Jornal de Pesquisa e Terapia de Dependência

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Methamphetamine Addiction: A Review of the Literature

Aymeric Petit, Laurent Karila, Florence Chalmin and Michel Lejoyeux

Methamphetamine, a synthetically produced central nervous system stimulant, is the second most illicit drug world- wide after cannabis. This drug has an annual global prevalence estimated at 0.4%, and its use is important in North America, Asia, and Oceania.

Literature review was conducted from 1989 to 2011, using PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and PsycInfo, using the following key words alone or in combination: methamphetamine, addiction, dependence, complications, and pharmacotherapy.

Methamphetamine addiction is a serious public health problem with many consequences and complications. Significant morbidity, including cardiovascular, infectious, pulmonary, dental diseases and other systems complications are associated with methamphetamine acute or chronic use. Methamphetamine dependence also causes serious cognitive impairments that can persist during abstinence and negatively affect recovery outcomes.

There are no approved medications for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence. Efficient treatments include behavioural and psychological approaches of contingency management, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and motivational enhancement strategies.