It’s showing promising results.
UCLA researchers have unveiled promising results from an experimental two-drug therapy aimed at addressing methamphetamine use disorder, a problem exacerbated by a surge in overdose deaths. Dr. Michael Li, from UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, highlighted the therapy’s potential significance in combating the escalating crisis of methamphetamine-involved overdoses. The treatment combines injectable naltrexone with extended-release oral bupropion and has shown encouraging outcomes in urine tests, with participants experiencing a 27% increase in drug-free results compared to a control group’s 11% rise in negative tests.
The global prevalence of methamphetamine abuse has intensified, with an estimated 34 million users in 2020, marking an increase from 33 million a decade earlier. In the United States, overdose deaths linked to methamphetamine soared fivefold between 2012 and 2018, underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions. To address this pressing issue, the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network supported the ADAPT-2 trial, conducted from May 2017 to July 2019 across eight sites.
During the trial’s initial phase, which included over 400 participants, 109 individuals received the experimental drug therapy, demonstrating its efficacy over six weeks. Building on these promising results, the trial’s second phase evaluated the therapy’s effects over a longer treatment period. Participants underwent drug tests at weeks seven and 12, with follow-up assessments conducted at 13 and 16 weeks post-treatment.
While the findings were encouraging, researchers emphasized the necessity of further investigation to determine the treatment’s durability beyond 12 weeks and its potential for sustained reductions in drug use. Previous trials addressing stimulant use disorder have indicated a gradual change in usage patterns, supporting the need for continued research to ascertain the optimal duration of treatment with this medication. The researchers stressed the importance of future clinical trials to evaluate the therapy’s long-term efficacy and its impact on reducing methamphetamine use beyond the initial treatment period.
In summary, the experimental two-drug therapy represents a promising advancement in the pharmacological treatment of methamphetamine use disorder. However, further research is essential to fully understand its long-term effects and potential for sustained reductions in drug use. The findings underscore the urgent need for effective interventions to address the escalating crisis of methamphetamine abuse and overdose deaths.
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