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Background: The validity of self-reported methamphetamine use among treatment-seeking patients has been reported as inconsistent and therefore inconclusive. Objectives: To evaluate the validity of self-reported methamphetamine use versus urinalysis in patients with methamphetamine use disorder at a drug treatment center. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 71 individuals with methamphetamine use disorder who were referred to the Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) clinic. Self-reported methamphetamine use in the last 72 hours was compared to urinalysis, conducted using the immunoassay technique. Sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), Cohen's kappa statistics, percent agreement, and positive percent agreement were estimated. Results: Only 24.6% of participants reported methamphetamine use during treatment. Self-reported methamphetamine use had a sensitivity of 50.0% and a NPV of 86.0%. The percent agreement, positive percent agreement, and Cohen's kappa statistic between self-reported use and the urine test were 86.0%, 42.8%, and 52.4%, respectively. No significant factors were found to be associated with the agreement between self-reported use and the urine test. Conclusions: The validity of self-reported methamphetamine use appears to be relatively acceptable and can be used with caution for monitoring treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students have been recognized as a risk group for substance use. Nevertheless, coherent risk factors for stimulant use remain to be elucidated. The objective of this paper is to identify risk factors associated with the recreational use of MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine. An online questionnaire was distributed among colleges in Berlin. A sample of 12,914 college students participated, of which 9,382 met the inclusion criteria. Past-month prevalence was 7.0% for MDMA, 6.7% for amphetamine, 5.8% for cocaine and 0.1% for methamphetamine. Associated factors included male gender, "other" gender, homosexual and bisexual orientation, open relationship status or being single, engaging in sexual risk-taking behavior, having a psychiatric diagnosis, tobacco use, drinking alcohol and an increased number of (illicit) substances consumed in the past month and in life. Berlin college students showed a substantially higher prevalence of stimulant use compared to both the general population and college students in other cities. Certain parameters, e.g., polydrug use, were particularly high in this group. The results can be used in further development of prevention efforts. However, conclusions about causality are limited by the cross-sectional nature of this study, highlighting the necessity for longitudinal studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug addiction problem in Vietnam is becoming increasingly complicated, especially for the group of addicts using Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS). The trading market and ATS user increase quickly with an estimated 36 million people using ATS globally. Long-term use of ATS may have unwanted psychological effects such as mood changes, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, insomnia, and anxiety. From there, are unwanted behaviors such as violence and aggression. The use of ATS also has caused many negative effects for families, communities, and society. The current problem is that these narcotics and psychotropic substances have very serious effects on the brain. Many deaths caused by psychotropic drugs also stem from the abuse of these toxins. It is also a challenge because the intervention of Methadone, which is an effective treatment for heroin users, is not effective with ATS users. Very concerned about this issue, in 2019, Vietnam issued the guidelines for intervention on drug abuse in the form of ATS including social and psychological intervention. It is a comprehensive approach with the expectation of more effective intervention and support for ATS users. The study used psychological and social experimental study for 45 ATS users in 3 ATS treatment clinics in Hanoi and Haiphong-Vietnam. The results showed that psychological and social intervention has brought positive effects for ATS users, both in terms of reducing ATS use as well as having positive results on mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethamphetamine use could jeopardize the current efforts to address opioid use disorder and HIV infection. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) are effective in reducing methamphetamine use. However, evidence on optimal combinations of EBI is limited. This protocol presents a type-1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of adaptive methamphetamine use interventions, and their implementation barriers in Vietnam.MethodDesign: Participants will be first randomized into two frontline interventions for 12 weeks. They will then be placed or randomized to three adaptive strategies for another 12 weeks. An economic evaluation and an ethnographic evaluation will be conducted alongside the interventions.ParticipantsWe will recruit 600 participants in 20 methadone clinics.Eligibility criteria(1) age 16+; (2) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores ≥ 10 for methamphetamine use or confirmed methamphetamine use with urine drug screening; (3) willing to provide three pieces of contact information; and (4) having a cell phone.OutcomesOutcomes are measured at 13, 26, and 49 weeks and throughout the interventions. Primary outcomes include the (1) increase in HIV viral suppression, (2) reduction in HIV risk behaviors, and (3) reduction in methamphetamine use. COVID-19 response: We developed a response plan for interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns to ensure data quality and intervention fidelity.DiscussionThis study will provide important evidence for scale-up of EBIs for methamphetamine use among methadone patients in limited-resource settings. As the EBIs will be delivered by methadone providers, they can be readily implemented if the trial demonstrates effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04706624. Registered on 13 January 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04706624.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of traffic offenses associated with driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) in 31 provinces of mainland China. Traffic offenses were extracted from the nationally representative court file disclosure website. Drivers convicted of traffic offenses associated with DUID were included. The monthly percentage change (MPC) in rates was estimated by fitting negative binomial regression models to assess the time trends. Moran's I was used to determine the correlations of DUID-related rates among surrounding provinces. In total, 896 individuals convicted of DUID offenses were identified (April 2007 to March 2022). Of these, 769 individuals were involved in traffic crashes, and they killed 629 people. Regarding the types of drugs, 638 used amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS; methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, amphetamine, and tenamfetamine), 104 used ketamine, 104 used opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, and tramadol), 20 used caffeine, 4 used tetrahydrocannabinol, and 1 used gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. The offense trends among overall drug users (MPC, −1.1; p <.001) declined from 2014 to 2020. The trends also decreased for DUID-related traffic crashes (−1.5; p <.001) and deaths (−1.7; p <.001) during the same period. Except in three provinces, ATS-related offense rates were higher than opioid-related offense rates. Ketamine-related offense rates showed a significant positive correlation among the surrounding provinces (Moran's I, 0.22; p <.01), and South China had the highest ketamine-related offense rates. In the sample, the case fatality rate was 70.7%, which was a strong indicator of underreporting, and most minor DUID-related offenses could not be captured by Chinese court files. The frequency of drug screening tests for people should be increased. The traffic police in Qinghai, Tibet, and Xinjiang should always be equipped with fast screening test kits for drugs, which could increase the possibility of identifying DUID offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renewed interest in considering a range of stimulants, psychedelics and dissociatives as therapeutics emphasizes the need to draft an updated overview of these drugs' clinical and pharmacological issues. The focus here was on: stimulants (e.g. amphetamines, methamphetamine, and pseudoephedrine; phenethylamines; synthetic cathinones; benzofurans; piperazines; aminoindanes; aminorex derivatives; phenmetrazine derivatives; phenidates); classical (e.g. ergolines; tryptamines; psychedelic phenethylamines), and atypical (e.g. PCP/ketamine-like dissociatives) psychedelics. Stimulant and psychedelics are associated with: a) increased central DA levels (psychedelic phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones and stimulants); b) 5-HT receptor subtypes' activation (psychedelic phenethylamines; recent tryptamine and lysergamide derivatives); and c) antagonist activity at NMDA receptors, (phencyclidine-like dissociatives). Clinicians should be regularly informed about the range of NPS and their medical, psychobiological and psychopathological risks both in the acute and long term. Future research should focus on an integrative model in which pro-drug websites' analyses are combined with advanced research approaches, including computational chemistry studies so that in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies of index novel psychoactives can be organized. The future of psychedelic research should focus on identifying robust study designs to convincingly assess the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, molecules likely to present with limited dependence liability levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement in prevention services is crucial to reducing HIV risk among female entertainment and sex workers (FESW), and SMARTgirl is the national social marketing HIV prevention program for Cambodian women engaged in sex and entertainment work. Informed by the Behavioral Model of Vulnerable Populations, three multivariate logistic regression analyses examined correlates of three indices of engagement along the SMARTgirl HIV prevention continuum: (1) receipt of outreach services (past 3 months); (2) being registered as a SMARTgirl member; and (3) SMARTgirl club attendance (past year). Among the 1077 FESW enrolled in nine Cambodian provinces, women working in a brothel or freelance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.48; 95% CI 1.44-4.26) and those exchanging sex for drugs during the past 3 months (aOR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.81) had significantly lower odds of contact with a SMARTgirl outreach worker. Women who reported having more than ten sexual partners in the past 3 months (aOR 0.54; 95% CI 0.32-0.89) and those who reported binge alcohol use (aOR 0.53; 95% CI 0.29-0.98) had significantly lower odds of being registered as SMARTgirl members. Exchanging sex for drugs was also associated with increased odds of attending a SMARTgirl club (aOR 2.03; 95% CI 1.04-3.98). Novel methods to deliver HIV prevention services are warranted to more effectively reach FESW who exchange sex for drugs, engage in binge alcohol use, report a greater number of sexual partners, and those not working in established work venues.

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for determination of seven amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) including amphetamine (AM), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylendioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), 4-bromo-2,5- dimethoxyamphetamine (DOB), and ketamine (KET), norketamine (NKT) in human hair. Ten milligrams of human hair was washed by water and methanol followed by soaking in a solution of 1% hydrochloric acid in methanol for 18 hours. The analytes from the methanolic extract were isolated by a SPE procedure before being derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) at 80°C for 40 minutes. The selected ion monitoring (SIM) method was used for the quantification of the derivatized compounds. The linear range was from 0.5-40 ng/mg for all of the analytes with the coefficient of determination (R2)>0.9971. The intra-day and inter-day accuracies were in the range of 93.63-112.40% and 94.70-110.20%, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision (RSD%) were in the range of 8.72 and 9.73, respectively. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for each analyte were less than 0.10 and 0.32 ng/mg, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 75.18-89.30%. The GC-MS was used for the hair analysis on 51 subjects suspected to be ATSs and ketamine user. The average content of all the analytes was in the range of 1.14-12.70 ng/mg. On the basis of these results, the method was proved to be effective for identification and quantitation of

Introduction: Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) are the second most commonly consumed class of illicit drugs globally, but there is limited understanding of the precise factors associated with problematic versus controlled ATS consumption. This exploratory study aimed to identify which individual, social, and environmental factors are associated with different patterns of ATS use over time. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Germany, England, The Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic via face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviews to collect data on different user groups. 1,458 adults (18+) reported exposure to but no ATS use (n = 339); former rare/moderate ATS use (n = 242); current rare/moderate ATS use (n = 273); former frequent/dependent ATS use (n = 201); current frequent/dependent ATS use (n = 403). Extent of ATS/other substance use was assessed by number of consumption days (lifetime, past year, past month) and Severity of Dependence Scale. To identify factors associated with group membership, data were also collected on previous injecting drug use (IDU) and consumption setting/rules. Psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory, with additional data collected on self-reported adverse life events and physical/mental health. Results: Currently, using frequent/dependent ATS users experienced more frequent unstable living conditions (27.5%) and psychological distress (59.8%) compared to other groups. A multinomial logistic regression showed that currently abstinent rare/moderate users were more likely to abstain from methamphetamine use {odds ratio (OR) = 2.48 (confidence interval [CI] = 1.32–4.68)} and from IDU (OR = 6.33 [CI = 2.21–18.14]), to avoid ATS use during working hours (OR = 6.67 [CI = 3.85–11.11]), and not to use ATS for coping reasons (OR = 4.55 [CI = 2.50–6.67]) compared to the reference group of currently using frequent/dependent users. Conclusions: People who use ATS frequently and/or at dependent levels are more likely to have experienced social and economic adversity compared to infrequent ATS users. On the other hand, there is a substantial share of users, which show a controlled use pattern and are able to integrate ATS use into their lives without severe consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: New psychoactive substances (NPS) are not controlled under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 or the 1971 Convention, but they may pose a public health threat. Knowledge of the main properties and toxicological effects of these substances is lacking. According to the current Drugs Law (Law n. 11.343/2006), the Brazilian Surveillance Agency issues directives for forbidden substances in Brazil, and structural classes of synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and phenylethylamines are considered illicit drugs. Considering that data on these controlled substances are scattered, the main objective of this work was to collect and organize data to generate relevant information on the toxicological properties of NPS. Methods: We carried out a literature review collecting information on the acute, chronic, and post-mortem toxicity of these classes of NSP. We searched info in five scientific databases considering works from 2017 to 2021 and performed a statistical evaluation of the data. Results: Results have shown a general lack of studies in this field given that many NPS have not had their toxicity evaluated. We observed a significant difference in the volume of data concerning acute and chronic/post-mortem toxicity. Moreover, studies on the adverse effects of polydrug use are scarce. Conclusions: More in-depth information about the main threats involving NPS use are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundHIV prevention for female entertainment and sex workers (FESW) may be optimized by addressing individual and structural risks. We examined the impact of a sequentially delivered intervention to decrease sexual risk, amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use, and improve economic well-being in Cambodian FESW.MethodsA cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial was conducted in 10 Cambodian provinces to test multi-level intervention in high risk FESW. After baseline screening in 1198 women, those screening positive for ATS use disorder were allocated to a 12-week conditional cash transfer intervention followed by a 4-week cognitive-behavioural aftercare group (CCT + AC). At six months, ATS abstinent participants were offered a microenterprise (ME) opportunity. Co-primary outcomes assessed in 600 FESW at each 6-, 12- and 18-month follow-up assessments, included: 1) number of sexual partners (past three months); and 2) ATS urine toxicology positive (Tox+) results. Secondary outcomes included indicators of economic well-being.ResultsRelative to baseline, FESW reported fewer sexual partners at all follow-up assessments with a significant 50% decrease at 12-months (Adjusted Rate Ratio [ARR] = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.25, 0.95). Women had 60% lower odds of being ATS Tox+ (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.25, 0.65) at 6-months, and continued but non-significant reductions at 12- and 18-months. Improvements in economic well-being indicators were observed at 12- and 18-months.ConclusionsFindings support the robust effectiveness of the sequentially delivered CCT + AC and ME interventions for boosting HIV prevention for Cambodian FESW. Further research is needed to inform the scale up and improve durability of this comprehensive approach with FESW in Southeast Asia.

The abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) has caused irreversible harm to public safety and ecosystems. A novel polymerized deep eutectic solvent modified magnetic pomelo peel biochar (PMBC) was prepared, and the differences in adsorption of four abused amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs: AMP, MAMP, MDA and MDMA) were due to varying hydrogen bonds quantities and strengths. PMBC showed excellent chemical reactivity to MDMA, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 926.13 μg g−1, which was 3.25, 2.52 and 1.15 times higher than that of AMP, MAMP and MDA, respectively. Modern spectral analysis showed that there were a series of active centers (-COOH, -NH 2 and -OH) on the PMBC, which could form hydrogen bond networks with the nitrogen and oxygen functional groups of ATSs. In various chemical environments: pH level (4–11), inorganic ion and organic matter (humic acid), PMBC maintained high activity towards four ATSs. Additionally, the quantum chemical calculations revealed that the methylenedioxy bridge of ATSs can increase the active sites, and the -NH- and -NH 2 groups had different hydrogen bond formation capabilities, which together resulted in the adsorption order of PMBC on the four ATSs: MDMA > MDA > MAMP > AMP. Moreover, the hydrogen-bonding binding energies of several common hydrogen-bonding types were compared, including O-H····O, N-H····O/O-H····N and N-H···N. This study laid an empirical and theoretical foundation for the efficient capture of ATSs in water and contributed to the innovative design of materials. [Display omitted] • ATSs pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and public safety. • The adsorption order of four ATs on PMBC was: MDMA > MDA > MAMP > AMP. • The adsorption differences was due to the number and strength of hydrogen bonds. • The hydrogen-bonding binding energy were calculated. • The experimental and quantum chemical calculations mutually confirm each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Methamphetamine use could jeopardize the current efforts to address opioid use disorder and HIV infection. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) are effective in reducing methamphetamine use. However, evidence on optimal combinations of EBI is limited. This protocol presents a type-1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of adaptive methamphetamine use interventions, and their implementation barriers in Vietnam. Method Design: Participants will be first randomized into two frontline interventions for 12 weeks. They will then be placed or randomized to three adaptive strategies for another 12 weeks. An economic evaluation and an ethnographic evaluation will be conducted alongside the interventions. Participants: We will recruit 600 participants in 20 methadone clinics. Eligibility criteria: (1) age 16+; (2) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores ≥ 10 for methamphetamine use or confirmed methamphetamine use with urine drug screening; (3) willing to provide three pieces of contact information; and (4) having a cell phone. Outcomes: Outcomes are measured at 13, 26, and 49 weeks and throughout the interventions. Primary outcomes include the (1) increase in HIV viral suppression, (2) reduction in HIV risk behaviors, and (3) reduction in methamphetamine use. COVID-19 response: We developed a response plan for interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns to ensure data quality and intervention fidelity. Discussion This study will provide important evidence for scale-up of EBIs for methamphetamine use among methadone patients in limited-resource settings. As the EBIs will be delivered by methadone providers, they can be readily implemented if the trial demonstrates effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04706624. Registered on 13 January 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04706624

BackgroundAmphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use has become popular in China. This study explored ATS use status and related risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among ATS users in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted by questionnaires from January to July 2021 in border area in Yunnan. Respondent driving sampling and consecutive sampling was carried out among border drug users, and blood samples were tested for HCV antibodies. HCV infection and related risk factors among ATS users were measured. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted separately by Software SPSS 26.0.ResultsThe ATS users accounted for 85.82% (345/402) among drug users, while anti-HCV antibody prevalence was 6.38% (22/345) among ATS users. The combined use of other types of drugs (OR = 7.29, 95%CI: 1.982–26.81, P = 0.003), injection drug use (OR = 6.823, 95%CI: 1.898–24.525, P = 0.003), average monthly income (OR = 4.825, 95%CI: 1.325–17.566, P = 0.017) might increase the risk of HCV infection among ATS users. ATS users with high school or above had higher HCV infection rates than those with primary school or below (OR = 5.718, 95%CI: 1.172–27.908, P = 0.031).ConclusionTaken together, among drug users using ATS in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, combined use of multiple drugs and intravenous drug use was the high risk factor for HCV infection. Therefore, corresponding education and intervention measures should be taken.

Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS), such as amphetamines, MDMA, and methamphetamine are a commonly used class of illicit drugs in Europe. There is a large existing literature on motives for the use of illicit drugs, often focusing on initiation.However, few studies have explored the reasons why some people choose not to use drugs (non-use), and even fewer focus on the social processes influencing non-use of ATS specifically. We explored social processes related to normalization, and how persistent non-users negotiate their non-use in social contexts where ATS is used, using qualitative interview (n = 21) and survey questionnaire (n = 126) data from a mixed-method study conducted in the Netherlands and England. Our findings showed that in both countries, most participants were repeatedly exposed to ATS use, often in social or nightlife settings. Participants abstained from use for a number of reasons, including: lack of interest in illicit drug use in general; desire to maintain control over their own behavior and environment; and to avoid the associated health risks. Social processes also shaped persistent non-use of ATS, via conscious socialization with, and selection of, other non-using peers over time.Our findings contribute to the literature on the normalization thesis, showing that recreational ATS use is only partly socially accommodated and normalized among persistent non-users, suggesting differentiated normalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) drug analysis and identification are challenging and critical nowadays with the emergence production of new synthetic ATS drugs with sophisticated design compounds. In the present study, we proposed a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1DCNN) model to perform ATS drug classification as an alternative method. We investigate as well as explore the classification behavior of 1DCNN with the utilization of the existing novel 3D molecular descriptors as ATS drugs representation to become the model input. The proposed 1DCNN model is composed of one convolutional layer to reduce the model complexity. Besides, pooling operation that is a standard part of traditional CNN is not applied in this architecture to have more features in the classification phase. The dropout regularization technique is employed to improve model generalization. Experiments were conducted to find the optimal values for three dominant hyper-parameters of the 1DCNN model which are the filter size, transfer function, and batch size. Our findings found that kernel size 11, exponential linear unit (ELU) transfer function and batch size 32 are optimal for the 1DCNN model. A comparison with several machine learning classifiers has shown that our proposed 1DCNN has achieved comparable performance with the Random Forest classifier and competitive performance with the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yue Liu,1 Nina Liu,2 Wenwen Shen,1 Longhui Li,1 Wenhua Zhou,1 Leiting Xu3 1Department of Academic Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315201, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Basic Medicine, Ningbo College of Health Sciences, Ningbo, 315100, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Basic Medicine, Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, 315211, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Leiting XuDepartment of Basic Medicine, Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, 315211, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 18267417969Email leitingxu@yeah.netWenhua ZhouDepartment of Academic Research, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315201, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13777113984Email wenhuazhou@yeah.netObjective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the abuse characteristics of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT).Methods: A total of 58 MMT and 51 BMT patients abusing ATS were recruited from the drug maintenance treatment clinic of Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center from January 2018 to December 2019. They were assessed using the amphetamine abuse questionnaire (AAQ), addiction severity index (ASI) and Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS). Moreover, 40 MMT control patients, 40 BMT control patients and 20 healthy controls were also assessed using the BIS. All information was collected using the amphetamine abuse questionnaire (AAQ), Chinese version of addiction severity index (ASI-C) and Chinese version of Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS-C) conducted by qualified psychologists.Results: The interval of amphetamine use in the MMT group was shorter than the BMT group (P < 0.05). The drug use subscale score of ASI was higher in the MMT group than the BMT group (P < 0.05). The respective and total scores of attentional impulsiveness, motor impulsiveness and non-planning impulsiveness in BIS in the MMT group were all higher than the MMT control group (P < 0.05). The scores of motor impulsiveness and non-planning impulsiveness in the BMT group were higher than the BMT control group (P < 0.05). The respective and total scores in BIS in the MMT control group and the BMT control group were all higher than those in the healthy controls.Conclusion: The patients showing amphetamine abuse in maintenance therapy had a greater impulsiveness than those having other simple maintenance treatments, and patients under MMT may be more addicted to amphetamines in comparison with those having BMT.Keywords: methadone maintenance treatment, buprenorphine maintenance treatment, amphetamine-type stimulants, impulsiveness, addiction

Environmental impact of toxic and corrosive synthesis waste generated by the clandestine production of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is a known problem, which can even result in malfunction of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), e. g. in case of illegal discharge of large amounts of highly acidic chemical waste into the sewage system, which is generated in clandestine labs converting pre-precursors to the most prevalent ATS precursor benzyl methyl ketone (BMK). ATS synthesis-specific substances, precursor chemicals, intermediates and route-specific by-products may also support wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) studies to explain abnormally high loads of drugs in wastewater by distinguishing whether these high loads were caused by consumption or disposal of synthesis waste into the sewage system. Although some of these synthesis-specific substances can be detected in traces in the final form of consumption of the product, these substances are removed from the drug product to a large extent during cleaning steps, e.g. the frequently applied steam distillation step to purify the amphetamine raw base after clandestine Leuckart synthesis. In contrast, these synthesis-specific by-products are very prominent in chemical synthesis wastes, whereby their detection in wastewater would prove a disposal of synthesis wastes instead of excretion after drug product consumption. As a prerequisite, such substances need to exhibit a certain chemical and biological stability in wastewater and, therefore, lab-scale experiments were performed in a mixture of WWTP effluent and activated sludge. Fourteen selected synthesis-specific substances, all related to the production of ATS, comprised pre-precursors (e.g. α-phenylacetoacetonitrile (APAAN) or α-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA)), precursors (e.g. BMK), intermediates (e.g. N-formylamphetamine (NFA)), synthesis by-products (e.g. N,N-di-(β-phenylisopropyl)amine (DPIA)) and final products (e.g. amphetamine (AMPH)). Stability of test substances was evaluated by targeted HPLC-MS/MS analysis, while HPLC-HRMS techniques were used for the identification of transformation products (TPs) of substances that have undergone primary degradation. All substances were detectable for five days minimum and seven out of 14 substances underwent at least primary degradation. A total of three TPs were identified: TP164 was formed by oxidation of ephedrine (EPHE) and was further transformed after maximum formation, while TP180-1 and TP180-2 were formed by reduction of APAA and both remained stable. This is the first study investigating the stability of ATS synthesis-specific substances in wastewater demonstrating sufficient stability for wastewater monitoring studies.

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) and cognitive-behavioral treatments are evidence-based approaches to reduce stimulant use and sexual risk taking. We describe the adaptation and implementation of sequential behavioral interventions for Cambodian female entertainment and sex workers (FESW) who use amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS): (1) a 12-week CCT intervention; and (2) a 4-week cognitive-behavioral aftercare (AC) group. An ongoing cluster randomized stepped wedge trial in 10 Cambodian provinces is enrolling FESW with confirmed recent ATS use to examine the effectiveness of CCT + AC. In the first six provinces, 138 of the 183 eligible FESW (75 %) enrolled in CCT and completed a median of 25 (interquartile range 9-32) of the 36 urine screening visits. Of the 84 participants who were eligible for AC, 79 completed at least one session (94 %) and 57 completed three or more sessions (68 %). Culturally tailored behavioral interventions to reduce ATS use and optimize HIV prevention are feasible in resource-limited settings.

Abstract Background HIIT has recently been widely used for health promotion in healthy people and patients with chronic diseases. Exercise can help SUD reduce drug cravings, enhance mental health and return to normal life. However, whether HIIT can bring better physical rehabilitation benefits to individuals with SUD than MICT is unclear. The study aimed to compare the effects of HIIT versus MICT on the physical fitness of individuals with SUD. Methods One hundred twenty individuals with amphetamine-type stimulant dependence voluntarily participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to the HIIT group and MICT group. Both groups received training three times a week. The intervention lasted from January 2019 to December 2019. Physical fitness was assessed at the baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months, including blood pressure (BP), vital capacity(VC), hand grip, push-up, sit-and-reach, one-leg standing with eyes closed and choice reaction time. The craving level was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale at baseline, 6 months and 12 months to see any change along with the improvement in physical fitness. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to analyse the differences in change by group (HIIT and MICT) and time (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months). Results The within-group factor displayed significant changes in the HIIT and MICT groups in terms of systolic BP (F (4,336) = 12.799, P

Introduction: Understanding reasons for choosing not to inject drugs, among those who have never injected before, may be helpful for reducing transitions to injecting drug use. This study examines opportunities to inject and reasons for never injecting in young adults who used stimulants. Methods: Data are from a population‐based study of young adults who used ecstasy and methamphetamine (n = 313), recruited in Queensland, Australia in 2008/2009. At the follow‐up, participants who had never injected (n = 293) completed a 13‐item instrument on reasons for never injecting. We conducted a principal components analysis to identify types of reasons (scored 0–100) and multivariate regression to predict endorsement of these reasons. Results: Approximately one‐in‐five of all participants ever had an opportunity to inject and there was no gender difference in the propensity to accept an opportunity. Four types of reasons, labelled risk perception, subjective effects, social environment and aversion, were identified. Male gender was associated with lower endorsement of risk perception (β = −7.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] −13.37, −2.51) and social environment (β = −7.35; 95% CI −13.15, −1.54). Having friends who injected was associated with lower endorsement of the social environment (β = −8.88; 95% CI −14.83, −2.94), and higher endorsement of aversion (β = 7.67; 95% CI 1.44, 13.89). Discussion and Conclusions: Our findings suggest that injecting drug use opportunities are common among young adults engaged in recreational drug use, with males and females equally likely to accept an opportunity. A strong aversion to injecting and a hedonic preference for non‐injecting drug use may reduce the likelihood of accepting these opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The established approaches of suspect and nontarget screening (NTS) using liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) are usually applied in the field of environmental and bioanalytical analysis. Herein, these approaches were employed on a forensic‐toxicological application by analyzing different production waste samples from controlled amphetamine synthesis via Leuckart route to evaluate the suitability of this methodology for identification of route‐specific organic substances in such waste samples. For analysis, two complementary LC techniques were used to cover a broad polarity spectrum. After data processing and peak picking using the enviMass software and further manual data restriction, 17 features were tentatively identified as suspects, three of which were subsequently identified with reference substances. All suspects had been previously identified in studies, in which gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was successfully applied for synthesis marker assessment in waste and amphetamine samples. Remaining features with high signal intensity and assigned sum formula were selected for the attempt of structure elucidation. Seven potential synthesis markers were tentatively identified, which were not yet reported, except the sum formula of one compound, and which were partly also detected in real case waste samples afterward. The innovative application of the NTS approach using LC‐HRMS for the analysis of aqueous amphetamine synthesis waste samples showed its suitability as extension to GC‐MS analysis as it was possible to successfully identify seven new potential marker compounds, which are specific either for the conversion of the pre‐precursors α‐phenylacetoacetonitrile and α‐phenylacetoacetamide to benzyl methyl ketone or for the subsequent Leuckart synthesis route after their conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who use amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) are known to face barriers in seeking treatment. We sought to identify these barriers and gender differences in barriers (if any) faced by them. A convenience sample of 386 respondents who use ATS was recruited from five formal drug rehabilitation centers for this cross-sectional study. The majority were male (83%), with 17% being female. The barriers most frequently cited by both men and women were: the perception that ATS use needed no treatment, fears of community discrimination, peer influence, and long waiting time to get into a treatment programme. One-third of the sample held that the mandated treatment programmes were ineffective, based on past experience. In terms of male-female differences, long waiting time discouraged significantly more women than men, whereas more men than women asserted that formal treatment programmes were ineffective. We also found no significant differences in barriers faced by ATS users and those using ATS with other illicit substances. Outreach initiatives to minimize the impact of treatment barriers, coupled with offering separate treatment protocols and facilities, will encourage people who use ATS to seek treatment voluntarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use and mental ill health constitute a major public health burden, and a key global policy priority is to reduce illicit and other harmful substance use. Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are the second most used class of illicit drugs and a range of mental health issues have been documented amongst users. This paper explores the relationship between mental health and ATS use, through a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with n = 18 current and former ATS users in England. The findings are presented by trajectory point of; (1) Initiation of ATS use; (2) continued and increased ATS use and (3) decreased and remitted ATS use. This work helps to develop understanding around the complex and bi-directional relationship between ATS use and mental health. Many ATS users lead chaotic lives and engage in multiple risk behaviours, however there is a need to better understand and conceptualise the dynamic interaction between different individual, social, environment and cultural factors that determine individuals' mental health and substance use. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to prevention and treatment, and these findings highlight the need for more joined-up, tailored and holistic approaches to intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a gold nanoparticle‐based surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (SALDI‐MS) method for the analysis of amphetamine‐type stimulants (ATS), including methamphetamine (MA), 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐methamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐ethylamphetamine (MDEA), and 4‐fluoromethamphetamine (4‐FMA), by derivatization to form quaternary ammonium species. After derivatization, the ion signal intensities of the derivatives of MA, MDMA, MDEA, and 4‐FMA significantly increase as compared to that without derivatization. Moreover, there is no analyte suppression effect in our samples after derivatization. The limits of detection (LODs) for MA, MDMA, MDEA, and 4‐FMA are 0.1, 1.0, 91, and 44 ppb, respectively, with the correlation coefficients of these regressions in the calibration curves higher than 0.99. The optimal experimental conditions, including concentration of gold nanoparticles and sample preparation method, were then applied to urine samples. After a simple sample pretreatment, including extraction and derivatization, results show that the average recoveries of the SALDI‐MS method for MA and MDMA are 100.87 ± 5.8% and 98.28 ± 2.9%, respectively. In summary, we have demonstrated a method to improve the sensitivity of the SALDI method for determination of ATS by derivatization and the method has been validated in the determination of MA and MDMA in urine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The use of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) is a major health concern after cannabis in the world. The study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the published articles on the prevalence of methamphetamine, ecstasy, and non-prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin) use in Iran and to perform a meta-analysis on this subject. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and national Persian databases including SID, Magiran, and IranDoc were searched for articles published until July 31, 2019. The pooled lifetime and 12-month prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of ATS use were calculated. Results: Fifty-five articles were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled lifetime and 12-month prevalence of ATS use was 5.4% (95% CI: 4.9%-6.0%) and 2.4% (95% CI: 1.9%-2.9%), respectively. The pooled lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine, ecstasy and non-prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin) use was 6.7% (95% CI: 4.9%-8.6%), 5.9% (95% CI: 4.9%-6.8%) and 16.4% (95% CI: 11.6%-21.2%), respectively. Conclusion: In Iran, lifetime ATS use is of intermediate prevalence. However, it is higher than that of other countries. The findings of this review highlight the need for more attention to ATS use in young men in the west and northwest of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulant use and associated factors among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients. In 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 967 MMT patients at two methadone clinics in Ho Chi Minh City that serve Vietnamese patients. Amphetamine-type stimulant use was assessed by rapid urine test and face-to-face interview using the Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) tool. The prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulant use assessed by urine test was 25.4%. According to ASSIST, the prevalence of moderate and high risk amphetamine-type stimulant use was 15.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Amphetamine-type stimulant use and hazardous use were more prevalent in younger patients, having a part-time job, drug injection, having a lower score of self-health assessment, treated with a higher dose of methadone and missing methadone dose in the past 3 months. By contrast, patients who were HIV positive were less likely to use amphetamine-type stimulants. Cannabis and heroin use were significantly associated with amphetamine-type stimulant use (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.38–8.67; and OR = 1.50; CI: 1.04–2.18, respectively) and hazardous use (OR = 4.07; CI: 1.67–9.92; and OR = 2.38; CI: 1.56–3.63, respectively). Screening and interventions are needed to cope with this issue on time, particularly in young patients, having drug injection and concurrent drugs user groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAlthough amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use is an important issue that has caused growing concerns in China as well as other countries, the knowledge of long-term patterns of ATS use in China is limited. This study explored long-term patterns of ATS use in Shanghai, China, and compared the differences by ATS use trajectory groups, seeking to identify risk factors that have implications for the development of targeted intervention programs.MethodsA total of 377 ATS users were recruited from the Compulsory Isolation Center for Drug Rehabilitation in Shanghai. Group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify distinctive trajectories of ATS use over 8 years at the time of interviews conducted in 2012. The mean number of days using ATS per month over a year from years 2005 to 2012 was analyzed with a censored normal model.ResultsThree distinctive groups were identified: high-use (19.1%), low-use (66.0%), and increasing-use (14.9%). Relative to the low-use group, the high-use and increasing-use groups were more likely to report having used opiate-type drugs and to have more craving experiences. Psychiatric symptoms following ATS use were frequently reported, with ATS users in the increasing-use and high-use groups more likely to report depression symptoms and suicide behaviors compared to the low-use group. The low-use and increasing-use groups reported more months in drug abuse treatment programs compared to the high-use group.ConclusionsAddressing ATS use should take into consideration patients' use-related psychiatric symptoms as well as other risk factors, particularly among those with persistent high-level ATS use trajectories.

BackgroundAlthough the interaction of brain volume with amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and cocaine has been investigated in chronically dependent individuals, little is known about structural differences that might exist in individuals who consume ATS and cocaine occasionally but are not dependent on these drugs.MethodsRegional brain volumes in 165 college aged occasional users of ATS (namely: amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA) and cocaine were compared by voxel-based morphometry with 48 ATS/cocaine-naive controls.ResultsGrey matter volume was significantly higher in the left ventral anterior putamen of occasional users, and lower in the right dorsolateral cerebellum and right inferior parietal cortex. A regression in users alone on lifetime consumption of combined ATS (namely: amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate and MDMA) and cocaine use revealed that individuals who used more ATS/cocaine had greater volume in the right ventromedial frontal cortex. A second regression on lifetime consumption of ATS with cocaine as a covariate revealed that individuals with a greater history of ATS use alone had more grey matter volume in the left mid-insula. Interestingly, structural changes in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, insula and striatum have been consistently observed in volumetric studies of chronic ATS and cocaine dependence.ConclusionThe present results suggest that these three brain regions may play a role in stimulant use even in early occasional users.

Background: HIIT has recently been widely used for health promotion in healthy people and patients with chronic diseases. Exercise can help SUD reduce drug cravings, enhance mental health and return to normal life. However, whether HIIT can bring better physical rehabilitation benefits to individuals with SUD than MICT is unclear. The study aimed to compare the effects of HIIT versus MICT on the physical fitness of individuals with SUD. Methods: One hundred twenty individuals with amphetamine-type stimulant dependence voluntarily participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to the HIIT group and MICT group. Both groups received training three times a week. The intervention lasted from January 2019 to December 2019. Physical fitness was assessed at the baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months, including blood pressure (BP), vital capacity(VC), hand grip, push-up, sit-and-reach, one-leg standing with eyes closed and choice reaction time. The craving level was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale at baseline, 6 months and 12 months to see any change along with the improvement in physical fitness. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to analyse the differences in change by group (HIIT and MICT) and time (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months). Results: The within-group factor displayed significant changes in the HIIT and MICT groups in terms of systolic BP (F (4,336) = 12.799, P < 0.001,η2 = 0.204), diastolic BP (F(4,336) = 9.495, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.16), VC (F(4,336) = 18.121, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.177), hand grip (F(4,336) = 34.815, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.293), sit-and-reach (F(4,336) = 13.871, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.142), push-up (F(4,336) = 28.805, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.255), one-leg standing with eyes closed (F(4,336) = 14.495, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.156) and choice reaction time (F(4,336) = 20.603, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.197). The craving level decreased after 12 months of intervention in both groups (F(2,168) = 11.25, P < 0.001, η2 = 0.118), but no significant differences in physical fitness and craving level were found in between groups and the interactions of group × time. Conclusions: After 12 months of intervention, physical fitness improved while craving level decreased in the two groups. These findings suggest that both HIIT and MICT have positive effects on individuals with SUD in terms of physical fitness. Trial registration: ChiCTR1900022158 Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: Registered 27th March, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a frequent comorbidity of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The assumption that this patient group "self-medicate" suggests that there are different use motives for ATS addicted patients with and without ADHD.Objective: Our study investigates these potential differences in use motives.Methods: Within a mixed-method approach, we examined the use motives of adults with ATS use disorder with and without ADHD in the first and latest month of their use. For this purpose, we used the 12-item Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Motive Questionnaire (AMQ) and a mind mapping technique after verifying that these tools are applicable to adults with ADHD.Results: The mixed-method approach showed that enhancement motives were the most important motives in the first month of use (e.g., fun/kick/rush/desire, and curiosity/interest in the drug/appeal), and over time, the incidence of coping motives increased (e.g., repression and freeing the mind/not having to think/switching off). There were no differences between adults with and without ADHD in the AMQ data, while the qualitative data showed that adults with ADHD used ATS less often out of social motives. In particular, the results showed no differences in the coping dimension and, thus, did not suggest that self-medication is an important factor for patients with ADHD.Conclusions: Patients with and without ADHD show very similar motive patterns for ATS use. This indicates that ATS treatment programs addressing use motives do not necessarily have to be different for patients with and without ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate nationally representative prevalence rates of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use and to identify consumption-associated factors, proposing a conditional model of direct and indirect consumption paths. Method: Using data from the Second Brazilian National Alcohol and Drugs Survey, this cross-sectional study analyzed a subsample of 3,828 participants between 15 and 64 years old, gathering information on the use of psychoactive substances in a probabilistic sample of the Brazilian household population. Results: Rates of lifetime and last-year ATS use were, respectively, 4.1 and 1.6%. Economically privileged individuals and users of other substances were more at risk for using ATS. The results suggest that higher education decreases the chances of ATS consumption. The conditional model showed that higher income increased ATS use, higher education lowered the odds of such an increase, and cocaine use cancelled that associative effect. Conclusion: Brazil presents high rates of ATS use. Prevention and treatment strategies should focus on the protective effect of higher education levels and should target polydrug use. Knowledge of ATS-associated factors and user profiles is the starting point for developing effective treatments and tailored prevention strategies.

Background: South Asia generally reports low levels of amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use, with few studies on the pattern of ATS use. We assessed the pattern of ATS use and associated high-risk behavior in Manipur, a north-eastern state of India., Methods: 209 adult male ATS users (mean age 28.8 years) from three districts of Manipur were interviewed. Data were collected on the patterns of high-risk behavior with ATS use, health consequences, and help-seeking. The severity of use with various substances was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Depression and anxiety were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, respectively., Results: The mean duration of ATS use was 3.7 years (SD 2.3). The majority used ATS almost daily (88%) and depended on ATS (77%). Methamphetamine (99.5%) was the most used ATS orally. Around 87% also suffered from opioid dependence. About 76% injected drugs, most commonly heroin. Almost three-fourths (78%) used ATS before their sexual intercourse, 31% of whom did not use condoms. Most reported physical problems with ATS and had above-cut-off scores on PHQ-9 and GAD-7. The majority (95%) reported that they could procure ATS easily. Also, the majority (93%) had thought of quitting ATS use., Discussion: Most ATS users start using ATS at a young age and have comorbid other drug use, including heroin. ATS use is associated with various physical and psychological problems. Focusing on ATS use in India and developing strategies to address this problem is essential., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Objective· To test the mechanism of mindfulness-based intervention in patients with amphetamine-types stimulants disorders. Methods· Forty participants a drug rehabilitation center in Shanghai who had amphetamine-type stimulants disorders were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial and randomly divided into either the intervention group or control group. The control group only received the normal treatment, while the intervention group received mindfulness-based intervention as well as normal treatment. Resting state electroencephalogram and mindfulness attention awareness were assessed before and after the intervention. Results· Compared with the control group, the scores of mindfulness attention awareness improved significantly in the intervention group (P0.000), and functional connectivity of frontal cortex (F4 and F5) under the eye-open state and parietal-occipital cortex (P7 and O2) under the mindfulness state increased significantly in the intervention group in β oscillations (P0.000). Moreover, the functional connectivity of parietal-occipital cortex was significantly correlated with the mindfulness attention awareness scores in the intervention group (P0.000). Conclusion· Mindfulness-based intervention is effective in improving the mindfulness attention awareness and increasing the electroencephalogram functional connectivity of partial frontal and parietal-occipital cortex for patients with amphetamine-type stimulants disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is currently the most rapid growing neurodegenerative disease and over the past generation, its global burden has more than doubled. The onset of PD can arise due to environmental, sporadic or genetic factors. Nevertheless, most PD cases have an unknown etiology. Chemicals, such as the anthropogenic pollutant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and amphetamine-type stimulants, have been associated with the onset of PD. Conversely, cannabinoids have been associated with the treatment of the symptoms’. PD and medical cannabis is currently under the spotlight, and research to find its benefits on PD is on-going worldwide. However, the described clinical applications and safety of pharmacotherapy with cannabis products are yet to be fully supported by scientific evidence. Furthermore, the novel psychoactive substances are currently a popular alternative to classical drugs of abuse, representing an unknown health hazard for young adults who may develop PD later in their lifetime. This review addresses the neurotoxic and neuroprotective impact of illicit substance consumption in PD, presenting clinical evidence and molecular and cellular mechanisms of this association. This research area is utterly important for contemporary society since illicit drugs’ legalization is under discussion which may have consequences both for the onset of PD and for the treatment of its symptoms.

Previous studies provide evidence that Tai Chi (TC) can reduce the symptoms of sleep problems and be of benefit for the rehabilitation of substance abusers. In this study, we investigated if TC practice can improve sleep quality and mood of females who are dependent on amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS). Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to TC intervention and standard care (SC) for 6 months. We applied analysis of variance on repeated-measure with the year of drug dependence as the covariate to test the changes of the self-rated Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), as well as fitness after 3 and 6 months. Relapse investigation was conducted by checking the database of China's National Surveillance System on Drug Abuse and that of the Shanghai Drug Control Committee's illicit drug dependents. Our investigation focused on the relapse of participants who had undergone and completed treatment in the Shanghai Mandatory Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center in 2015. The result showed that the PSQI scores of sleep duration [F(2, 92) = 9.86], need for sleep medications [F(2, 92) = 36.44] and daytime dysfunction [F(2, 92) = 5.15] were found to have a significant difference by time × group interaction after 6 months. SDS showed no significant difference between the two groups; however, the score of SDS in TC decreased after 6-month intervention, and no changes were observed in SC. Pulse rate had significantly decreased in the TC group compared with the SC group after 6 months. 9.5% (4) ATS dependents in TC and 26.3% (10) ATS dependents in SC were found to have relapsed. Our result suggested that TC had positive effects on sleep quality, depression and fitness. Long-term study demonstrated that TC may be a cheap and potential supplementary treatment for ATS-dependent individuals. TC may also be considered as an alternative exercise to escalate abstinence for ATS-dependent females.Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR-IPR-14005343 chictr. org.cn

Background and aims: There is limited evidence on what shapes amphetamine‐type stimulant (ATS) use trajectories. This systematic narrative review and qualitative synthesis aimed to identify individual, social and environmental influences shaping key phases in the ATS use trajectory: initiation, continuation, increase/relapse and decrease/abstinence. Methods: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and PROQUEST (social science premium collection) were searched from 2000 to 2018. Studies of any qualitative design were eligible for inclusion. Extracted data were analysed according to four key phases within drug pathways, and then cross‐analysed for individual, social and environmental influences. Results: Forty‐four papers based on 39 unique studies were included, reporting the views of 1879 ATS users. Participants were aged 14–58 years, from varied socio‐economic and demographic groups, and located in North America, Europe, Australasia and South East Asia. Reasons for initiation included: to boost performance at work and in sexual relationships, promote a sense of social 'belonging' and help manage stress. Similar reasons motivated continued use, combined with the challenge of managing withdrawal effects in long‐term users. Increased tolerance and/or experiencing a critical life event contributed to an increase in use. Reasons for decrease focused on: increased awareness of the negative health impacts of long‐term use, disconnecting from social networks or relationships and financial instability. Conclusions: Amphetamine‐type stimulant users are a highly diverse population, and their drug use careers are shaped by a complex dynamic of individual, social and environmental factors. Tailored, joined‐up interventions are needed to address users' overlapping economic, health and social care needs in order to support long‐term abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new bio-compatible deep eutectic solvent was introduced. • ChCl:Ph-ETOH proceeded amphetamine-type stimulants microextraction properly. • Facile synthesis alongside emulsifier-less microextraction is impressive. • Analyses of therapeutic/potentially toxic domains were successfully practicable. Abstract In this study, a new extraction medium based on a quite bio-compatible and bio-degradable deep eutectic solvent comprising choline chloride and phenylethanol (ChCl: Ph-ETOH) was simply and cheaply synthesized at room temperature. At the next step, it was effectively utilized at the service of air agitated-emulsification microextraction (AA-EME) of two major amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) in human plasma and pharmaceutical wastewater pursued by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). This safe, effective, and rapid enrichment process based on the new low-density DES was easily practicable via a homemade extraction cell possessing a narrow neck and with no extra demand the emulsifier intermediates. Statistical study of main parameters effects using central composite design (CCD) combined with desirability function (DF) demonstrated that pH 12, 250 μL of extraction solvent, 8 air agitation cycles, and 5% of salt amount resulted in maximum extraction efficiencies (63–66%) with DF value close to 0.98. Under optimal conditions, wide linear dynamic ranges (LDRs) of 15.0–2000 and 8.0–3000 ng mL−1 with the determination coefficients (R2s) close to 0.99 were obtainable for amphetamine and methamphetamine, respectively. Low limits of detection (LODs) as well as relative standard deviations (%RSDs, n = 3) were found to be 2.0–5.0 ng mL−1 and 5.7–7.8%, respectively. Also, enrichment factors (EFs) were quantitative in the span of 47–50. On the other hand, satisfactory and accurate assessment at low levels close to therapeutic and toxic domains in human plasma sample and pharmaceutical wastewater was successfully obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted a lot of attention as effective sorbents due to their strong sorption properties and several potential applications in many fields. In this work, the acid oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) was coated onto a stainless steel wire by a simple physical adhesion approach to develop solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. By combination of the MWCNTs-COOH coated fiber-based headspace SPME and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the developed method demonstrates a good enhancement factor (288-651), low limits of detection (LODs, 0.2-1.3μg/L) for determination of amphetamine-type stimulant drugs (ATSs) in urine samples. The recoveries of the spiked ATSs (5, 50 and 500μg/L) were in the range of 88-107%, the calibration curve was linear for concentrations of analytes in the range from 0.5 to 1000μg/L (R=0.963-0.999). Furthermore, single fiber repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility were in the range of 2.3%-6.2% (n=6) and 5.7%-9.8% (n=3), respectively. The MWCNTs-COOH coated fiber is highly thermally stable and can be used over 150 times. The method was successfully applied to the forensic determination of amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (MAMP) in human urine samples and satisfactory results were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies provide evidence that Tai Chi (TC) can reduce the symptoms of sleep problems and be of benefit for the rehabilitation of substance abusers. In this study, we investigated if TC practice can improve sleep quality and mood of females who are dependent on amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS). Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to TC intervention and standard care (SC) for 6 months. We applied analysis of variance on repeated-measure with the year of drug dependence as the covariate to test the changes of the self-rated Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), as well as fitness after 3 and 6 months. Relapse investigation was conducted by checking the database of China's National Surveillance System on Drug Abuse and that of the Shanghai Drug Control Committee's illicit drug dependents. Our investigation focused on the relapse of participants who had undergone and completed treatment in the Shanghai Mandatory Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center in 2015. The result showed that the PSQI scores of sleep duration [ F (2, 92) = 9.86], need for sleep medications [ F (2, 92) = 36.44] and daytime dysfunction [ F (2, 92) = 5.15] were found to have a significant difference by time × group interaction after 6 months. SDS showed no significant difference between the two groups; however, the score of SDS in TC decreased after 6-month intervention, and no changes were observed in SC. Pulse rate had significantly decreased in the TC group compared with the SC group after 6 months. 9.5% (4) ATS dependents in TC and 26.3% (10) ATS dependents in SC were found to have relapsed. Our result suggested that TC had positive effects on sleep quality, depression and fitness. Long-term study demonstrated that TC may be a cheap and potential supplementary treatment for ATS-dependent individuals. TC may also be considered as an alternative exercise to escalate abstinence for ATS-dependent females. Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR-IPR-14005343 chictr. org.cn [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Despite research showing higher use of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in rural areas, limited research has examined the epidemiology of ATS-related presentations and admissions to remote regional centres. To determine the epidemiology of ATS-related (a) Emergency Department (ED) presentations and (b) inpatient admissions over a five-year period at the Hedland Health Campus (HHC) in remote Western Australia.Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Demographic data including gender, age and indigenous status were captured.Results: Four hundred and eighty-two ATS-related hospital presentations were identified during the study period. The most common reason for ED presentation was mental and behavioural problems. Of those presenting, 66% were male and 69% identified as Aboriginal. ATS-related ED presentations increased seven-fold over the study period. Ninety-nine ATS-related inpatient admissions were identified during the study period. Psychotic disorder was the most common reason for admission. Males made up 75% of admissions and 53% identified as Aboriginal.Conclusions: This study showed a disproportionally high burden of ATS-related harm among Aboriginal people. The number of ATS-related ED presentations and inpatient admissions increased significantly over the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is assumed that recreational use of methamphetamine can trigger acute myocardial infarction (AMI) events, but estimates of longitudinal hazards of AMI among methamphetamine users are lacking.Methods: Retrospective cohort study: Competing-risks analysis was used to estimate time-to-AMI patterns in methamphetamine versus matched appendicitis (population-proxy) and matched cocaine (drug-control) groups. Cohorts were propensity-score-matched using demographic and clinical variables.Setting: California, 1990-2005.Participants: Cohorts of individuals with no prior or concurrent history of AMI hospitalized with methamphetamine- (n = 73,056), cocaine- (n = 47,726), or appendicitis-related conditions (n = 330,109).Measurements: ICD-9/ICD-10 indications of AMI (ICD-9 410.X; ICD-10 I21.X) in death records or inpatient hospital data.Results: Patients in methamphetamine cohort were more likely to develop subsequent AMI in comparison to those in matched appendicitis cohort [Hazard ratio (HR): 1.41; 95% CI, 1.23-1.62, p < 0.0001], with increased risk most marked in young methamphetamine users (age 15-34 years; HR: 2.04; 95% CI, 1.63-2.57, p = 0. 0001). Risk was slightly increased vs. that in matched cocaine group (HR: 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39, p = 0. 029). Individuals in cocaine cohort were also more likely to experience AMI outcome vs. appendicitis cohort (HR: 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.45, p = 0. 0023).Conclusion: Our longitudinal data support results of earlier epidemiological studies suggesting that persons with methamphetamine- (or cocaine-) use disorders might have increased AMI risk. However, because of potential study limitations and the unexpectedly modest magnitude of the observed increased AMI hazard, these findings must be considered preliminary and require replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]