Methamphetamine Users Entering Treatment: Characteristics of the Methamphetamine Treatment Project Sample |
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| Authors: | Darrell R. Christian Alice Huber Mary-Lynn Brecht Michael J. McCann Patricia Marinelli-Casey Russell H. Lord |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Private Practice, Walnut Creek, Los Angeles, California, USA;2. UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles, California, USA;3. Matrix Institute on Addictions, Los Angeles, California, USA;4. Montana State University–Billings, Billings, Montana, USA |
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| Abstract: | The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded the Metamphetamine Treatment Project to evaluate and compare treatment approaches for methamphetamine users. As part of this study, drug use patterns, history of physical or sexual abuse, history of suicidality, and psychopathology were assessed in 1,016 methamphetamine-dependent outpatients entering treatment between 1999 and 2001 at eight sites across the western United States. The sample was predominately female and racially diverse. The mean age of the participants was 32.8 years. Most were methamphetamine smokers, but there were marked regional variations. Suicidality and physical or sexual abuse were common and measures of current psychopathology were high. These clinical issues were associated with more frequent use of methamphetamine and, more strongly, with concurrent use of other drugs. Therefore, the relationship between polydrug use and psychopathology in methamphetamine users warrants further investigation. |
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| Keywords: | drug treatment drug use methamphetamines methamphetamine treatment CSAT methamphetamine project psychopathology and methamphetamines |
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