Methamphetamine Abuse: Issues for Special Populations

Abstract

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse has been a problem in the western United States for decades. However, recently the incidence of MA abuse has risen to epidemic levels in some regions and among particular subgroups of the population. Recognizing the need to develop effective treatments for MA dependence, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) established a multisite Methamphetamine Treatment Program (MTP) that compares the Matrix Model treatment program for MA to the treatments as usual at seven community-based clinics in California, Montana and Hawaii. Examination of the clients receiving services though this project provides an opportunity to explore particular issues of diverse special populations who are impacted by the problem of MA dependence. These groups include rural Americans, Native Americans, Hawaiians, gay and bisexual males and drug court participants. Specifically, this article examines cultural, geographic and situational barriers to accessing and completing treatment and presents strategies that have been used to overcome these barriers.

To what extent are key services offered in treatment programs for special populations?

“…The term 'special population' originated in a National Institute on Drug Abuse report on adolescents (1977), and has since evolved in the substance abuse treatment field to refer to groups of clients with unique treatment needs (Hegamin et al, 2002;Polinsky, Hser, & Grella, 1998), including women (Hien & Levin, 1994;Reed, 1985;Zweben, 2003), the dually-diagnosed (Bromet & Schulberg, 1989;CSAT, 1994;Polinsky, Hser, & Grella, 1998), gays and lesbians (CSAT, 2001;Craft & Mulvey, 2001;Freese, Obert, Dickow, Cohen, & Lord, 2000), and persons with HIV/AIDs (Polinsky et al, 1998;RachBeisel, Scott, & Dixon, 1999), among others. Approximately 90% of all SAT facilities in the USA offered at least one program designed specifically for these special populations in 2000 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002b).…”

Dépendance à la méthamphétamine : de nombreuses conséquences et complications

“…Ils dépendent de la dose ingérée, de la composition du produit souvent inconnue et de la voie d'administration [9]. La méthamphétamine touche surtout les populations homosexuelles, bisexuelles, les populations jeunes et le milieu festif (mouvement techno, rave ou free parties) [15,16]. La consommation de méthamphétamine est à l'origine d'effets qui durent environ 8 heures quelle que soit la voie d'administration.…”

Methamphetamine Induces Long-Term Alterations in Reactivity to Environmental Stimuli: Correlation with Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Toxicity

“…Due to its euphoriant and attention-enhancing properties, METH has recently become one of the most abused recreational drugs in North America and East Asia (Maxwell and Rutkowski 2008;McKetin et al 2008). One of the upshots of METH abuse that most contribute to its staggering socio-economic impact is its broad spectrum of long-term neuropsychiatric sequelae, encompassing persistent mood and anxiety alterations, psychotic disorders and severe cognitive deficits (Volkow 2001;Simon et al 2002;Thompson et al 2004;Gonzalez et al 2004;Freese et al 2000).…”