Methamphetamine Users Research Articles

Development and evaluation of a social marketing campaign to address methamphetamine use in Los Angeles County

BackgroundThis study describes the development and impact of a social marketing campaign in early 2020 intended to prevent and reduce methamphetamine use in Los Angeles County (LAC). We used social marketing principles and the transtheoretical model to design the campaign, which was intended to avoid stigmatization of methamphetamine users and communicate compassion, empathy, and support.MethodsTo evaluate its impact, we collected cross-sectional online survey data post-campaign (n = 1,873) from LAC residents in population segments considered higher risk for methamphetamine use. We examine associations between campaign exposure and outcomes using bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression models, which control for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on methamphetamine use or likelihood of use.ResultsThe analyses revealed that campaign exposure was associated with having more negative attitudes toward methamphetamine, calling LAC’s substance abuse service helpline, using methamphetamine fewer days, and considering abstaining. Frequency of exposure to campaign advertisements was positively associated with calling the helpline, suggesting a campaign dose effect. COVID-19-related factors were associated with using methamphetamine in the past 30 days.ConclusionsSocial marketing campaigns hold promise for impacting methamphetamine prevention and cessation behaviors. This study adds to the limited literature on mass marketing interventions to address this major health issue.

Long-term effects of methamphetamine abuse on visual evoked potentials.

To compare visual evoked potential (VEP) components in normal individuals and those with long-term methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine use. In this study, monocular pattern-reversal VEPs were recorded in 40 methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine users and 38 normal individuals. Visual stimuli were high-contrast (99%) checkerboard patterns at 15 and 60 min of arc with a reversal rate of 1.53 reversals per second. A significant difference was seen between the two groups for the P100 peak time for the 60 min of arc checks (p= 0.002, d= 0.75, 4.61% higher peak time in the addicted group) and the 15 min of arc checks (p= 0.004, d= 0.73, 4.78% higher peak time in the addicted group). However, other VEP components were not significantly different between the two groups. The higher P100 peak time at both 15 and 60 min of arc in methamphetamine-dependent users reveals that VEPs are highly sensitive for the diagnosis of retinal and visual pathway lesions.

32318 Prevalence of skin diseases in methamphetamine users

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant drug affecting the central nervous system, commonly used in its crystal form through inhalation or intravenous injection. It is heavily associated with a broad spectrum of health conditions, including addiction, mental disorders, and overdose. Cellulitis, delusions of parasitosis, hyperhidrosis, excessive skin picking due to formication, and prurigo nodularis have been attributed to methamphetamine use. To our knowledge, there are no studies focusing on skin diseases in methamphetamine users.

Intraperitoneal injection of buprenorphine on anxiety-like behavior and alteration in expression of Gfap and Nrf2 in methamphetamine treated rats.

The effects of buprenorphine (BUP) on anxiety-like behavior and the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in methamphetamine (METH)-treated rats were investigated in this study. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups including control (saline), METH (10.00 mg kg-1), BUP (10.00 mg kg-1), and BUP+METH groups and treated for five days. On the final day of treatment, gene expression levels and anxiety were evaluated using elevated plus-maze (EPM). According to the results, five days of METH injection reduced open arm exploration in the EPM. In contrast, the open arm entries and the time spent in the open arms were increased in the BUP+METH group compared to the METH group. The expression levels of Gfap and Nrf2 were lower in METH-treated rats compared to controls, whereas Gfap and Nrf2 expression levels were higher in the METH+BUP-treated rats compared to the METH-treated rats, however, it was similar to the controls. These findings suggested that co-administration of BUP+METH could decrease anxiety-like behavior through increasing the activity of the antioxidant protection system and might have therapeutic potential for preventing anxiety in METH users.

Executive function in methamphetamine users with and without psychosis

Methamphetamine abuse is associated with cognitive deficits across a wide range of domains. It is unclear, however, whether methamphetamine-dependent individuals with co-occurring psychosis are more impaired than those without psychosis on tests assessing executive function. We therefore aimed to compare the executive function performance of three groups: methamphetamine-dependent individuals with methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MA+; n = 20), methamphetamine-dependent individuals without psychosis (MA-; n = 19), and healthy controls (HC; n = 20). All participants were administered a neuropsychological test battery that assessed executive functioning across six sub domains (problem solving, working memory, verbal generativity, inhibition, set switching, and decision making). Analyses of covariance (controlling for between-group differences in IQ) detected significant between-group differences on tests assessing verbal generativity and inhibition, with MA+ participants performing significantly more poorly than HC. The finding that methamphetamine-induced psychosis is associated with performance impairments in particular subdomains of executive function may have implications for treatment adherence and relapse prevention.

Exercise modulates central and peripheral inflammatory responses and ameliorates methamphetamine-induced anxiety-like symptoms in mice

Anxiety-like symptoms are common symptoms of methamphetamine (METH) users, especially in the acute withdrawal period, which is an important factor for the high relapse rate during METH acute withdrawal. Exercise has been demonstrated to relieve anxiety-like symptoms during METH withdrawal, but the underlying mechanisms of this anti-anxiety effect are still unclear. Activated microglia and abnormal neuroinflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis of anxiety-like symptoms after METH withdrawal. Moreover, peripheral immune factors were also significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. However, the effects of treadmill exercise on microglial function and neuroinflammation in the striatum and hippocampus during acute METH withdrawal have not been reported. In the current study, we found severe peripheral immune dysfunction in METH users during acute withdrawal, which may in part contribute to anxiety symptoms during METH acute withdrawal. We also showed that 2 weeks of METH exposure induced anxiety-like symptoms in the acute withdrawal period. Additionally, METH exposure resulted in increased microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokines released in the mouse striatum and hippocampus during acute withdrawal. We next evaluated the effects of treadmill exercise in countering anxiety-like symptoms induced by METH acute withdrawal. The results showed that anxiety-like symptoms induced by acute METH withdrawal were attenuated by coadministration of treadmill exercise. In addition, treadmill exercise counteracted METH-induced microglial activation in the mouse striatum and various subregions of the hippocampus. Furthermore, treadmill exercise also reversed the increase in proinflammatory cytokines induced by acute METH withdrawal in the mouse striatum, hippocampus and serum. Our findings suggest that the anti-anxiety effect of treadmill exercise may be mediated by reducing microglial activation and regulating central and peripheral inflammatory responses.

The Association of High-Frequency Nut Intake With a Low Risk of Psychological Problems in Female Methamphetamine Users.

BackgroundRecent years have witnessed a gradual increase in the number of female methamphetamine users. Meanwhile, female methamphetamine users are more likely to have psychological problems than male methamphetamine users. The association between diet and psychological problems have been found among non-methamphetamine user. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary intake frequency and psychological problems in female methamphetamine users.Materials and MethodsA total of 109 female methamphetamine users, collected from a Compulsory Isolated Drug Rehabilitation Centre in northern China, participated in the study. All participants completed the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire to assess psychological status. The relation of dietary intake frequency with the SCL-90 score was tested in partial correlation analysis. Multivariable regression models were used to calculate odds ratios to evaluate the association of dietary intake frequency with psychological problems.ResultsOf the current female methamphetamine population, 33 participants were diagnosed with psychological problems using SCL-90. In the terms of dietary intake frequency, the frequency of nut intake in the psychiatric symptom group was significantly lower than that in the asymptomatic group. However, there was no difference in the frequency of other food intakes between the two groups. The frequency of nut intake was negatively correlated with the total score of SCL-90 and 8 different symptom clusters of psychopathologies on SCL-90. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the increased frequency of nut intake was associated with a lower risk of psychological problems.ConclusionIn the female methamphetamine population, increasing the frequency of nut intake may reduce the risk of psychological problems for female methamphetamine users.

Co-Morbidities and Family History Among Methamphetamine Users

The abuse of methamphetamine, locally known as Yaba locally, has increased in Bangladesh recently. The study was designed to determine the proportion of co-morbidities, in terms of physical, psychiatric and other substances, and family history of substance use and other psychiatric disorders among methamphetamine abusers in Bangladesh.This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from the available medical documents of a private hospital dedicated for the management of substance abusers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Information of the individuals admitted in the hospital during 1 January, 2014 to 31 December, 2015 due to substance related disorders having history of using methamphetamine within one month of hospitalization were enrolled in the study. Completed data of 115 individuals were taken and data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.Most (91.3%) of the respondents were male. Mean age of the respondents was 24.6 (±5.8) years. Half of the respondents (50.4%) belonged to the age group 21-30 years. Most (89.6%) of them resided in urban area and was Muslim (94.8%). Majority (52.2%) was unmarried. Regarding education status, majority (34.8%) completed graduation. About one-third (33.9%) were currently unemployed. All the methamphetamine users had used other substances. Among the other co-morbid substances, nicotine was the substance used by most (94.8%) respondents, followed by cannabinoids (56.5%) and opiates (38.3%). Among the respondents about one-third (33.9%) had current physical co-morbidities. Co-morbid psychiatric disorders were present among 29.6% of the respondents. Among the respondents, more than one-fourth (27.8%) had family history of substance use, 20.9% had family history of other psychiatric illnesses. All the methamphetamine users had used other substances. A substantial proportion of methamphetamine users had physical and other psychiatric comorbidities and family history of substance and other psychiatric disorders. This essential issue should be considered in the management strategy of methamphetamine use. Bangladesh Med J. 2021 May; 50(2) : 15-20

Usefulness of toxicology screening by high resolution mass spectrometry in methamphetamine and amphetamine users attended in emergency departments

Objective The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the utility of applying a non-targeted comprehensive drug screening using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry to a cohort of patients attending the Emergency Department (ED) due to drug intoxication; and to evaluate the differences in toxicological profile between methamphetamine (MAMP) and amphetamine (AMP) intoxicated patients. Retrospective observational study of thirty-nine patients, 24 in the group MAMP and 15 in AMP group, which were attended in the ED of public hospitals in the Balearic Islands due to recreational drug poisoning between March 2019 and December 2020. Urine samples (500 μL) were extracted by solid phase extraction using reversed-phase cartridges. The extracts were analyzed using an Agilent 1290 Series UPLC system coupled to an Agilent 6550 QTOF-MS system working in ESI positive mode. For chromatographic separation an Acquity UPLC® HSS T3 (2.1 × 75 mm, 1.8 μm) column with formic acid 0.1% in water and acetonitrile as mobile phases was used. Data mining was performing employing data independent acquisition mode using MassHunter Qualitative software (version B.08.00) in combination with a PCDL library (ForTox PCDL database, Agilent Technologies). [M + H]+ ions were recorded from 50–1000 m/z values using 3 different collision energies (10, 20, 40 eV). MS/MS spectra matching was manually checked and for tentative identification at least two product ions had to match those in the library with a score ≥ 70%. The most frequent classical drugs of abuse detected were cocaine (94.9%), MDMA (51.3%) and ketamine (41.0%), without significant differences between MAMP and AMP patients. MAMP related compounds such as 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (29.2%), 1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine (37.5%) and cyclopentamine (4.2%) were detected in MAMP users, while 3-hydroxyamphetamine (20%) was the only AMP related compound detected in AMP users. The most frequent new psychoactive substances (NPS) detected were cathinones, including mephedrone (23.1%), methylone (17.9%), metamfepramone (10.3%), 4’-methyl-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (2.6%) and 3′4′-methylendioxi-alfa-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (2.6%). Mephedrone were detected only in MAMP patients. Piperazines were detected in MAMP patients (58.3%) but not in AMP patients, specifically benzylpiperazine (33.3%) and N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)piperazine (2.6%). Moreover, 12.5% and 6.7% of the MAMP and AMP patients, respectively, were positive to tryptamines (5.1% to 5 or 6-metoxytryptamine, 5.1% to N,N-diethyltryptamine and 2.6% to etryptramine). Methyl lysergate was detected in 5.1% AMP patients. Regarding medicinal drugs, benzodiazepines were found in 50.0% and 46.7% of the MAMP and AMP patients, respectively, mainly oxazepam and midazolam. In addition, opiates were found in 29.2% and 33.3% of MAMP and AMP users, respectively, antidepressants in 25.0% and 33.3% (mainly clomipramine), and neuroleptics in 16.7% and 26.7% (mainly risperidone). A statistically significant higher prevalence of risperidone was found in AMP patients ( P = 0.014). Codeine and dextromethorphan were mainly found in AMP patients, although not statistically significant. Other less common medical drugs (frequency between 5–15%) included paracetamol, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, antihistamines, anesthetics, antiretroviral drugs, beta-blockers, and ranitidine. Candidates from many classes of drugs of abuse and medicinal drugs were tentatively identified in both MAMP and AMP patients using non-targeted drug screening. MAMP patients showed a higher prevalence of NPS (mephedrone and piperazines) while AMP patients showed a higher prevalence of medicinal drugs (opiates and opioids, antidepressants and neuroleptics). Conclusion: MAMP and AMP overdosed users represent a high-risk population due to their elevated polyconsumption of drugs. MAMP users drug profile seems to be different with respect AMP users. We were able to identify a combination of classical, medicinal and NPS drugs in both populations using QTOF-MS methodology.

Biennial Changes in the Characteristics of Patients with Methamphetamine Use Disorder in Japan from 2000 to 2020

ABSTRACT Methamphetamine is an illegal drug with the greatest burdens in Japan. Social and medical measures to combat methamphetamine dependence have been implemented, but no reports on changes in the characteristics of methamphetamine use disorder patients have been conducted. We aimed to describe these changes, and provide information on the results of social and medical measures. We concatenated cross-sectional surveys from 2000 to 2020 and analyzed biennial changes. Twenty-year data from 2000 to 2018 were age-weighted according to the age structure in 2020. We performed Cochran-Armitage trend tests for crude and age-weighted changes in patient variables. There was an increase in the number of patients with methamphetamine use disorder undergoing treatment and those with a history of drug-related arrests. Patients who achieved 1-year abstinence increased, and those diagnosed with psychotic disorders decreased. Patients with a history of non-drug-related arrests and without revealing their source of methamphetamine decreased. The ages of the patient population increased, and patients with a history of benzodiazepine misuse increased. Social measures linking methamphetamine users to psychiatric care may increase the number of patients who undergo treatment.

Enhanced brain network flexibility by physical exercise in female methamphetamine users

Enhanced brain network flexibility by physical exercise in female methamphetamine users

Local efficiency analysis of resting[sbnd]state functional brain network in methamphetamine users

This study set out to assess restingstate functional connectivity (rs-FN) and graph theorybased local efficiency within the left and right hemispheres of methamphetamine (MA) users. Functional brain networks of 19 MA users and 21 control participants were analyzed using restingstate fMRI. Graph edges in functional networks of the brain were defined and recurrence plot was used. We found that MA abuse may be accompanied by alterations of rs-FN within the defaultmode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and the salience network (SN) in both hemispheres of the brain. Moreover, we observed that such effects of MA may be correlated with duration of MA abuse and MA abstinence in many components of the DMN and SN. The results would seem to suggest that MAinduced alterations of local efficiency may, in part, account for maladaptive decision making, deficits in executive function and control over drug seeking/taking, and relapse.

Treatment outcome, cognitive function, and psychopathology in methamphetamine users compared to other substance users.

BACKGROUNDThe rising number of people using methamphetamine leads to an increasing need for treatment options for this patient group. Evidence-based research on the efficacy of treatment programs for methamphetamine users is limited. Due to specific characteristics of methamphetamine users, the question arises whether established treatment methods for individuals using other substances can be effective for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence as well. We hypothesize that there are significant differences between the two groups that may affect the effectiveness of treatment and worsen the prognosis of treatment outcomes for methamphetamine users compared to consumers of other substances.AIMTo investigate potential differences in cognitive functioning and psychopathology between methamphetamine users and other substance users and possible correlations with treatment outcomes.METHODSA total of 110 subjects were recruited for an observational, longitudinal study from a German inpatient addiction treatment center: 55 patients with methamphetamine dependence and 55 patients with dependence of other substances (“OS group”). Both groups were examined at beginning (baseline) and end of treatment (after 6 mo) with regard to treatment retention, craving, cognitive functioning, psychosocial resources, personality traits, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms. Instruments used were Raven’s IQ test, Mannheimer craving scale, cognitrone cognitive test battery, NEO personality factors inventory, Hamilton depression scale, Becks depression inventory, and a symptom checklist. The statistical methods used were χ2-test, t-test and multiple mixed ANOVAs. RESULTSA total drop-out rate of 40% (methamphetamine-group: 36.4%; OS-group: 43.6%) was observed without significant differences between groups. At baseline, methamphetamine-group subjects significantly differed from OS-group individuals in terms of a lower intelligence quotient, fewer years of education, slower working speed, and decreased working accuracy, as well as less cannabinoid and cocaine use. Methamphetamine-group subjects further showed a significantly lower score of conscientiousness, depressive, and psychiatric symptoms than subjects from the OS-group. In both groups, a reduction of craving and depressive symptoms and an improvement of working speed and working accuracy was noted after treatment. CONCLUSIONThere are differences between methamphetamine users and users of other drugs, but not with regard to the effectiveness of treatment in this inpatient setting. There are differences in cognitive function and psychopathology between methamphetamine and other drugs users. The existing treatment options seem to be an effective approach in treating methamphetamine dependence.

Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and their association with suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury among incarcerated methamphetamine users in Japan

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are distressing and/or traumatic events that occur during childhood that increase the risk of negative health outcomes in adulthood. ObjectiveThis study estimated the prevalence of ACEs in a nationwide sample of Japanese methamphetamine users in prison and examined associations among ACEs, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self-injury. Participants and settingParticipants were 636 inmates (418 male and 218 female) who were newly incarcerated in Japan for Stimulants Control Act violations. MethodsFirst, 699 participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Of these, 636 participants who did not have any missing responses were included in the analysis. After calculating descriptive statistics, the associations between ACEs and suicidal behaviors were assessed using binary logistic regression analyses. ResultsResults showed that 76.1 % of the participants reported at least one ACE before the age of 18, and female participants reported a significantly higher number of adversities than their male counterparts. The most common ACEs were parental death or divorce, followed by psychological abuse. Logistic regression analyses revealed that ACE scores significantly increased the risk of suicidal ideation (SI; adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 1.18, p < .001) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; AOR = 1.18, p < .001) after controlling for possible confounding variables. ConclusionsFindings suggest the importance of early prevention and intervention for traumatic experiences, and have implications for the recommendation of gender-responsive, trauma-focused interventions, especially for female inmates in the criminal justice system, to break the intergenerational chain of abuse. Future research directions and treatment are discussed.

Reduction of Orexin-A Is Associated With Anxiety and the Level of Depression of Male Methamphetamine Users During the Initial Withdrawal Period

BackgroundOrexin has been linked to the regulation of reward and motivation in animals, but there have been few human studies to validate its regulatory effects. We aimed to determine how orexin-A levels changed during different stages of withdrawal, as well as the relationship between orexin-A levels and withdrawal symptoms in male METH users.MethodsThis study included 76 METH users and 35 control participants. The METH users were divided into three groups: group 1 (abstinence within 1 week, n = 23), group 2 (abstinence between 1 week and 3 months, n = 38), and group 3 (abstinence over 3 months, n = 15). At baseline and 1 month of enrollment, the plasma orexin-A level was examined. To track the withdrawal symptoms, self-report questionnaires (anxiety, depression, craving, and sleep quality) were collected at two points.ResultsThe orexin-A levels of groups 1 (p < 0.001) and 2 (p < 0.001) were lower than that of the controls at baseline but not group 3. One month later, the orexin-A levels of group 2 (p < 0.05) significantly increased, while no significant changes in those of groups 1 and 3 were observed. Furthermore, the orexin-A levels of group 1 were positively linked with depression (p < 0.01) and anxiety (p < 0.01) at baseline.ConclusionsThe decrease in orexin-A levels was only transitory during the initial abstinence phase, and it was eventually restored near to normal with continued abstinence among the male METH users. Furthermore, a lower concentration of orexin-A may serve as a risk factor for negative emotions during METH withdrawal.

Direct and Indirect Measures of Attention Indicating a Bias Toward Cues in Methamphetamine Users.

This study aims to investigate the attentional bias toward drug-related stimuli along with subjective craving after encountering such stimuli in methamphetamine users. Studies of cue reactivity have confirmed a bias in attention and gaze toward drug-related stimuli for most substances; however, methamphetamine drugs are less studied through a direct measure, such as eye tracking. A total of 30 male subjects in the case group (methamphetamine users) and 36 subjects in the control group (no prior drug use) participated in this study. The participant's eye movement data were collected while they were viewing pairs of drug-related and non-drug images in a dot-probe paradigm. Craving was assessed via a self-report questionnaire on a scale of 0 to 10 before and after the psychophysical task. The analysis of eye-movement data showed a meaningful gaze bias toward cue images (drug-related) in the case group. Additionally, the gaze duration on cue images was significantly higher in the case group, in contrast to the control group. The same effect was observed in analyzing the dot-probe task; that is, the mean reaction time to a probe that replaced a cue image was significantly lower. The mean of the first-fixation measure in the control group was not significantly higher than chance; however, the percentage of the first-fixation on cue images in the drug users was meaningfully biased. Reported craving was significantly greater after performing the task compared to before. Our results indicated an attentional bias toward drug-related cues in methamphetamine users as well as subjective craving after encountering such cues. The gaze duration on cue images was significantly higher in methamphetamine users.The mean reaction time to a probe that replaced a cue image was significantly lower in methamphetamine users compared to the control group.The mean of the first-fixation measure in the case group was significantly better than chance.Craving was reported to be significantly greater after performing the task. Substance users tend to focus on the stimuli associated with substances. This is known as attention bias. Attention bias leads to increased craving. Attention bias for various substances has been previously reported; however, methamphetamine attention bias has not been evaluated so far. In this study, we measured the attention bias toward stimuli related to methamphetamine in methamphetamine users and control subjects with direct (eye tracking) and indirect (dot probe paradigm) methods. In addition, we measured the number of cravings in the case group. Our results confirmed the bias in attention toward methamphetamine-related stimuli in the case group compared to the control group.

Impairments in the Default Mode and Executive Networks in Methamphetamine Users During Short-Term Abstinence.

PurposeMethamphetamine use may cause severe neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment, leading to addiction, overdose, and high rates of relapse. However, few studies have systematically focused on functional impairments detected by neuroimaging in methamphetamine abstainers (MAs) during short-term abstinence. This study aimed to investigate effective connectivity, resting-state networks, and internetwork functional connectivity in MA brains to improve clinical treatment.MethodsTwenty MAs and 27 age- and education-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and Granger causality were analyzed to investigate disrupted brain regions and effective connectivity, respectively. Independent component analysis and functional network connectivity were used to identify resting-state networks and internetwork functional connectivity, respectively.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, MAs demonstrated abnormal amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations in the bilateral precuneus, left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), left superior parietal lobule, left supplementary motor area (SMA), and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Moreover, MAs showed decreased effective connectivity from the left PCC to the left precuneus, increased effective connectivity from the left precuneus to the left MFG and from the right precuneus to the left SMA, and altered functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network, sensorimotor network, ventral attention network, cerebellar network, and visual network. Importantly, hyperconnectivity between the DMN and ventral attention network and hypoconnectivity between the DMN and cerebellar network as well as the DMN and frontoparietal network were demonstrated in MAs.ConclusionOur study implies that in short-term methamphetamine abstinence, disruptions to the DMN and executive network may a play key role, providing new insights for early rehabilitation.

Effects of resilience on impulsivity, cognition and depression during protracted withdrawal among Chinese male methamphetamine users

BackgroundMethamphetamine (METH) dependence is a complex and dynamic public health problem. Long-term abuse of METH can increase numerous risks of mental and physical problems. Currently, the methods to reduce METH dependence and improve the withdrawal symptoms are limited and ineffective. Resilience is seen as a multidimensional and dynamic capability to recover or bounce back from stressful events and is also generally considered as a protective factor against mental dysfunction.MethodsOne hundred thirty-four males with METH dependence were consecutively recruited from Huanglong Compulsory Isolated Detoxification Center between 2019 and 2021, of whom 112 were into the group. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Self-rating depression scale (SDS), Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11(BIS-11), and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (Rbans) were used to evaluate resilience, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and cognition respectively.ResultsThe results mainly indicated that high resilience group showed lower SDS, SAS and BIS-11 scores than low resilience group (all p < 0.05). Besides, the total scores of Rbans were higher in high resilience groups than low resilience group (both p < 0.05). Moreover, linear regression results showed that resilience may be influenced by the scores of SDS and SAS.ConclusionsResilience is negatively correlated with impulsivity and depression. Besides, it is also positively associated with cognitive function. Drug users with higher resilience may have a strong ability to mobilize psychological resources to create a good psychological environment, which may have a positive effect on the relief or improvement of symptoms.

Efficient Expansion of a Behavioral Survey to Assess Sex, Gender, and Behavioral Risk Among Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals: HMU! (HIV Prevention for Methamphetamine Users).

Transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals are at high risk for HIV acquisition. However, TGNB individuals are often excluded from research and public health surveillance, both as participants and as reported sexual partners. This research study aimed to be inclusive, correctly classify TGNB participants, and accurately describe sex partners and sexual activity of participants to assess HIV risk while minimizing participant burden. The adaptation of survey questions designed for cisgender men to include TGNB participants and partners was feasible and relatively straightforward. However, additional work is still needed in this area to increase inclusivity and research participation by TGNB individuals. Clinical Trial Registration Number - NCT03584282.

NIDA details research on treatments for methamphetamine use disorder

At this month's American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting, officials from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and researchers discussed the epidemiology of methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). According to the presenters, rates of past year methamphetamine use continue to rise, with 52.9% of the methamphetamine users meeting criteria for MUD. Among Blacks, there has been a 10‐fold increase, a three‐fold increase among whites, and a doubling of rates among non‐white Hispanics.