adderall’s two active components are amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. In people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these compounds have been shown to increase the levels of particular neurotransmitters in the brain, hence improving attention and decreasing impulsiveness and hyperactivity.

Yes, Vyvanse is an amphetamine. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate is the active component of the drug Vyvanse. It helps those with ADHD focus better and exhibit less impulsive and hyperactive behaviour by elevating levels of specific neurotransmitters in the brain.

Cocaine is not an amphetamine. Coca leaves are processed to produce the stimulant substance cocaine. It produces its effects by elevating dopamine levels in the brain, which in turn causes a surge of positive emotions and physical activity. Amphetamine-like effects are not something you can expect from cocaine.

“Methamphetamines,” also known as “Crystal Meth,” “Meth,” and “Ice,” are a more powerful and stronger form of amphetamines. “Methamphetamines,” also known as “Meth,” are a more powerful and stronger form of amphetamines. They affect the brain and body like other stimulants but are stronger. They increase brain dopamine and norepinephrine levels more potently than amphetamines. Thus, abuse and addiction are more likely. Methamphetamine abuse, which may be eaten orally,  inhaled, or intramuscularly, causes increased vital signs, dilated pupils, and a variety of psychological symptoms, including insomnia, anxiety, and irritability.

Withdrawal from amphetamine may take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the individual and the length of time they were hooked on the drug. A few days to a couple of weeks is a typical duration. Some symptoms might last for weeks or months, including insomnia, depression, and fatigue.

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