Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study: MATES

NDARC Staff

Rebecca McKetin, Richard Mattick, Joanne Ross and Erin Kelly

Other Investigators

Jake Najman (QADREC, University of Queensland), Robert Ali (DASSA and the University of Adelaide), Dan Lubman (University of Melbourne), Amanda Baker (University of Newcastle), Nicole Lee (Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre), Sharon Dawe (Griffith University) and Abdullah Mamun (University of Queensland)

Rationale

Evidence-based treatment options for methamphetamine dependence remain scarce, yet over 15,000 people enter treatment for methamphetamine use each year in Australia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the treatment that they receive is effective in reducing methamphetamine use and related harms. The study has a particular focus on comorbid mental health issues, such as psychosis, depression and anxiety.

Aims

To conduct the first Australian treatment cohort study of dependent methamphetamine users, examining:

• rates of psychiatric disorders (Major Depression, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, and Generalized and Anxiety Disorder) and psychotic symptoms among people seeking treatment for methamphetamine dependence
• the characteristics of those entering treatment for methamphetamine dependence, in terms of abstinence rates, criminal involvement, general health functioning, and contact with health services and the criminal justice system
• differences between the characteristics of those entering treatment and dependent methamphetamine users not seeking treatment in terms of their level of drug use, psychiatric morbidity, criminal involvement and general health functioning
• factors predictive of abstinence, psychiatric morbidity, criminal involvement and contact with the health and criminal justice system

  Design and Method

  
  

A prospective longitudinal cohort study of 501 methamphetamine users: 400 people receiving treatment for methamphetamine use and a comparison group of 101 out-of-treatment dependent methamphetamine users. Participants were interviewed at baseline (treatment entry) and subsequently at 3 months (n = 404) and 12 months (n = 376) post-treatment. Treatment modalities included were counselling, residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management. Methamphetamine use at follow-up was examined by exposure to drug treatment. Other variables examined in the study included psychiatric disorders, psychotic symptoms, crime, HIV risk, health service utilisation and general health and well-being.

Benefits

The project has documented the level of psychiatric comorbidity among methamphetamine treatment entrants and it has demonstrated the effectiveness of community-based treatment options for reducing methamphetamine use and related health and social problems.

Output

Data analysis is currently underway. Preliminary findings from the Brisbane arm of the study are available as an NDARC Technical Report:
Cogger S, McKetin R, Ross J, Najman N. (2008). Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study (MATES): Findings from the Brisbane site. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Technical Report No. 295. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

Other publications:

McKetin, R. Ross, J., Kelly, E., Baker, E., Lee, N., Lubman, D., Mattick, R. (2008). A comparison of harms associated with injecting vs. smoking methamphetamine among methamphetamine treatment entrants in Australia. Drug and Alcohol Review 27, 277-285.

Conference presentations:

McKetin, R., Lubman, D., Dawe, S., Ali, R. (2008, November). Psychosis among methamphetamine treatment entrants: Prevalence and correlates. Paper presented at the 10th Annual meeting of International Society of Addiction Medicine. Cape Town, South Africa.

Kelly E., McKetin, R., Ballie, A. (2008, November). Treatment-seeking and motivation to reduce methamphetamine use amongst a community sample of dependent methamphetamine users. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Sydney, Australia.

Baker, A., McKetin, R., Kay-Lambkin, F. (2008, November). Stepped care interventions for methamphetamine use and co-existing depression. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Sydney, Australia.

Sutherland, R., McKetin, R. (2008, November). Arrest rates among methamphetamine users and their correlates. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Sydney, Australia.

McKetin, R., Wyzenbeek, M., Lubman, D., Dawe, S., Ali R. (2007, November - December). The relationship between cannabis use and the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among dependent methamphetamine users. Paper presented at the World Psychiatric Association Congress. Melbourne, Australia.

McKetin, R. Lubman D., Ross, J., Ho, G. (2007, November). Major Depression among methamphetamine treatment entrants: Prevalence and relationship to substance use. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Sammut, C. McKetin, R. Lubman, D., Kelly, E. (2007, November). Screening for Major Depression among methamphetamine treatment entrants: Choosing a cut-off on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Hetherington, K., McKetin, R. Proudfoot, H., Mattick, R. (2007, November). Social Phobia and Panic Disorder among methamphetamine treatment entrants; Prevalence, correlates and impact on treatment outcome. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Sarkar, S. McKetin, R. (2007, November). The relationship between childhood Conduct Disorder and psychiatric morbidity in dependent methamphetamine users. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Kelly, E., McKetin, R., Baillie, A. (2007, November). Is the Readiness to Change Questionnaire a valid measure for use among treatment-seeking methamphetamine users? Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

McKetin, R., Lubman, D., Dawe, S., Ali, R. (2007, November). The relationship between hostility and psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine treatment entrants. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Cogger, S., Najman, J., Kelly, E., Baker, A., McKetin, R. (2007, November). Characteristics of Women Entering Treatment for Methamphetamine Use. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

McKetin, R., Cogger, S., Najman, J., Lubman, D., Dawe, S., Ali, R. (2007, November). Prevalence of psychosis among methamphetamine treatment entrants. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. Auckland, New Zealand.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant ID No. 350974($709,500) and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing ($175,000)