Online Narratives of Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior: Can Shame-Free Guilt Aid in Recovery?

Methamphetamine-Induced Wakefulness and Sleep Management: A Qualitative Analysis of Online Narratives

While much attention has been given to methamphetamine's wake-promoting properties and the concept of using methamphetamine to increase energy, little is known about the ways people who use methamphetamine manage their use to pursue their functional goals or the challenges they encounter doing so. This qualitative study explores the experiences of people who used methamphetamine to manage wakefulness and reduce sleep as a means to achieve functional goals. We conducted a grounded theory analysis of 202 anonymous letters submitted to an online forum. Five themes emerged from this process: (1) Using methamphetamine to extend wakefulness and reduce the need for sleep; (2) Losing control over wakefulness and the need for sleep; (3) Managing wakefulness and the need for sleep while on methamphetamine; (4) Getting caught in a cycle of wakefulness and sleep; and (5) Sleep disruptions even after ceasing methamphetamine use. Participants believed methamphetamine was critical to meeting their functional goals, and they went to great lengths to try to manage the substance's ill effects. Thus, clients in treatment for methamphetamine use disorder may benefit from interventions addressing their underlying motivations and perceived associations between methamphetamine and meeting functional goals.

Substance use treatment partially mitigates association between methamphetamine use and STI risk: findings from the NSDUH cohort

BACKGROUND

In recent years, both methamphetamine use and STIs have been on the rise in the USA. In this analysis, we sought to ascertain whether the risk of STIs and HIV among methamphetamine users was moderated on the basis of participation in substance use treatment programmes.

METHODS

Data came from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019. Among adult participants, survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between past year methamphetamine use and risk of HIV and STIs, stratified by methamphetamine treatment utilisation and adjusted for demographic and other risk factors.

RESULTS

Among participants in the analytic sample (n=210 392), 1862 (0.9%) reported past year methamphetamine use, 566 (0.3%) reported receiving treatment for its use, 5471 (2.6%) tested positive for any STI in the past year and 395 (0.2%) for HIV ever in their lifetime. Past year methamphetamine use was associated with increased risk of STIs among those who did not receive treatment (adjusted OR=3.628; 95% CI 2.75 to 4.92). Significant moderation was also present between past-year methamphetamine use, risk of STI, and substance use treatment.

CONCLUSION

In this analysis, we demonstrated a strong relationship between methamphetamine use and risk of STIs that differed based on receipt of substance use treatment. These findings suggested that integrated STI and substance use treatment programmes may yield substantial public health benefits.