Local trial to smash meth

LOCAL people may be eligible to participate in a world-first clinical trial to treat methamphetamine addiction, using a medication typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to decrease cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Study coordinators at the John Hunter Hospital said participants will need to attend the hospital once a week for an appointment, but said they could be flexible with the arrangements.

Professor Adrian Dunlop, director of drug and alcohol clinical services for Hunter New England Health said Australia had one of the highest rates of methamphetamine use in the world and the Hunter was not immune.

Professor Adrian Dunlop.

“We’ve consistently seen methamphetamine users presenting for treatment over the past decade in
Newcastle and across the Hunter region,” said Professor Dunlop.

“While counselling is effective for many people with less problematic methamphetamine use, we
currently don’t have a proven medication treatment for severe methamphetamine dependence,” he said.

“Dexamphetamine has been used as a treatment for methamphetamine dependence with some
initial promising results.

“Lisdexamphetamine is a slow release form of dexamphetamine, with a slower onset of action and is
metabolised by the body in a way that is very hard to be used non-medically,” he said.

“If you crush up the drug and inject it, you are not going to get a rush because it still has to be turned
into dexamphetamine in your blood,” said Professor Adrian Dunlop.

The LiMA study has recruited 142 people and needs another 38 participants.

To learn more about the trial:

• visit: LiMA study or
• phone: 0417 656 352