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AHCPR Archived reports, Put Prevention Into Practice and Minnesota Health Technology Advisory Committee SAMHSA/CSAT Treatment Improvement Protocols

33. TIP 33: Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders

Title Page

Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders

Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33

Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.

Consensus Panel Chair

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Rockwall II, 5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4209

Printed 1999

Link to the National Guideline Clearinghousetop link

Disclaimer

This publication is part of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant technical assistance program. All material appearing in this volume except that taken directly from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) or the authors. Citation of the source is appreciated.

This publication was written under contract number 270-95-0013 with The CDM Group, Inc. (CDM). Sandra Clunies, M.S., I.C.A.D.C., served as the CSAT government project officer. Rose M. Urban, M.S.W., J.D., C.S.A.C., served as the CDM TIPs project director. Other CDM TIPs personnel included Cara Smith, editorial assistant; Raquel Ingraham, M.S., project manager; Mark A. Meschter, former editor/writer; Mary Smolenski, Ed.D., C.R.N.P., former project director; and MaryLou Leonard, former project manager. Special thanks go to consulting writers Warren Bickel, Ph.D.; Gregory L. Greenwood, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Mitchell Markinem, M.A., N.C.A.C. II; Sara Simon, Ph.D.; and Ronald D. Stall, Ph.D., M.P.H., for their considerable contributions to this document.

The opinions expressed herein are the views of the Consensus Panel members and do not reflect the official position of CSAT, SAMHSA, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). No official support or endorsement of CSAT, SAMHSA, or DHHS for these opinions or for particular instruments or software that may be described in this document is intended or should be inferred. The guidelines proffered in this document should not be considered as substitutes for individualized client care and treatment decisions.top link

What Is a TIP?

Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) are best practice guidelines for the treatment of substance use disorders, provided as a service of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). CSAT's Office of Evaluation, Scientific Analysis and Synthesis draws on the experience and knowledge of clinical, research, and administrative experts to produce the TIPs, which are distributed to a growing number of facilities and individuals across the country. The audience for the TIPs is expanding beyond public and private substance use disorder treatment facilities as alcoholism and other substance use disorders are increasingly recognized as major problems.

The TIPs Editorial Advisory Board, a distinguished group of substance use experts and professionals in such related fields as primary care, mental health, and social services, works with the State Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Directors to generate topics for the TIPs based on the field's current needs for information and guidance.

After selecting a topic, CSAT invites staff from pertinent Federal agencies and national organizations to a Resource Panel that recommends specific areas of focus as well as resources that should be considered in developing the content of the TIP. Then recommendations are communicated to a Consensus Panel composed of non-Federal experts on the topic who have been nominated by their peers. This Panel participates in a series of discussions; the information and recommendations on which they reach consensus form the foundation of the TIP. The members of each Consensus Panel represent substance use disorder treatment programs, hospitals, community health centers, counseling programs, criminal justice and child welfare agencies, and private practitioners. A Panel Chair (or Co-Chairs) ensures that the guidelines mirror the results of the group's collaboration.

A large and diverse group of experts closely reviews the draft document. Once the changes recommended by these field reviewers have been incorporated, the TIP is prepared for publication, in print and online. The TIPs can be accessed via the Internet on the National Library of Medicine's home page at the URL: http://text.nlm.nih.gov. The move to electronic media also means that the TIPs can be updated more easily so they continue to provide the field with state-of-the-art information.

Although each TIP strives to include an evidence base for the practices it recommends, CSAT recognizes that the field of substance use disorder treatment is evolving and that research frequently lags behind the innovations pioneered in the field. A major goal of each TIP is to convey "front line" information quickly but responsibly. For this reason, recommendations proffered in the TIP are attributed to either Panelists' clinical experience or the literature. If there is research to support a particular approach, citations are provided.

This TIP, Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders, supplies substance use disorder treatment providers with vital information on the effects of stimulant abuse and dependence, discusses the relevance of these effects to treating stimulant users, describes treatment approaches that are appropriate and effective for treating these clients, and makes specific recommendations on the practical application of these treatment strategies. Research on animals has demonstrated the profound effects that stimulants can have on the central nervous system, and new technologies have begun to document the stimulant-induced neurological impairments in humans. Researchers now believe that these impairments underlie the cognitive deficits that are often seen in chronic stimulant users.

Effective treatment strategies must recognize the impact that stimulant abuse and dependence have on the user's ability to respond to treatment. The treatment strategies that are described in this TIP have been scientifically validated as effective in treating people with stimulant use disorders. These strategies address the specific problems and needs that are inherent to chronic stimulant users.

This document discusses in detail the practical application of these treatment strategies and makes recommendations to improve treatment outcomes for stimulant abuse and dependence. The document also provides for clinicians and primary care providers an overview of the medical aspects of stimulant use. Furthermore, treatment issues for special groups and settings are reviewed.

This TIP represents another step by CSAT toward its goal of bringing national leaders together to improve substance use disorder treatment in the United States.

Other TIPs may be ordered by contacting SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI), (800) 729-6686 or (301) 468-2600; TDD (for hearing impaired), (800) 487-4889.top link

Editorial Advisory Board


Karen Allen, Ph.D., R.N., C.A.R.N.
President of the National Nurses Society on Addictions
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry, Community Health, and Adult Primary Care
University of Maryland
School of Nursing
Baltimore, Maryland

Richard L. Brown, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Madison, Wisconsin

Dorynne Czechowicz, M.D.
Associate Director
Medical/Professional Affairs
Treatment Research Branch
Division of Clinical and Services Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Rockville, Maryland

Linda S. Foley, M.A.
Former Director
Project for Addiction Counselor Training
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Directors
Washington, D.C.

Wayde A. Glover, M.I.S., N.C.A.C. II
Director
Commonwealth Addictions Consultants and Trainers
Richmond, Virginia

Pedro J. Greer, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Homeless Education
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Thomas W. Hester, M.D.
Former State Director
Substance Abuse Services
Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Atlanta, Georgia

Gil Hill
Director
Office of Substance Abuse
American Psychological Association
Washington, D.C.

Douglas B. Kamerow, M.D., M.P.H.
Director
Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
Rockville, Maryland

Stephen W. Long
Director
Office of Policy Analysis
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Rockville, Maryland

Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Matrix Center and Matrix Institute on Addiction
Deputy Director, UCLA Addiction Medicine Services
Los Angeles, California

Ellen A. Renz, Ph.D.
Former Vice President of Clinical Systems
MEDCO Behavioral Care Corporation
Kamuela, Hawaii

Richard K. Ries, M.D.
Director and Associate Professor
Outpatient Mental Health Services and Dual Disorder Programs
Harborview Medical Center
Seattle, Washington

Sidney H. Schnoll, M.D., Ph.D.
Chairman
Division of Substance Abuse Medicine
Medical College of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Consensus Panel

Chair


Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Matrix Center and Matrix Institute on Addiction
Deputy Director, UCLA Addiction Medicine Services
Los Angeles, California
Workgroup Leaders


Felipe G. Castro, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Professor
Hispanic Research Center
Department of Psychology
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
James W. Cornish, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Division of Pharmacotherapy
Treatment Research Center
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frances R. Levin, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Clinical and Educational Activities
Division on Substance Abuse
Columbia University
New York, New York
Michael J. McCann, M.A.
Research Coordinator
Matrix Center
Los Angeles, California
Panelists


Arlene Hall, R.N., M.S., C.D.
Director of Nursing
Hope House
Crownsville, Maryland
Stephen Higgins, Ph.D.
Professor
Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology
Ira Allen School
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Kyle M. Kampman, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Treatment Research Center
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Quintin Kingfisher
Medical Resources
Tribal Health
Lame Deer, Montana
Judy Knobbe, M.S.W., L.I.S.W., C.A.D.C.
Director
Heart of Iowa
Area Substance Abuse Council
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Wendy Lay
Program Specialist
Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
State of Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
Scott M. Reiner, M.S., C.A.C., C.C.S.
Substance Abuse Program Supervisor
Substance Abuse Services Unit
Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
Richmond, Virginia
Ewa Szumotalska Stamper, Ph.D.
Police Psychologist
Honolulu Police Department
Private Practice in Clinical and Addictions Psychology
Honolulu, Hawaii
Arnold M. Washton, Ph.D.
Private Practice of Addiction Psychology
Parkland, Florida
Dennis A. Weis, M.D.
Medical Director
Powell Center for Disease Control
Iowa Lutheran Hospital
President
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Iowa Chapter
Des Moines, Iowa
Foreword

The Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series fulfills SAMHSA/CSAT's mission to improve treatment of substance use disorders by providing best practices guidance to clinicians, program administrators, and payors. TIPs are the result of careful consideration of all relevant clinical and health services research findings, demonstration experience, and implementation requirements. A panel of non-Federal clinical researchers, clinicians, program administrators, and client advocates debates and discusses their particular area of expertise until they reach a consensus on best practices. This panel's work is then reviewed and critiqued by field reviewers.

The talent, dedication, and hard work that TIPs panelists and reviewers bring to this highly participatory process have bridged the gap between the promise of research and the needs of practicing clinicians and administrators. We are grateful to all who have joined with us to contribute to advances in the substance use disorder treatment field.


Nelba Chavez, Ph.D.
Administrator
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM
Director
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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