Meth overdose deaths on the rise in the United States

Methamphetamine overdose deaths are on the rise across the United States, especially among blacks and Native American / Alaskan Indians, a new study warns.

“While much attention is being paid to the opioid crisis, a methamphetamine crisis has quietly, but actively, gained momentum – particularly among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, who are so affected. disproportionate by a number of health problems, ”said researcher Dr Nora Volkow. , director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Researchers found that deadly methamphetamine overdoses had more than quadrupled among Native Americans and Alaska Natives from 2011 to 2018 (from 5 to 21 per 100,000 people). In this group, male deaths increased from almost 6 to 26 per 100,000 and from almost 4 to 16 per 100,000 among women.

Black Americans are also seeing a sharp rise in methamphetamine overdoses, according to the NIDA report. This is a disturbing trend in a group that previously had very low rates of methamphetamine overdose death.

However, methamphetamine-related deaths are on the rise among all Americans, says NIDA. Overall, fatal OD rates have increased from less than 2 to 10 per 100,000 men and from 0.8 to 4.5 per 100,000 women – an increase of more than five times between 2011 and 2018, according to the report.

The results, published Jan. 20 in JAMA Psychiatry, underscore the need to develop prevention and treatment strategies that target specific crops, the researchers said.

Reduced access to education, high rates of poverty and discrimination are among the factors that contribute to health disparities for American Indians and Alaska Natives, the study’s authors noted.

“Native American and Alaskan populations experience structural disadvantages, but have cultural strengths that can be harnessed to prevent methamphetamine use and improve health outcomes for people living with addiction,” Volkow added in a commentary. NIDA press release.

A holistic approach to wellness is a tradition deeply rooted among some Native American and Alaska Native groups, such as talking circles and ceremonies. Using these traditions and other community-based approaches may be one way to help prevent drug use among young people, the study team suggested.

According to researcher Beth Han, also from NIDA, “Identifying populations that have a higher methamphetamine overdose rate is a critical step in addressing the underlying methamphetamine crisis. By focusing on the unique needs of individuals and developing culturally appropriate interventions, we can begin to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches to more effective and tailored interventions. “

There has been some recent good news when it comes to methamphetamine addiction: a pair of prescription drugs, taken together, appear to help patients significantly reduce their meth use or quit altogether. An essay on the treatment was published Jan. 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Volkow said the “synergistic” power of using this combination of drugs – bupropion and naltrexone – is good news, representing the largest effect seen from a large randomized clinical trial in treating the disorder. linked to methamphetamine use.