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Amphetamine treatment – lessons from around the world
Richard Pates, Independent Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Cardiff
Abstract
Amphetamine in various forms,is the second most widely used illicit drug in the world. It has a history of being used universally for a number of medical conditions as well as recreationally and as an aid to the military in many countries for the past 60 years. Although many people will use amphetamine without problems there is strong evidence that it can have serious psychological and psychiatric consequences as well as a role in various forms of violent behaviour. Despite the universality of it's use there appears to be little common ground for the treatment of amphetamine problems. There is now a successful and widely used methodology for the treatment of opioid problems but this is not so with amphetamine and because of this many users of amphetamine do not feel that treatment services respond to their needs.
This presentation is based upon a book to be published later this year which outlines the nature of the problem and describes the responses from a dozen countries and the methods of treatment offered to users. The book also draws together best practice and highlights some of the controversies about treatment. Inevitably some countries will have been missed and maybe some examples of good practice but it is depressing given our 30 years experience of harm reduction strategies that we still have no accepted best practice for dealing with the problems of amphetamine use.
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Biography
Richard Pates spent 27 years working as a clinical psychologist in the National Health Service more than 20 of those years working in the addiction field. He established the community treatment services in Cardiff for drug users and subsequently became Clinical Director for Addiction services in Cardiff and the surrounding area. He left the NHS in 2007 to work independently in training and consultancy.
He worked extensively with amphetamine users during his NHS career, piloting amphetamine prescribing services in Cardiff.He has research interests in the treatment of amphetamine problems and injecting. He has published many papers on various subjects related to the drug field and has edited books on injecting and amphetamines. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Substance Use and is a former member of ACMD.
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