Quick answer
Methamphetamine is a stimulant, so no medication treats it directly - behavioral care does. Jackson County saw stimulant-involved deaths rise 4% in 2024, with a 14% rise in deaths involving both stimulants and opioids. CMHS runs treatment and 24/7 crisis services in Independence. Here is how to start.
Methamphetamine has no replacement medication the way opioids do, which is why so many people feel stuck after a first attempt to stop. What it does have is treatment that works — behavioral care that helps you rebuild routine and reasons to stay stopped. In Independence, that care is a phone call or a walk-in away.
What Jackson County's numbers show
The University of Missouri–St. Louis Addiction Science team tracks drug-involved deaths across the four Greater Kansas City, MO counties. Its 2024 report found:
- 402 drug-involved deaths across Cass, Clay, Platte, and Jackson counties, a 10% decrease from 2023
- In Jackson County, stimulant-involved deaths rose 4%, and deaths involving both stimulants and opioids rose 14%
- Fentanyl-involved deaths fell 8% and opioid-involved deaths fell 4% — so stimulants are a growing share of the local picture
Statewide, the 2024 Missouri overdose report counted 1,450 overdose deaths, down 26% from 1,948 in 2023.
What treatment for meth actually looks like
The National Institute on Drug Abuse confirms there is no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine use disorder, but behavioral treatments work.
- Contingency management — concrete rewards (vouchers, prizes, or gift cards) for verified drug-free tests. This is the strongest-evidence approach for stimulant use disorder.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — recognizing the people, places, and feelings that lead back to use, and building a plan for each.
- Structured outpatient or residential programs — a steady schedule, groups, and case management to replace the structure meth took away.
Ask each program directly: do you offer contingency management for stimulant use, and how soon can I be assessed?
Where to get care in Independence
Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) is the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for eastern Jackson County and provides residential and outpatient recovery services to all of Jackson County. Its Independence site is at 17844 E 23rd St, with:
- Open-access walk-in appointments for behavioral health and recovery services on weekdays
- A 24/7 crisis line at 888-279-8188
CMHS also operates a George R. Norman, Jr. Recovery Center and residential substance use recovery programs, so it can serve people who need more than weekly counseling.
The polysubstance reality
Stimulants and opioids are increasingly used together here, and Jackson County saw combined opioid-and-stimulant deaths rise 14% in 2024. Two practical steps:
- Tell any program everything you use. A plan built only around meth misses the fentanyl that may be in the same supply.
- If opioids are anywhere in the picture, carry naloxone. Missouri's statewide standing order lets pharmacists dispense naloxone without a separate prescription, and free naloxone is available through GetMissouriNaloxone.com.
Paying for treatment
MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment for eligible members, including outpatient and residential care. Many members enroll through managed care plans such as Healthy Blue, Home State Health, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. CMHS also serves people who are uninsured.
How to start today
- If someone has chest pain, a seizure, or a dangerously high body temperature, call 911 now. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a person — free and without obligation:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.
- Call CMHS at 816-254-3652 (24/7 crisis line 888-279-8188), or walk in to 17844 E 23rd St for an open-access appointment.
- Ask two questions of any program: do you offer contingency management, and can I be seen this week?
Methamphetamine use disorder is treatable. You do not have to wait for a bottom to start.
Emergency and crisis lines
Call 911 first if someone is unresponsive, seizing, overheated, or having chest pain after using. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.
Last updated: Mon Oct 19 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a medication for methamphetamine addiction?
No. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports there is no FDA-approved medication for methamphetamine or other stimulant use disorder. Treatment is behavioral - contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured outpatient or residential programs.
How common are stimulants in Jackson County overdoses?
The University of Missouri-St. Louis Addiction Science team reports that in Jackson County, stimulant-involved deaths rose 4% in 2024, and deaths involving both stimulants and opioids rose 14%. The four-county Kansas City metro recorded 402 drug-involved deaths that year.
What is contingency management?
Contingency management gives concrete rewards - vouchers, prizes, or gift cards - when drug tests come back negative. It has the strongest evidence base for stimulant use disorder. Programs do not always advertise it, so ask directly whether they offer it.
Where do I start in Independence?
Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) is the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for eastern Jackson County, at 17844 E 23rd St in Independence, with residential and outpatient recovery services and open-access walk-in appointments. Its 24/7 crisis line is 888-279-8188.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 911 if someone has chest pain, a seizure, very high body temperature, severe agitation, or is unresponsive. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, or call the 24/7 crisis line at 888-279-8188.