Current and Emerging Treatments for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The United States faces a resurgence in methamphetamine (METH) abuse, signaling a potential third epidemic.
• METH abuse is a leading cause of mortality, with no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for METH use disorder (MUD).
• Existing behavioral therapies for MUD have limitations and could be enhanced by pharmacotherapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical context of METH use.
• To present current data on METH abuse and MUD prevalence.
• To discuss existing and emerging pharmacotherapies for MUD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical METH use.
• Analysis of current epidemiological data on METH abuse and MUD.
• Survey of clinical trial data for MUD pharmacotherapies.

Main Results:

• METH abuse is increasing, with significant public health implications.
• No consistently effective pharmacotherapy for MUD has been identified through clinical trials.
• Behavioral therapies, while beneficial, require adjunctive pharmacological treatments.

Conclusions:

• There is an urgent need for effective pharmacotherapies to treat MUD.
• Further research into novel drug targets and treatment strategies is critical.
• Addressing the METH epidemic requires a multi-faceted approach including pharmacotherapy development.