![]() ![]() To address the acute health effects of methamphetamine, people are typically given supportive care when they arrive at hospital emergency departments, she said. Buckley said some medications are in trials, but for now clinicians rely on psychotherapeutic treatments such as motivational interviewing, and treat any concurrent psychiatric disorders. In severe cases, it can lead to psychosis.Īlthough there are guidelines and evidence-based approaches for treating opioid-use disorder, treatments are limited for those using methamphetamine. “Overamping,” which is analogous to overdosing on opioids, can have a range of effects, including anxiety and agitation, accelerated heart rate, paranoia and extreme discomfort. The health risks of methamphetamine use include cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and stroke, as well as psychiatric problems. “It’s less expensive to get meth than it is even to get food,” he said, adding that it’s unsurprising the drug’s use has continued to increase over the pandemic, as many health and social services were paused or temporarily scaled back during early COVID-19 waves. Nickel said he has also heard of people using methamphetamine to suppress their hunger. Some also use it to cope with cold outdoor temperatures.ĭr. He explained some people who are homeless or unstably housed use methamphetamine to stay alert to avoid being assaulted when spending the night on the street, or in a shelter. ![]() “But in my world, a very common reason for the use of stimulants is survival,” Dr. Others find methamphetamine prolongs the effects of fentanyl, which is shorter-acting than heroin, he added. Often, people say they use methamphetamine to offset or complement fentanyl, whether it’s owing to an unproven perception that it provides protection from overdosing or to counter the strength of the fentanyl and allow them to function while on the drug, Dr. The rise of fentanyl has also played a role. The rise was most dramatic over the past 10 years, and the researchers noted polysubstance use is now common. Bach, the rate of amphetamine-related emergency department visits in Ontario increased nearly 15-fold between 20. And it underscores the need to address the complex and worsening economic and social issues, including homelessness and untreated mental-health problems, that contribute to the problem.Īccording to a recent study, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry and co-authored by Dr. The surge in the combined use of methamphetamine and opioids makes it more challenging to treat people struggling with the immediate and long-term health effects of drug use, addiction experts say. A second wave of heroin-related overdoses emerged, in part, owing to a decrease in prescribing opioids, followed by a third wave of synthetic opioids, predominantly fentanyl. An initial wave was related to increased access to prescription opioids. Some have characterized the growing use of methamphetamine and other stimulants, together with fentanyl, as a “fourth wave” of the opioids epidemic. “It’s important to recognize that these are not independent phenomenon.” “We have a tendency to view every substance independently from one another,” Dr. ![]()
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