Methamphetamine Use Practices, Motivations, and Perceived Benefits and Risks: Exploring Differences Between Males and...

Area of Science:

• Addiction Research
• Public Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Methamphetamine use is a growing public health concern in the United States.
• Understanding sex-specific differences in methamphetamine use is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the nuanced attitudes and practices related to methamphetamine use between males and females.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and identify significant sex differences in the attitudes and practices surrounding methamphetamine use.
• To compare the motivations for methamphetamine use between male and female participants.
• To analyze the perceived benefits and risks of methamphetamine use as reported by different sexes.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted in Dayton, Ohio, between December 2019 and November 2021.
• 91 participants were recruited, with bivariate analyses employed to determine sex differences.
• Data collected included demographics, age of initiation, reasons for use, perceived benefits, and perceived risks.

Main Results:

• Females were more likely than males to report using methamphetamine to quit opioids (60.4% vs. 39.5%), lose weight (35.4% vs. 14.0%), and self-treat ADHD symptoms (43.8% vs. 16.3%).
• Females were more likely to perceive increased productivity as a benefit (81.3% vs. 48.8%) and reported higher rates of perceived risks, including depression, skin problems, aggression, HIV/AIDS risk, dental issues, fentanyl exposure, and overdose risk.
• Age of methamphetamine initiation was similar between sexes (males: 31.7 years; females: 29.3 years).

Conclusions:

• Significant sex-based disparities exist in the motivations for and perceived consequences of methamphetamine use.
• Females report distinct reasons for use, including self-treatment and opioid cessation, and perceive a broader range of risks compared to males.
• These findings underscore the need for gender-informed strategies in methamphetamine use prevention and treatment programs.