Beginning Early and Assertive Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

To date, a public health systems approach to enhance linkage and engagement in care for stimulant use disorders is lacking. This shortcoming arises in part from the lack of effective treatments for stimulant use disorders (StUD), the specific pathology of methamphetamine use, and gaps in epidemiologic knowledge related to methamphetamine use disorder. Unlike opioid use disorders, for which medications relieve dysphoric symptoms of acute withdrawal and prevent relapse, patients with StUD present to care with methamphetamine-induced psychosis and may be combative, agitated, and poorly insightful to their need for treatment. In response to community demands, our team at Denver Health recently established a pilot program, Beginning Early and Assertive Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder (BEAT Meth), to protocolize the assessment and treatment of patients with methamphetamine-induced psychosis.The current research project aims to develop and conduct process and outcomes evaluations of a linkage intervention aimed at increasing continuation and engagement in treatment for stimulant use disorder.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age and older
• identified in the Denver Health healthcare system who have had a methamphetamine-related encounter at Denver Health

Exclusion criteria

• unable to complete the interview in English
• intoxicated or impaired and unable to consent to participate in the project and/or respond to the interview
• currently under residential involuntary psychiatric or substance treatment order (i.e., mental health hold, emergency commitment, or short-term certification)
• received any type of substance use treatment at DHHA in the last 90 days
• planning to enter substance treatment
• unable to complete the research visits in the next 90 days