Methamphetamines: Myths Versus Reality

1
Methamphetamines Myths Versus
Reality

• Prepared for
• Douglas E. Allen, Director
• Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
• Updated March 2007

2
Publicly Funded Adult Treatment Admissions with
Methamphetamine as Primary Drug Continue to Rise
in Washington State
3
Publicly Funded Youth Treatment Admissions with
Methamphetamine as Primary Drug Stayed the Same
in the Last Two Years
4
In 2006, Nearly One Out of Four Adults Admitted
to Publicly Funded Treatment Was a
Methamphetamine User
5
In 2006, Methamphetamine Users Accounted for 13
of Total Youth Admissions in Publicly Funded
Treatment
6
Treatment Completion

• Myth
• Patients addicted to methamphetamines do not
  complete treatment.

7
Treatment Completion

• Reality
• Methamphetamine users complete treatment at rates
  similar to those of users of other hard drugs.

8
Treatment Completion for Adult Methamphetamine
Users Is Similar to Rates for Users of Other Hard
Drugs
Completing Treatment
9
Treatment Completion for Youth Methamphetamine
Users Is Similar to Rates for Users of Other Hard
Drugs
Completing Treatment
10
Length of Stay in Treatment

• Myth
• Methamphetamine users require extended
• treatment stays.

11
Length of Stay in Treatment

• Reality
• Treatment stays for methamphetamine users are
  similar to or shorter than stays for users of
  other hard drugs.

12
Median Length of Stay in Treatment for Adult
Methamphetamine Users Is Similar to Stays for
Users of Other Hard Drugs
13
Median Length of Stay for Youth Methamphetamine
Users Is Shorter Than Stays for Users of Other
Hard Drugs
14
Treatment Outcomes

• Myth
• Patients addicted to methamphetamines
• have poorer treatment outcomes.

15
Treatment Outcomes

• Reality
• Treatment outcomes for methamphetamine users
• are similar to those of users of other hard
  drugs.

16
Treatment Outcomes for Methamphetamine Addiction
Are Similar to Outcomes for Users of Other Drugs
Adjusted Post-Discharge Outcome Rates for Adults
60
49.2
49.0
50
40
30
Adjusted Outcome Rates
20.5
18.9
20
12.7
11.1
10
0
TX Readmission
Employment
Arrest
Other Substance User (n9145)
Meth User (n1139)
17
Methamphetamine Users Are Less Likely to Be
Hospitalized in Year After Treatment
Adjusted Post-Discharge Rate
of Adult Hospital Admissions per One
Hundred Clients
12
10.7
10
8
6.8
No. of Admissions per 100 Clients
6
4
2
0
Meth User
Other
(n1139)
Substance
User (n9145)
18
Among Adult SSI Recipients, Treated Stimulant,
Including Methamphetamine Users, Have Reductions
in Health Care Costs Similar to Those of Users of
Other Substances
19
Methamphetamine Users (SSI Recipients) Have
Positive Criminal Justice Outcomes

• Adult methamphetamine users have a 28 reduced
  risk of conviction for any offense compared to
  15 for persons addicted to other drugs
• Adult methamphetamine users have a 16 reduced
  risk of re-arrest compared to 19 for
  persons addicted to other drugs

20
Outcomes for Youth Methamphetamine Users Are
Similar to Outcomes for Users of Other Drugs
Adjusted Post-Discharge Outcome Rates for Youth
30
24.0
25
19.5
20
15.1
Adjusted Outcome Rates
13.7
15
10
7.1
7.6
5
0
TX Readmission
Any Conviction
Felony Conviction
Meth User (n364)
Other Substance User (n5539)
21
Conclusions

• Methamphetamine remains an important primary drug
  more for adults than youth in publicly funded
  treatment admissions in Washington State
• Methamphetamine treatment completion rates are
  similar to those of users of other hard drugs
• Length of stay in treatment for methamphetamine
  users is similar to or shorter than stays for
  users of other hard drugs
• Methamphetamine treatment outcomes are similar to
  outcomes for users of other hard drugs
• Treatment as usual can be very effective for
  methamphetamine users