DOCSLIB.ORG

Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia WHO Multi-Site Project On

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia WHO Multi-Site Project On Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia WHO Multi-Site Project on Methamphetamine-induced Psychosis: A descriptive report of findings from participating countries. Robert Ali1,2, Michael Baigent1, John Marsden3, Maristela Montiero4, Manit Srisurapanont5, Agueda Sunga6, Robyn Vial1, Kiyoshi Wada7 DASSA Research Monograph No. 20 Research Series 1 Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia 2 Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide South Australia 3 National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, London, UK 4 Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, Pan American Health Organization, Washington DC, USA 5 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 6 Bureau of International Health Cooperation, Department of Health, Manila, Philippines 7 Department of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute of Mental Health, NCNP, Chiba, Japan ISBN 0-9803130-0-7 © Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia 2006 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Information Resources, Drug & Alcohol Services South Australia, 161 Greenhill Road, Parkside, South Australia 5063. CONTENTS CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................... i LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................................ iv LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... vi ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................................................................ viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. ix SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background.................................................................................................................1 1.2 Study aims .................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Structure of the report ................................................................................................. 2 SECTION 2: OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE .............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Pharmacology and use of methamphetamine............................................................. 3 2.1.1 Pharmacology and neurobiological actions of methamphetamine ................ 3 2.1.2 Routes of methamphetamine administration................................................. 4 2.1.3 Effects of methamphetamine ........................................................................ 4 2.1.4 Methamphetamine abuse and dependence.................................................. 5 2.2 Methamphetamine psychosis...................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Past research into amphetamine-induced psychosis .................................... 5 2.2.2. Symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis.................................................. 5 2.2.3 Duration of methamphetamine psychosis ..................................................... 6 2.2.4 Recurrence of methamphetamine psychosis ................................................ 7 2.2.5 Treatment for methamphetamine psychosis ................................................. 8 2.3 Methamphetamine use in the four sites ...................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Methamphetamine use in Australia............................................................... 8 2.3.2 Methamphetamine use in Thailand ............................................................... 8 2.3.3 Methamphetamine use in the Philippines...................................................... 9 2.3.4 Methamphetamine use in Japan ................................................................... 9 2.4 Summary..................................................................................................................... 9 SECTION 3: METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Method ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Study questionnaire .................................................................................... 10 3.1.2 Interviewers................................................................................................. 11 3.1.3 Subject recruitment ..................................................................................... 11 3.1.4 Procedure ................................................................................................... 12 3.1.5 Ethics Approval ........................................................................................... 12 i SECTION 4: RESULTS.............................................................................................................................13 4.1 Demographic characteristics of the sample...............................................................13 4.1.1 Age and gender distribution ........................................................................13 4.1.2 Educational profile.......................................................................................13 4.1.3 Employment profile......................................................................................14 4.1.4 Marital status and living arrangements........................................................15 4.1.5 Participant profiles.......................................................................................17 4.1.6 Summary.....................................................................................................17 4.2 Source of referral and past diagnoses.......................................................................17 4.2.1 Sources of referral for hospital admission .................................................177 4.2.2 Past psychiatric history................................................................................18 4.2.3 Medications prior to admission....................................................................19 4.2.4 Participant profiles.......................................................................................19 4.2.5 Summary.....................................................................................................20 4.3 Extent, patterns and routes of methamphetamine administration..............................21 4.3.1 Lifetime amphetamine type substance use .................................................21 4.3.2 Frequency of methamphetamine use in last 12 months..............................22 4.3.3 Route of methamphetamine administration.................................................23 4.3.4 Availability and substitution .........................................................................25 4.3.5 Other drug use ............................................................................................26 4.3.6 Participant profiles.......................................................................................28 4.3.7 Summary.....................................................................................................29 4.4 Consequences of methamphetamine use .................................................................30 4.4.1 Methamphetamine abuse and dependence ................................................30 4.4.2 Problems and experiences related to methamphetamine use.....................34 4.4.3 Legal issues ................................................................................................36 4.4.4 Social Context of use. .................................................................................37 4.4.5 Participant profiles.......................................................................................38 4.4.6 Summary.....................................................................................................39 4.5 Physiological and psychological symptomatology.....................................................40 4.5.1 SF-12 Physical and mental health status summaries..................................40 4.5.2 Methamphetamine-induced psychosis ........................................................41 4.5.3 Symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis - Manchester Scale ................49 4.5.4 Negative symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis - Manchester Scale..51 4.5.5 Summary of methamphetamine-induced psychosis symptoms...................52 4.5.6 Other psychiatric morbidity..........................................................................53 4.5.7 Participant profiles.......................................................................................54
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Neurotoxicity and Neuropathology Associated with Cocaine Abuse
    Neurotoxicity and Neuropathology Associated with Cocaine Abuse Editor: Maria Dorota Majewska, Ph.D. NIDA Research Monograph 163 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse Medications Development Division 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 i ACKNOWLEDGMENT This monograph is based on the papers from a technical review on "Neurotoxicity and Neuropathology Associated with Cocaine Abuse" heldon July 7-8, 1994. The review meeting was sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. COPYRIGHT STATUS The National Institute on Drug Abuse has obtained permission from the copyright holders to reproduce certain previously published material as noted in the text. Further reproduction of this copyrighted material is permitted only as part of a reprinting of the entire publication or chapter. For any other use, the copyright holder's permission is required. All other material in this volume except quoted passages from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be used or reproduced without permission from the Institute or the authors. Citation of the source is appreciated. Opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or any other part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this publication are used only because they are considered essential in the context of the studies reported herein. National Institute on Drug Abuse NIH Publication No.
    [Show full text]
  • Group-Based Outpatient Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse
    Group-Based Outpatient Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse Elizabeth C. Katz, Ph.D.1 Emily A. Sears, M.S.1,2 Cynthia A. Adams, M.A.1,2 Robert J. Battjes, D.S.W.1 and The Epoch Counseling Center Adolescent Treatment Team2 The Social Research Center1 Friends Research Institute, Inc. 1040 Park Avenue, Suite 103 Baltimore, MD 21201 and Epoch Counseling Center2 800 Ingleside Avenue Catonsville, MD 21228 This manual was prepared under funding provided by grant no. KD1TI11874 from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). The treatment model and approaches described in this manual are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views or policies of CSAT or SAMHSA. 1 Group-Based Outpatient Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse Elizabeth C. Katz, Ph.D., Emily A. Sears, M.S., Cynthia A. Adams, M.A., Robert J. Battjes, D.S.W., and The Epoch Counseling Center Adolescent Treatment Team This manual describes a moderate-intensity group-based approach to adolescent outpatient substance abuse treatment, implemented by the Epoch Counseling Center, Baltimore County, Maryland. The Group-Based Outpatient Treatment for Adolescent Substance Abuse (GBT) program combines a 20-week group counseling intervention with individual and family therapy and is designed to address the issues and problems commonly facing adolescent substance abusers ages 14 to 18 years old. This manual provides an overview of the theoretical basis for the intervention, a brief description of the outpatient drug-free treatment program within which the adolescent intervention was implemented, and a curriculum guide for implementing the treatment protocol.
    [Show full text]
  • Methamphetamine Psychosis: Epidemiology and Management
    HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author CNS Drugs Manuscript Author . Author manuscript; Manuscript Author available in PMC 2016 September 19. Published in final edited form as: CNS Drugs. 2014 December ; 28(12): 1115–1126. doi:10.1007/s40263-014-0209-8. Methamphetamine Psychosis: Epidemiology and Management Suzette Glasner-Edwards, Ph.D. and Larissa J. Mooney, M.D. UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs Abstract Psychotic symptoms and syndromes are frequently experienced among individuals who use methamphetamine, with recent estimates of up to approximately 40% of users affected. Though transient in a large proportion of users, acute symptoms can include agitation, violence, and delusions, and may require management in an inpatient psychiatric or other crisis intervention setting. In a subset of individuals, psychosis can recur and persist and may be difficult to distinguish from a primary psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. Differential diagnosis of primary versus substance-induced psychotic disorders among methamphetamine users is challenging; nevertheless, with careful assessment of the temporal relationship of symptoms to methamphetamine use, aided by state-of-the art psychodiagnostic assessment instruments and use of objective indicators of recent substance use (i.e., urine toxicology assays), coupled with collateral clinical data gathered from the family or others close to the individual, diagnostic accuracy can be optimized and the individual can be appropriately matched to a plan of treatment. The pharmacological treatment of acute methamphetamine-induced psychosis may include the use of antipsychotic medications as well as benzodiazepines, although symptoms may resolve without pharmacological treatment if the user is able to achieve a period of abstinence from methamphetamine.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Psychoactive Drugs, the Brain and Psychosis Sutapa Basu1*And Deeptanshu Basu2
    Basu and Basu. Int Arch Addict Res Med 2015, 1:1 ISSN: 2474-3631 International Archives of Addiction Research and Medicine Review Article: Open Access The Relationship between Psychoactive Drugs, the Brain and Psychosis Sutapa Basu1*and Deeptanshu Basu2 1Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 2University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA *Corresponding author: Sutapa Basu, Consultant, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, Tel: +6597112015, E-mail: [email protected] grey of the midbrain [7] whereas some alter neurotransmission Abstract by interacting with molecular components of the sending and This paper explores the interaction between four psychoactive drugs, receiving process, an example being cocaine. Some drugs alter namely MDMA (Ecstasy), Cocaine, Methamphetamine and LSD, neurotransmission in different fashion. Benzodiazepines enhance the with neurotransmitters in the brain with the aim of understanding response of receiving cells mediated by serotonin, possibly with the what links exist between these drugs and Psychosis. The paper is restricted to three neurotransmitters – dopamine, serotonin, and involvement of GABA [8]. One of the unwanted effects of many of the norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and explores in some detail how psychoactive drugs is psychotic symptoms. However, most research they are affected by the aforementioned drugs. The paper aims has been centered on cannabis (Marijuana) use and Psychosis. This to go beyond existing research on drugs and psychosis which has paper therefore explores to what extent other psychoactive drugs been primarily limited to cannabis (Marijuana) and psychosis. The affect psychotic symptoms and illnesses. findings and conclusions drawn show that all the drugs explored have the potential to induce psychosis in abusers to some degree; In order to delve into the above topic, secondary research from the effects vary from drug to drug.
    [Show full text]
  • Differences in the Symptom Profile of Methamphetamine-Related Psychosis and Primary Psychotic Disorders
    Author’s Accepted Manuscript Differences in the symptom profile of methamphetamine-related psychosis and primary psychotic disorders Rebecca McKetin, Amanda L. Baker, Sharon Dawe, Alexandra Voce, Dan I. Lubman www.elsevier.com/locate/psychres PII: S0165-1781(16)31641-9 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.028 Reference: PSY10322 To appear in: Psychiatry Research Received date: 27 September 2016 Revised date: 13 January 2017 Accepted date: 12 February 2017 Cite this article as: Rebecca McKetin, Amanda L. Baker, Sharon Dawe, Alexandra Voce and Dan I. Lubman, Differences in the symptom profile of methamphetamine-related psychosis and primary psychotic disorders, Psychiatry Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.028 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting galley proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Differences in the symptom profile of methamphetamine-related psychosis and primary psychotic disorders Rebecca McKetina,b,c*, Amanda L. Bakerd, Sharon Dawee, Alexandra Voceb and Dan I. Lubmanf a National Drug Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia bCentre for Research on Ageing, Health
    [Show full text]
  • Induced Psychosis: a Rising Problems in Malaysia
    EDITORIAL AMPHETAMINE TYPE STIMULANT (ATS) INDUCED PSYCHOSIS: A RISING PROBLEMS IN MALAYSIA Ahmad Hatim S Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur The past decade has seen a marked increase in the popularity of ATS use, particularly methamphetamine, within East Asia, and the Pacific region (1) In Malaysia, the National Anti Drug Agency has identified 8,870 addicts (from January till August 2008) out of which 1,126 was ATS dependence. During the same period, the police have arrested 46,388 people under the Dangerous Drug Act 1952. They also has seize 283kg of syabu, 545kg of ecstacy powder, 66194 tablets of esctacy pills and 222,376 tablets of yaba pills from Jan till August this year.(2) The occurrence of psychosis arising from the use of ATS was first reported in the late 1930’s. With growing ATS use, particularly methamphetamine, ATS-induced psychosis has become a major impact on public health. Symptoms of ATS-induced psychosis Methamphetamine use produces a variety of effects, ranging from irritability, to physical aggression, hyperawareness, hypervigilance, and psychomotor agitation. Repeated or high-dose use of the stimulant can cause drug-induced psychosis resembling paranoid schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders. When used in long term, methamphetamine may lead to development of psychiatric symptoms due to dopamine depletion in the striatum. The most common lifetime psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine psychotic patients – as reported in a cross-country study (3) involving Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand – are persecutory delusion, auditory hallucinations, strange or unusual beliefs and thought reading.
    [Show full text]
  • Smoking and Stimulant Abuse in Schizophrenia
    STIMULANTS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA 1 Smoking and Stimulant Abuse in Schizophrenia: An Examination of the Causes and Effects Brian Waterman Copyright 2003, Brian Waterman, www.bedrugfree.net. This paper may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's express written consent. STIMULANTS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA 2 ABSTRACT: Examines the causes and effects of stimulant and nicotine usage in schizophrenics. Compares three schools of thought on the smoking-schizophrenia connection: smoking causes schizophrenia; smoking out of boredom; smoking to ameliorate side effects of medications. Considers the shortcomings of current treatment modalities in drug abuse and smoking cessation where psychotic clients are concerned. Discusses possible solutions for problems related to smoking and stimulant abuse in schizophrenics for the future, including medication advances. Copyright 2003, Brian Waterman, www.bedrugfree.net. This paper may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's express written consent. STIMULANTS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA 3 INTRODUCTION: It has been well established that tobacco smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the United States (Watkins, et al, 2000). Lung cancer is the most common type of fatal cancer, and cigarette smoking is the primary cause of that. Changes in societal norms, taxes and laws aimed at reducing smoking, and media and school messages aimed at smoking prevention have helped to reduce the prevalence of smoking down to about 25% of people today (Watkins, et al, 2000; Eden Evins, et al, 2001). Yet, among the schizophrenic, the rate of smoking approaches 90% (Eden Evins, et al, 2001; Tidey, et al, 1999; Tracy, et al, 2000). In addition, most schizophrenics smoke high-tar, high-nicotine cigarettes, smoke a far higher number of cigarettes than non- smokers, and tend to smoke in a fashion that extracts greater nicotine from cigarettes (McChargue, et al, 2002).
    [Show full text]
  • Methamphetamine-Associated Psychosis
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology Psychology, Department of April 2012 Methamphetamine-Associated Psychosis Kathleen M. Grant VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, [email protected] Tricia D. Le Van VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, [email protected] Sandra M. Wells University of Nebraska Medical Center, [email protected] Ming Li University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Scott F. Stoltenberg University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub Part of the Psychiatry and Psychology Commons Grant, Kathleen M.; Le Van, Tricia D.; Wells, Sandra M.; Li, Ming; Stoltenberg, Scott F.; Gendelman, Howard E.; Carlo, Gustavo; and Bevins, Rick A., "Methamphetamine-Associated Psychosis" (2012). Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. 562. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/562 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Psychology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Authors Kathleen M. Grant, Tricia D. Le Van, Sandra M. Wells, Ming Li, Scott F. Stoltenberg, Howard E. Gendelman, Gustavo Carlo, and Rick A. Bevins This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ psychfacpub/562 J Neuroimmune Pharmacol (2012) 7:113–139 DOI 10.1007/s11481-011-9288-1 INVITED REVIEW Methamphetamine-Associated Psychosis Kathleen M. Grant & Tricia D. LeVan & Sandra M. Wells & Ming Li & Scott F.
    [Show full text]
  • Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33
    Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33 Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D. Consensus Panel Chair U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Rockwall II, 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 99-3296 Printed 1999 Table of Contents • [Front Matter] • Executive Summary and Recommendations • Chapter 1 -- Introduction • Chapter 2 -- How Stimulants Affect the Brain and Behavior • Chapter 3 -- Approaches to Treatment • Chapter 4 -- Practical Application of Treatment Strategies • Chapter 5 -- Medical Aspects of Stimulant Use Disorders • Chapter 6 -- Treatment Issues for Special Groups and Settings • Appendix A -- Bibliography • Appendix B -- Client Worksheets • Appendix C -- Screening Tests for Cognitive Impairments • Appendix D -- Glossary • Appendix E -- Resource Panel • Appendix F -- Field Reviewers • [Exhibits] Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33 Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders [Front Matter] [Title Page] Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33 Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D. Consensus Panel Chair U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Rockwall II, 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 99‐3296 Printed 1999 [Disclaimer] This publication is part of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant technical assistance program. All material appearing in this volume except that taken directly from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) or the authors.
    [Show full text]
  • STIMULANT USE DISORDERS and PSYCHOSIS Prevalence, Correlates
    STIMULANT USE DISORDERS AND PSYCHOSIS Prevalence, correlates and impacts Grant Evan Sara MB BS, MM, MM (Psychotherapy), FRANZCP A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of Population Health Abstract BACKGROUND Stimulants such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy are the most widely used illicit drugs after cannabis, and may influence the onset and course of psychosis. However, evidence about stimulant misuse in people with psychotic disorders is limited, because stimulant use is usually preceded by cannabis use, and both are associated with other personal and social risk factors. Therefore even large clinical studies of people with psychosis have often not examined the impacts of stimulants separately from those of cannabis. Epidemiological approaches, using population surveys and administrative health datasets, provide an additional method for studying the associations and impacts of stimulant drug misuse in people with psychosis. AIMS This research addresses three questions. First, what is the prevalence of stimulant use disorders in people with psychosis? Second, what are the correlates of stimulant use disorders in people with psychosis, and how do they compare with people with psychosis who do not use stimulants? Third do stimulant use disorders influence the course of illness for people with psychosis? METHODS The research examines three overlapping groups. Part 1 examines the rate and correlates of stimulant disorders in the Australian population, using data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Part 2 focuses on early psychosis, examining people admitted with psychosis to hospitals in New South Wales (NSW, population 7.2 million) over a 13 year period.
    [Show full text]
  • Epidemilogy and Diagnosis of Substance Induced Psychosis
    EPIDEMILOGY AND DIAGNOSIS OF SUBSTANCE INDUCED PSYCHOSIS Jassin M. Jouria, MD Dr. Jassin M. Jouria is a practicing Emergency Medicine physician, professor of academic medicine, and medical author. He graduated from Ross University School of Medicine and has completed his clinical clerkship training in various teaching hospitals throughout New York, including King’s County Hospital Center and Brookdale Medical Center, among others. Dr. Jouria has passed all USMLE medical board exams, and has served as a test prep tutor and instructor for Kaplan. He has developed several medical courses and curricula for a variety of educational institutions. Dr. Jouria has also served on multiple levels in the academic field including faculty member and Department Chair. Dr. Jouria continues to serve as a Subject Matter Expert for several continuing education organizations covering multiple basic medical sciences. He has also developed several continuing medical education courses covering various topics in clinical medicine. Recently, Dr. Jouria has been contracted by the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Department of Surgery to develop an e- module training series for trauma patient management. Dr. Jouria is currently authoring an academic textbook on Human Anatomy & Physiology. ABSTRACT When patients present with signs of psychosis, it is critical that health clinicians are able to properly assess and determine root cause. A diagnosis of substance-induced psychosis is an opportunity to work with the patient to determine and resolve underlying mental illnesses and to discourage a reliance on drugs or alcohol. Because individuals with a history of psychosis have a higher than average suicide rate, early recognition and intervention by a qualified health clinician is extremely important.
    [Show full text]
  • Major Physical and Psychological Harms of Methamphetamine Use
    SCII.001.001.0060 Drug and Alcohol Review (May 2008), 27, 253 – 262 Major physical and psychological harms of methamphetamine use 1 1 1 1,2 SHANE DARKE , SHARLENE KAYE , REBECCA MCKETIN , & JOHAN DUFLOU 1National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and 2Department of Forensic Medicine, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Abstract Issues. The major physical and psychological health effects of methamphetamine use, and the factors associated with such harms. Approach. Comprehensive review. Key Findings. Physical harms reviewed included toxicity and mortality, cardiovascular/cerebrovascular pathology, dependence and blood-borne virus transmission. Psychological harms include methamphetamine psychosis, depression, suicide, anxiety and violent behaviours. Implications. While high-profile health consequences, such as psychosis, are given prominence in the public debate, the negative sequelae extend far beyond this. This is a drug class that causes serious heart disease, has serious dependence liability and high rates of suicidal behaviours. Conclusion. The current public image of methamphetamine does not portray adequately the extensive, and in many cases insidious, harms caused. [Darke S, Kaye S, McKetin R, Duflou J. Major physical and psychological harms of methamphetamine use. Drug Alcohol Rev 2008;27:253–262] Key words: cardiovascular, methamphetamine, psychostimulants, psychopathology. methamphetamine to include both methamphetamine Introduction and its less potent analogue amphetamine, which are In recent years, there has been mounting concern about sold under the street names of ‘speed’, ‘base’, ‘ice’, the increasing prevalence of methamphetamine use. ‘crystal meth’ and ‘amphetamines’. Where appropriate, The extent of the problem suggests the need for a a distinction between methamphetamine and amphe- comprehensive review of the major harms that are tamine will be made.
    [Show full text]