Methamphetamine is also known as "speed","ice", and "tik". It is a highly addictive stimulant drug that activates certain areas in the brain to create a euphoric rush. It is chemically related to amphetamine but has a greater effect. Tik has become a scourge in South Africa because of its ready availability and low cost. Many people think that tik is a new drug but in fact it has been around for decades. It has just become more popular recently as local gangs started producing it. A great many people are addicted to this dangerous substance and in need of treatment in a drug rehab center.

While a person is high on tik he/she will experience a sense of euphoria and powerful invincibility. Tik users have a reduced appetite. Because the drug gives a sense of energy a tik user might not sleep for days on end provided he/she is able to continue taking doses of the drug. The combination of going without sleep and drug use can lead to "speed psychosis". For many people a proper medically supervised detox in a drug rehab center becomes the only way they can come off this powerfully addictive chemical.

Crystal meth treatment should address the behaviours that sustain the addiction as well as the psychological issues that keep the user trapped. Somebody leaving a drug rehab center should have an insight into why they use the drug and be equipped with coping skills which will mean they don't have to use it in the future.

Tik is made in illegal laboratories usually run by gangs. It is a relatively simple chemical to produce and can be manufactured using household ingredients. However the purity of the tik will depend on the skill and quality of equipment of the people who are making it. Gangs will often add cheaper materials to the mixture in order to lower the cost of production. This means that somebody using tik might not be able to tell exactly what is in the chemical.

Tik is most often used by inhaling the smoke. Because tik is a crystal it lets off a characteristic cracking noise as it is heated. This is where the name "tik" comes from.

Tik is usually treated in a residential drug rehab center where the client stays on the property for a number of weeks. A treatment program will start with a detoxification ("detox") that flushes out of the body any remnants of the drug or other toxins left behind. During detox the client might receive medications that will help to make the withdrawal symptoms more manageable.

Once the client has completed detox the drug rehab center will allow him/her to join the treatment program. Most programs use a variety of interventions to address the multiple facets that make up the clients pattern of addiction. These include counseling (individual and group), art therapy, drama therapy, yoga and relaxation therapy, and lectures. Usually these will be offered by a multidisciplinary team that works closely together to provide a seamless and comprehensive drug rehab treatment program.

A drug rehab program will address the core psychological issues that trap the addict. This means that potential problems that might trigger an episode of drug use are identified and strategies developed to deal with them. A person should leave a drug rehab center with a good insight into why they used drugs and how they can avoid being in that situation again.

There are a number of good drug rehab centers in South Africa that provide treatment for tik addiction at affordable rates. If you would like help in finding one please contact us for advice.