Funding received to trial new drug to help treat methamphetamine addiction

Professor Nadine Ezard and a team from the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and clinician researchers have been awarded $2.2 million for a trial to help people withdrawing from methamphetamine.

Withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping regular methamphetamine use can be distressing, which decreases the likelihood of people reducing or ceasing their use, and can prevent people from seeking help. There is currently no treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal.

Prof. Ezard, Dr Krista Siefried, Dr Brendan Clifford, Mr Liam Acheson and their team, will conduct a clinical trial using a stimulant medication currently used to treat attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder in Australia. Lisdexamfetamine has the potential to reduce withdrawal symptoms and become the first treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal in the world.

“This is an exciting step forward in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal,” Prof. Ezard said. “Australia has the highest prevalence of methamphetamine dependence globally and getting through withdrawal is an important step towards improving outcomes.” 

Further information about the trial to come.