Nutrition-wise counselors love to treat clients with meth addiction. Just ask Julia Ross, MA, MFT, Director of Recovery Systems in Mill Valley, California. After an initial assessment verifies meth addiction, her staff nutritionist hands the addict one to four capsules of the amino acid L-tyrosine, a multivitamin/mineral capsule, and a glass of water. Within fifteen minutes, she typically sees results: The head rises from the chest. There is less fatigue. The brain begins to focus and suddenly there is a person there, not a bored, lethargic shell. She ups the dose until the person feels the difference. Two thousand milligrams three times a day is a common dose.

It's all about satisfying the demands of a nervous system that is missing key elements from an unfortunate toss of the genetic dice, or from lifestyle choices and minimal self-care. Whatever the reason, the turnaround can be swift in contrast to people craving marijuana or alcohol, who usually need to take multiple amino acids to satisfy more complex deficiencies.

Here are the three essential features of successful nutritional intervention for meth addiction: