A Comparison of Patterns of Methamphetamine and Cocaine Use

Abstract

Typical use patterns of methamphetamine (MA) users were examined using self-report measures from 120 MA and 63 cocaine users. Twenty (14 MA and 6 cocaine) of the participants also took part in structured interviews designed to provide more specific descriptions of their drug use. The typical MA user uses more than 20 days a month. Use is evenly spaced throughout the day, and although the amount of drug used per day is not different, MA users use fewer times per day than do cocaine users. Fewer of the cocaine users are continuous users, and they use in the evening rather than the daytime. The cocaine pattern of fewer days of use, evening use, and more frequent doses per day fits a picture of recreational use, whereas the all-day-most-days methamphetamine pattern does not.

Modeling Human Methamphetamine Exposure in Nonhuman Primates: Chronic Dosing in the Rhesus Macaque Leads to Behavioral and Physiological Abnormalities

“…since a considerable number human METH users report using one to three times a day during their normal waking hours, with the first dose being taken in the morning, with an average of 20 þ days of use per month, punctuated by periods of abstinence (Simon et al, 2002). Our dosing schedule exposed the animals to 20-23 days METH per month.…”

“…Due to the inaccuracies commonly associated with subjective self-reports and the variability in purity of street drugs, exact dose/frequency patterns are difficult to determine in recreational METH users (Angrist, 1994;Huber et al, 1997;Simon et al, 2002). METH abusers appear to vary widely in their dosage/frequency of use as suggested by self-report and post-mortem drug testing.…”

“…Such variation reflects the fact that drug users in general are fairly heterogeneous. Studies suggest that the doses of METH used by humans recreationally or in medical studies range from 5 to 1000 mg over a 24 h period (Mitler et al, 1993;Simon et al, 2002). Post-mortem drug testing in a forensic study revealed a large range in the blood METH concentration among decedents (Logan et al, 1998).…”

“…Examination of METH drug use among arrestees in five Western US cities revealed that METH users ranged from an average (in each city) of 10.4-15.8 days of METH over the month before arrest (Pennell et al, 1999). A study of METH users in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties in California, the majority of whom were enrolled in treatment programs, revealed that 70% used METH more than 20 times per month, with METH commonly administered one to three times a day (Simon et al, 2002). Many users thus take METH on an intermittent, yet regular, basis.…”

Long-Term Methamphetamine Administration in the Vervet Monkey Models Aspects of a Human Exposure: Brain Neurotoxicity and Behavioral Profiles

“…Accordingly, in this study, an escalating dose METH (ED-METH) administration in socially housed vervet monkeys was used to model some aspects of a human daily multiple dose METH exposure similar to that characterized in a study of 120 METH abusers in which the majority of individuals used METH 1-3 times per day and for more than 20 days per month (Simon et al, 2002). For modeling human plasma METH and amphetamine (AMPH) concentrations, pharmacokinetic studies were first conducted in the monkey to obtain kinetic rate parameters since METH half-life and metabolism differences between humans and animals can significantly affect overall exposure duration and interpretation of the resultant biochemical effects (Cho et al, 2001).…”