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Addressing dependent amphetamine use: a place for prescription
N Lintzeris1, F Holgate, A Dunlop
1Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia.
Drug and Alcohol Review
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Amphetamine harms are rising in Australia, and current treatments may not meet the needs of dependent users. Substitution therapy shows promise but requires further research to confirm its effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Illicit Drug Use
- Public Health
Background:
- Amphetamines are prevalent illicit drugs in Australia.
- Increasing evidence highlights amphetamine-related harms, especially in chronic users.
- Conventional treatments may be insufficient for many dependent amphetamine users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current Australian treatment approaches for amphetamine dependence.
- To explore the potential role and efficacy of substitution therapy.
- To identify issues for establishing controlled studies on substitution therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of contemporary Australian treatment modalities for amphetamine dependence.
- Examination of emerging substitution therapy programs in Australia and the UK.
- Analysis of challenges and considerations for controlled research.
Main Results:
- Conventional treatments may not adequately address the needs of a significant proportion of dependent amphetamine users.
- Clinicians in Australia and the UK have initiated substitution therapy programs with positive initial impressions.
- Further research is necessary to validate the role and effectiveness of these novel approaches.
Conclusions:
- Existing treatment paradigms may require augmentation to manage widespread amphetamine use and associated harms.
- Substitution therapy presents a potentially viable, yet under-researched, treatment option for amphetamine dependence.
- Controlled studies are essential to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of substitution therapy for amphetamine users.