Part A - Society for Public Health Education

Treating methamphetamine addiction presents unique challenges. Upon enteringtreatment, a user may• Require several nights of good sleep, since users have often been awake fordays.• Be more agitated and have a very short attention span during the first monthand have a very short attention span.• Have psychiatric problems such as delusions or extreme agitation.• Have physical problems, such as wounds, seizures, and advanced toothdecay.• Require longer treatment than they might from an addiction to anothersubstance” (The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, n.d.).As reported in the literature, ”the most effective treatments for methamphetamineaddiction are behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral and contingencymanagement interventions. For example, the Matrix Model, a comprehensivebehavioral treatment approach that combines behavioral therapy, family education,individual counseling, 12-Step support, drug testing, and encouragement fornon drug-related activities, has been shown to be effective in reducing methamphetamineabuse. Contingency management interventions, which provide tangibleincentives in exchange for engaging in treatment and maintaining abstinence, havealso been shown to be effective.© 2007 Society for Public Health EducationThere are currently no specific medications that counteract the effects of methamphetamineor that prolong abstinence from and reduce the abuse of methamphetamineby an individual addicted to the drug. However, there are a number ofmedications that are FDA-approved for other illnesses that might also be useful intreating methamphetamine addiction. Recent study findings reveal that bupropion,the anti-depressant marketed as Wellbutrin, reduced the methamphetamine-induced“high” as well as drug cravings elicited by drug-related cues. This medicationand others are currently in clinical trials, while new compounds are being developedand studied in preclinical models”(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2006).History of MethamphetamineMethamphetamine was developed early last century from its parent drug, amphetamine.Methamphetamine differs from amphetamine in that it is a more potentstimulant drug (i.e., at comparable doses, higher levels of methamphetamine enterPart A: An Educational Toolkit for Health Educators11