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Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to US approval following success in PTSD trial

Long-awaited trial data show drug is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a diversity of people. (Nature, 14.09.2023)

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02886-x

MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. 

Mitchell, J.M., Ot’alora G., M., van der Kolk, B. et al.

Nat Med (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02565-4

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02565-4

The impact of methamphetamine use on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment retention: a scoping review. 

Russell C, Law J, Imtiaz S, Rehm J, Le Foll B, Ali F. 

Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2023 Aug 16;18(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00402-0. PMID: 37587456; PMCID: PMC10433668.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10433668/

Prescription amphetamines in people with opioid use disorder and co-occurring psychostimulant use disorder initiating buprenorphine: an analysis of treatment retention and overdose risk

Tardelli V, Xu KY, Bisaga A, et al

BMJ Ment Health 2023;26:e300728. 

https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/26/1/e300728

Australien. Australien erlaubt Partydrogen wie MDMA als Medizin

Sydney – In Australien dürfen seit Monatsbeginn die Rauschmittel Ecstasy und Magic Mushrooms als Arzneimittel für therapeutische Zwecke eingesetzt werden. Down Under ist damit das erste Land der Welt, das die Partydrogen als Medikamente zugelassen hat.

Verordnung von Cannabis in Arzneimittel-Richtlinie geregelt. (aerzteblatt.de, 06.07.2023)

https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/144425/Australien-erlaubt-Partydrogen-wie-MDMA-als-Medizin

Overview of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in methamphetamine abuse. 

Pang L, Wang Y. 

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 May;161:114478. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114478. Epub 2023 Mar 14. PMID: 37002574.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332223002664

Association of Pharmacological Treatments and Hospitalization and Death in Individuals With Amphetamine Use Disorders in a Swedish Nationwide Cohort of 13 965 Patients. 

Heikkinen M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Lähteenvuo M, Tiihonen J. 

JAMA Psychiatry. 2023 Jan 1;80(1):31-39. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3788. PMID: 36383348; PMCID: PMC9669925.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9669925/

US could soon approve MDMA therapy — opening an era of psychedelic medicine

Perceptions have shifted dramatically in the past few years on the therapeutic value of illicit drugs such as ecstasy. But questions still linger about what FDA approval might look like. (Nature News, USA, 19.04.2023)

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01296-3

Examining associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and impairments in social functioning in a U.S. adult sample. 

Jones, G., Lipson, J. & Wang, E. 

Sci Rep 13, 2466 (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29763-x

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29763-x

Crystal methamphetamine use and methadone maintenance treatment dissatisfaction: A prospective cohort study in Vancouver, Canada. 

Cui Z, Hayashi K, Bach P, Milloy MJ, Kerr T. 

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2023 Jan 18:208956. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.208956. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36804867.

Abstract

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2949875923000061

Australien. Methamphetamin: The Tina Trial

The Tina Trial is a clinical trial designed to see whether mirtazapine, an antidepressant medication, can help people reduce their use of methamphetamine (ice, crystal meth). Two previous small trials in the USA found that mirtazapine helped people to reduce their methamphetamine use and improved their mood. We want to find out whether mirtazapine can be used in routine clinical care in Australia. (NDARC - National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australien, Februar 2023)

https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/tina-trial

Amphetamines modulate fentanyl-depressed respiration in a bidirectional manner. 

Elder HJ, Varshneya NB, Walentiny DM, Beardsley PM. 

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Feb 1;243:109740. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109740. Epub 2022 Dec 16. PMID: 36608481; PMCID: PMC9881117.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9881117/

Splice-Site Variants in the Gene Encoding GABA-A Receptor Delta Subunit Are Associated with Amphetamine Use in Patients under Methadone Maintenance Treatment. 

Lin YF, Chou WH, Liu TH, Fang CP, Kuo HW, Kuo PH, Tsai SJ, Wang SC, Chung RH, Tsou HH, Chen ACH, Liu YL. 

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 31;24(1):721. doi: 10.3390/ijms24010721. PMID: 36614162; PMCID: PMC9820820.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9820820/

Reduced neural functional connectivity during working memory performance in methamphetamine use disorder. 

Nestor LJ, Ghahremani DG, London ED. 

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Feb 1;243:109764. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109764. Epub 2023 Jan 4. PMID: 36610253.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871623000029

Methamphetamine-associated heart failure: a systematic review of observational studies

Manja V, Nrusimha A, Gao Y, et al

Heart, Published Online First: 01 December 2022. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321610 

https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2022/11/15/heartjnl-2022-321610

Herzinsuffizienzen durch Methkonsum nehmen weltweit und in allen Bevölkerungsschichten zu

Menlo Park – Immer mehr Menschen weltweit sterben an Herzinsuffizienzen, die mit dem Missbrauch von Methamphetamin („Meth“, „Crystal Meth“) assoziiert sind. Und betroffen ist davon längst ein breites Spektrum an sozialen, ökonomischen und ethnischen Gruppen, wie ein im Fachblatt Heart veröffentlichter Review zeigt (2022; DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321610). (aerzteblatt.de, 06.12.2022)

https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/139381/Herzinsuffizienzen-durch-Methkonsum-nehmen-weltweit-und-in-allen-Bevoelkerungsschichten-zu?rt=cc41ca03a79d047fe9cdfcec04ce7b5f

Stimulant abuse as a coping strategy-Forensic and criminal consequences of stimulant abuse for neuroenhancement. 

Dominik P, Waßmer MP, Soyka M, Franke AG. 

Front Public Health. 2022 Oct 28;10:1028654. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1028654. PMID: 36388290; PMCID: PMC9650539.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC965053

Lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal: A pilot feasibility and safety trial. 

Acheson LS, Ezard N, Lintzeris N, Dunlop A, Brett J, Rodgers C, Gill A, Christmass M, McKetin R, Farrell M, Shoptaw S, Siefried KJ. 

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Nov 7;241:109692. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109692. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36399936.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037687162200429X

The Ratio of Second and Fourth Digit Length: A Biomarker for Methamphetamine Dependence? 

Kim Y, Won SD, Kwon H, Han C. 

Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2022 Nov 30;20(4):694-700. doi: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.4.694. PMID: 36263644; PMCID: PMC9606433.

https://www.cpn.or.kr/journal/view.html?volume=20&number=4&spage=694

Minimising the Harms from Methamphetamine. The Helen Clark Foundation and New Zealand Drug Foundation, Wellington.

Yasbek, P., Mercier K., Dr Elder, H., Dr Crossin, R., Prof. Baker, M. (2022). 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MVdFkDCr3IhMZhP-lnolYN_KHPrfN_Ol/edit

Pharmacotherapies for Methamphetamine Withdrawal (Video)

This Video Abstract explores what we know about methamphetamine withdrawal, and how treating it might be approached.

Using the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis, we discuss what medications have been trialled to date, whether or not they worked, and the impact of these results in clinical practice. (NCCRAD – National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs, Australien, JULI 2022, VIDEO, 03:41)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8hriMrg-oE&t=53s

Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. 

Acheson, LS, Williams, BH, Farrell, M, McKetin, R, Ezard, N, Siefried, KJ. 

Drug Alcohol Rev. 2022. doi.org/10.1111/dar.13511

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13511

The practice and embodiment of "goofballs": A qualitative study exploring the co-injection of methamphetamines and opioids. 

Ivsins A, Fleming T, Barker A, Mansoor M, Thakarar K, Sue K, McNeil R. 

Int J Drug Policy. 2022 Jul 10;107:103791. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103791. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35830749.

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0955395922002079

Over One Hundred Years of MDMA Research

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as Mandy, Molly, Ecstasy or ‘E’, is a class A drug known for inducing feelings of happiness, chattiness, liveliness, and overall feelings of ecstasy, making it a common adjacent to enhancing raves, clubs and parties. Lesser known, MDMA has historically also been used in research to aid in therapy until it became illegal. More recently, there has been a shift back to focusing on the use of MDMA in medical research. (Drug Science, UK, 29.06.2022)

https://www.drugscience.org.uk/mdma-research/

Sex differences in methamphetamine use disorder perused from pre-clinical and clinical studies: Potential therapeutic impacts. 

Daiwile AP, Jayanthi S, Cadet JL. 

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Jun;137:104674. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104674. Epub 2022 Apr 20. PMID: 35452744; PMCID: PMC9119944.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9119944/

Trends in Methamphetamine Use in the Mainland of China, 2006-2015.

Zhang B, Yan X, Li Y, Zhu H, Lu Z, Jia Z.

Front Public Health. 2022 Apr 28;10:852837. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.852837. PMID: 35570894; PMCID: PMC9096246.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9096246/

Identifying behaviours for survival and wellness among people who use methamphetamine with opioids in British Columbia: a qualitative study. 

Corser J, Palis H, Fleury M, Lamb J, Lock K, McDougall J, Mehta A, Newman C, Spence H, Buxton JA. 

Harm Reduct J. 2022 May 19;19(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00630-8. PMID: 35590375; PMCID: PMC9118627.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9118627/

How dangerous is MDMA? 

Frost J. 

Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2022 May 19;142(8). English, Norwegian. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.22.0309. PMID: 35635415.

https://tidsskriftet.no/en/2022/05/editorial/how-dangerous-mdma

Signals of increasing co-use of stimulants and opioids from online drug forum data. 

Sarker A, Al-Garadi MA, Ge Y, Nataraj N, Jones CM, Sumner SA. 

Harm Reduct J. 2022 May 25;19(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00628-2. PMID: 35614501; PMCID: PMC9131693.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9131693/

UNODC. Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia Latest developments and challenges - 2022

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Global SMART Programme, 2022

https://www.unodc.org/roseap/uploads/documents/Publications/2022/Synthetic_Drugs_in_East_and_Southeast_Asia_2022_web.pdf

  1. Patterns of and Rationale for the Co-use of Methamphetamine and Opioids: Findings From Qualitative Interviews in New Mexico and Nevada. 
  2. Different phases of ATS use call for different interventions: a large qualitative study in Europe. 
  3. An adaptive design to screen, treat, and retain people with opioid use disorders who use methamphetamine in methadone clinics (STAR-OM): study protocol of a clinical trial. 
  4. The effects of MDMA-assisted therapy on alcohol and substance use in a phase 3 trial for treatment of severe PTSD. 
  5. Updated cost-effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: Findings from a phase 3 trial.