Methamphetamine Effects and Treatment Options

Richard Rawson, Ph.D.

UCLA ISAP

La Jolla, Ca. Oct 2004

Organ Toxicity from MA Abuse

• Central nervous system toxicity

• Cardiovascular toxicity• Pulmonary toxicity• Renal toxicity• Hepatic toxicity

CNS Toxicity from MA Abuse

• Acute psychosis• Chronic psychosis• Strokes• Seizures

Cardiovascular Toxicityfrom MA Abuse

• Arrhythmic sudden death

• Myocardial infarction• Cardiomyopathy

Pulmonary Toxicityfrom MA Abuse

• Acute pulmonary congestion

• Chronic obstructive lung disease

Renal / Hepatic Toxicity from MA Abuse

• Renal failure• Hepatic failure

Fetal Toxicity from MA Abuse

• Early effects: fetal death small for gestational

age• Late effects: learning disability poor social adjustment

Children• Children who live in and around the area of the

meth lab become exposed to the drug and its toxic precursors and byproducts.

• 80-90% of children found in homes where there are meth labs test positive for exposure to meth. Some are as young as 19 months old.

•  

Children

• Children can test positive for methamphetamine by:– Having inhaled fumes during the manufacturing

process – Coming into direct contact with the drug– Through second-hand smoke.

Memory Difference between Stimulant and Comparison Groups

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Word Recall** Picture Recall**

Stimulant (n=80) Comparison (n=80)

Differences between Stimulant and Comparison Groups on tests requiring perceptual speed

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Digit Symbol** Trail Making A* Trail Making B**

Stimulant (n=80) Comparison (n=80

Summary

• Actively using MA addicts demonstrate impairments in:– the ability to manipulate information– the ability to make inferences – the ability to ignore irrelevant

information– the ability to learn – the ability to recall material

Longitudinal Memory Performance

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rclw rclp wrec prec

controlbaseline3 mos6 mos

Summary (cont.)

• Some deficits are resolved after a period of 12-weeks of abstinence:

– The ability to ignore irrelevant information

– The ability to manipulate information

Summary (cont.)

• Some abilities get worse in the early periods of abstinence:

– Recall and recognition both show more impairment at 12 weeks of non-use

than is evident in current users

MethamphetamineAcute Physical Effects

- Increases -DecreasesHeart rate AppetiteBlood pressure SleepPupil size Reaction timeRespirationSensory acuityEnergy

MethamphetamineAcute Psychological Effects

• Increases

– Confidence – Alertness – Mood– Sex drive– Energy– Talkativeness

• Decreases – Boredom– Loneliness– Timidity

MethamphetamineChronic Physical Effects

- Tremor - Sweating- Weakness - Burned lips; sore

nose- Dry mouth - Oily

skin/complexion- Weight loss - Headaches- Cough - Diarrhea- Sinus infection - Anorexia

MethamphetamineChronic Psychological Effects

- Confusion - Irritability- Concentration - Paranoia- Hallucinations - Panic

reactions- Fatigue - Depression- Memory loss - Anger- Insomnia - Psychosis

MethamphetaminePsychiatric Consequences

• Paranoid reactions• Permanent memory loss• Depressive reactions• Hallucinations• Psychotic reactions• Panic disorders• Rapid addiction

Typical Day of MA Use

Amount -- 1 gramRoute -- Smoke

First Use -- “When I wake up”Other uses -- “Every few hours”Amount each use -- 1/5 gram

Typical Day of MA Use

Amount -- 3/4 gramRoute -- Shoot

First Use -- “When I get up”Other uses -- “Noon and Afternoon”

Amount each use -- 1/4 gram

MA Treatment Issues

• Acute MA Overdose• Acute MA Psychosis• MA “Withdrawal”• Initiating MA Abstinence• MA Relapse Prevention• Protracted Cognitive Impairment

and Symptoms of Paranoia

Acute MA Overdose

• Slowing of Cardiac Conduction• Ventricular Irritability• Hypertensive Episode• Hyperpyrexic Episode• CNS Seizures and Anoxia

Acute MA Psychosis

• Extreme Paranoid Ideation• Well Formed Delusions• Hypersensitivity to Environmental

Stimuli• Stereotyped Behavior “Tweaking”• Panic, Extreme Fearfulness• High Potential for Violence

Treatment of MA Psychosis

• Typical ER Protocol for MA Psychosis– Haloperidol - 5mg– Clonazepam - 1 mg– Cogentin - 1 mg– Quiet, Dimly Lit Room– Restraints

MA “Withdrawal”

- Depression - Paranoia- Fatigue - Cognitive

Impairment- Anxiety - Agitation- Anergia - Confusion

• Duration: 2 Days - 2 Weeks

Treatment of MA “Withdrawal”

• Hospitalization/Residential Supervision if:– Danger to Self or Others, or, so

Cognitively Impaired as to be Incapable of Safely Traveling to and from Clinic.

– Otherwise Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Treatment of MA “Withdrawal”

• Intensive Outpatient Treatment– No Pharmacotherapy Available– Positive, Reassuring Context– Directive, Behavioral Intervention– Educate Regarding Time Course of

Symptom Remission– Recommend Sleep and Nutrition– Low Stimulation– Acknowledge Paranoia, Depression

Initiating MA Abstinence• Key Clinical Issues

– Depression– Cognitive Impairment– Continuing Paranoia– Anhedonia– Behavioral/Functional Impairment– Hypersexuality– Conditioned Cues– Irritability/Violence

Initiating MA Abstinence• Key Elements of Treatment

– Structure– Information in Understandable

Form– Family Support– Positive Reinforcement– 12-Step Participation

• No Pharmacologic Agent Currently Available

Treatment of MA Disorders

• Traditional Treatments– Therapeutic Community– Minnesota Model– Outpatient Counseling– Psychotherapy

Treatment of MA Disorders• State of Empirical Evidence

– No Information on TC or “Minnesota Model” Approaches

– No Pharmacotherapy with Demonstrated Efficacy

– Results of Cocaine Treatment Research Extrapolated to MA Treatment

Behavioral/Cognitive Behavioral Treatments

• Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy-CBT

• Motivational Interviewing-MI

• Contingency Management-CM

• Community Reinforcement Approach-CRA

• Matrix Model of Outpatient Treatment

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Based upon Social Learning Theory (Bandura and others)

• Also referred to as Relapse Prevention Therapy• Applied to treatment of alcoholism, cocaine

dependence, nicotine dependence and marijuana abuse.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Key Concepts– Encouraging and reinforcing behavior change – Recognizing and avoiding high risk settings– Behavioral planning (scheduling)– Coping skills– Conditioned “triggers”– Understanding and dealing with craving– Abstinence violation effect– Understanding basic psychopharmacology principles– Self-efficacy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Resources– Marlatt and Gordon 1985– NIDA CB Manual– NIAAA Project Match CB Manual – Gorski Publications– Washton Publications

Motivational Interviewing

• Based upon Prochaska and DiClemente Stages of Change Theoretical Model

• Also referred to as Motivational Enhancement Therapy

• Applied with many substances, data primarily with alcoholics

• Major Publications/Studies: Miller and Rollnick, 1991; Project MATCH

Motivational Interviewing

• Basic Assumptions– People change their thinking and behavior according to

a series of stages– Individuals may enter treatment at different “stages of

change”– It is possible to influence the natural change process

with MI techniques– MI can be used to engage individuals in longer term

treatment and to promote specific behavior changes– Confrontation of “denial” can be counterproductive and

or harmful to some individuals

Motivational Interviewing

• Key Concepts– Empathy and therapeutic alliance– Give feedback and reframe – Create dissonance– Focus of discrepancy of expected and actual– Reinforce change– Roll with resistance

Motivational Interviewing

• Resources– Miller and Rollnick 1991– NIAAA Project MATCH manual– CSAT TIP on Motivational Techniques– NIDA Tool Box

Community Reinforcement Approach

• Basic assumptions– Drug and alcohol use are positively reinforced

behaviors. They can be reduced/eliminated by proper application of behavioral techniques.

– To successfully build an effective intervention, some techniques should focus on reducing drug and alcohol use and others should focus on acquisition of new incompatible behaviors

Community Reinforcement Approach

• Key concepts– Behavioral analysis and teach conditioning information.– Positive reinforcement with vouchers for drug free urine

samples– Behavioral marriage counseling– Shape and reinforce new behavioral repetiore.– Coping skill/Drug refusal skill training– Vocational Counseling– Frequent urine testing

Community Reinforcement Approach

• Resources– Meyers and Smith 1995– NIDA CRA Manual– Higgins and Silverman 2000

Contingency Management

• Basic Assumptions– Drug and alcohol use behavior can be controlled using

operant reinforcement procedures– Vouchers can be used as proxy’s for money or goods– Vouchers should be redeemed for items incompatible

with drug use– Escalating the value of the voucher for consecutive

weeks of abstinence promotes better performance– Counseling/therapy may or may not be required in

conjunction with CM procedure

Contingency Management

• Key concepts– Behavior to be modified must be objectively measured

– Behavior to be modified (eg urine test results) must be monitored frequently

– Reinforcement must be immediate

– Penalties for unsuccessful behavior (eg positive Ua) can reduce voucher amount

– Vouchers may be applied to a wide range of prosocial alternative behaviors

Matrix ModelAn Integrated, Empirically-based, Manualized Treatment Program

Relapse Prevention Family and Group Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

12- Step Involvement

Psychoeducation Social Support

Matrix Model ofOutpatient Treatment

Organizing Principles of Matrix Treatment

•Create explicit structure and expectations

•Establish positive, collaborative relationship with patient

•Teach information and cognitive-behavioral concepts

•Positively reinforce positive behavior change

Matrix Model ofOutpatient Treatment

Organizing Principles of Matrix Treatment(cont.)

•Provide corrective feedback when necessary

•Educate family regarding stimulant abuse recovery

•Introduce and encourage self-help participation

•Use urinalysis to monitor drug use

Elements of the Matrix Model

• Engagement/Retention• Structure• Information• Relapse Prevention• Family Involvement• Self Help Involvement• Urinalysis/Breath

Testing

The Matrix Model

Monday Wednesday Friday

Early Recovery Skills

Weeks1-4

Family/education

Weeks 1-12

Early Recovery Skills

Weeks1-4

Relapse Prevention

Weeks 1-16

Social Support

Weeks 13-16

Relapse Prevention

Weeks 1-16

Urine or breath alcohol tests once per week, weeks 1-16