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Mr Liam Acheson

Postdoctoral Fellow

B.Mus (Hons), M.Phil (Med), PhD

Medicine & Health
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

I am an early career researcher with the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs, with a focus on clinical trials of pharmacotherapies for the treatment of substance use disorders. I completed my undergraduate studies in classical music and was awarded my PhD in 2024 investigating the pharmacological management of acute methamphetamine withdrawal. My current research program is broad, including clinical trials, the intersection of sleep and substance use, sexual health and qualitative investigation of client/participant experiences.

I currently serve as the Deputy Chair of the St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.
E-mail
l.acheson@unsw.edu.au
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Acheson LS; Clay S; McKetin R; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Christmass M; Rodgers C; Shoptaw S; Farrell M; Ezard N; Siefried KJ, 2024, 'Participant experiences in a pilot study for methamphetamine withdrawal treatment: Implications for retention', International Journal of Drug Policy, 126, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104383
    Journal articles | 2024
    Acheson LS; Gordon C; Mcketin R; Brett J; Christmass M; Rodgers C; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Ezard N; Siefried KJ, 2024, 'Measuring Objective and Subjective Sleep during Lisdexamfetamine Treatment of Acute Methamphetamine Withdrawal: A Feasibility Study', European Addiction Research, 30, pp. 121 - 125, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000536328
    Journal articles | 2024
    Siefried KJ; Bascombe F; Clifford B; Liu Z; Middleton P; Kay-Lambkin F; Freestone J; Herman D; Millard M; Steele M; Acheson L; Moller C; Bath N; Ezard N, 2024, 'Effect of a Smartphone App (S-Check) on Actual and Intended Help-Seeking and Motivation to Change Methamphetamine Use Among Adult Consumers of Methamphetamine in Australia: Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial', JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/55663
    Journal articles | 2022
    Acheson LS; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried KJ, 2022, 'Lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal: A pilot feasibility and safety trial', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 241, pp. 109692, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109692
    Journal articles | 2022
    Acheson LS; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried KJ, 2022, 'Trial protocol of an open label pilot study of lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal', PLoS ONE, 17, pp. e0275371, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275371
    Journal articles | 2022
    Acheson LS; Williams BH; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried KJ, 2022, 'Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials', Drug and Alcohol Review, 42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13511
    Journal articles | 2022
    Black E; Monds LA; Chan B; Brett J; Hutton JE; Acheson L; Penm J; Harding S; Strumpman D; Demirkol A; Lintzeris N, 2022, 'Overdose and take-home naloxone in emergency settings: A pilot study examining feasibility of delivering brief interventions addressing overdose prevention with ‘take-home naloxone’ in emergency departments', EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia, 34, pp. 509 - 518, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13925
    Journal articles | 2022
    Steele M; Acheson LS, 2022, 'Commentary on ‘Opioid agonist treatment and patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in south east Sydney, Australia’', Drug and Alcohol Review, 41, pp. 1020 - 1022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13439
    Journal articles | 2021
    Acheson LS; Siefried KJ; Clifford B; Murray E; Steele M; Clague L; Malone V; Roberts DM; Ferguson LJ; Matthews GV; Ezard N, 2021, 'One-third of people who inject drugs are at risk of incomplete treatment for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a retrospective medical record review', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 112, pp. 63 - 65, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.09.012
    Journal articles | 2021
    Farrell M; Griffiths K; Acheson L; Bruno R, 2021, 'APSAD 2021 Conference, 7-10 November 2021, Virtual', Drug and alcohol review, 40, pp. S4 - S154, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13384
    Journal articles | 2020
    Acheson LS; Rogers PG; Thamrin C; Peters MJ; Farah CS; Seccombe LM, 2020, 'Acute cardiopulmonary responses during expert trumpet performance', RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY, 281, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2020.103493
    Journal articles | 2020
    Siefried KJ; Acheson LS; Lintzeris N; Ezard N, 2020, 'Pharmacological treatment of methamphetamine/amphetamine dependence: a systematic review', CNS Drugs, 34, pp. 337 - 365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40263-020-00711-x
  • Conference Papers | 2024
    Acheson L; Gordon C; McKetin R; Brett J; Christmass M; Rodgers C; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Ezard N; Siefried K, 2024, 'OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE SLEEP DURING LISDEXAMFETAMINE TREATMENT OF ACUTE METHAMPHETAMINE WITHDRAWAL: NEW MEASUREMENT PARADIGM', in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Elsevier BV, pp. 110067 - 110067, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110067
    Conference Abstracts | 2023
    Acheson L; McKetin R; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Brett J; Rodgers C; Christmass M; Gill A; Farrell M; Dunlop A; Shoptaw S; Siefried K, 2023, 'Participant experiences in a pilot study for methamphetamine withdrawal treatment: Implications for retention', in Drug and Alcohol Review, Wiley, Adelaide, Australia, Vol. 42, presented at The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Annual Scientific Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 12 November 2023 - 15 November 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13749
    Conference Abstracts | 2023
    Asare-Doku W; Peprah P; Santo T; Weatherburn D, 2023, 'Global coverage and retention factors of criminal justice-related drug and alcohol treatment programs among offenders: A systematic review', in Global coverage and retention factors of criminal justice-related drug and alcohol treatment programs among offenders: A systematic review, presented at APSAD 2023 Conference, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13749
    Conference Abstracts | 2023
    Moller C; Siefried K; Clifford B; Acheson L; Brett J; Dunlop A; Haber P; Christmass M; Lintzeris N; Morley K; Shoptaw S; Trivedi M; Ezard N, 2023, 'Oral naltrexone-bupropion combination pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: Pilot study protocol', in Drug and Alcohol Review, Wiley, Adelaide, Australia, Vol. 42, presented at The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Annual Scientific Conference, Adelaide, Australia, 12 November 2023 - 15 November 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13749
    Conference Presentations | 2023
    Siefried K; Clifford B; Acheson L; Ezard N, 2023, 'Innovations beyond BC: Lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder and withdrawal', presented at The 5th Annual BC Substance Use Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 20 April 2023 - 23 April 2023
    Preprints | 2023
    Siefried KJ; Bascombe F; Clifford B; Liu Z; Middleton P; Kay-Lambkin F; Freestone J; Herman D; Millard M; Steele M; Acheson L; Moller C; Bath N; Ezard N, 2023, Effect of a Smartphone App (S-Check) on Actual and Intended Help-Seeking and Motivation to Change Methamphetamine Use Among Adult Consumers of Methamphetamine in Australia: Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial (Preprint), http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/preprints.55663
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    Acheson L; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried K, 2022, 'Lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal: A pilot safety and feasibility trial', presented at The 2022 APSAD Scientific Alcohol and Drugs Conference, Darwin, Australia, 09 October 2022 - 12 October 2022, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dar.13537
    Conference Posters | 2022
    Acheson L; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried K, 2022, 'The Safety and Feasibility of Lisdexamfetamine for the Treatment of Acute Methamphetamine Withdrawal: Preliminary Results of an Open Label Pilot Study', Minneapolis, USA, presented at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence 84th Annual Scientific Meeting, Minneapolis, USA, 11 June 2022 - 15 June 2022, https://d2p55c5k0gw6a2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-CPDD-Abstract-Book.pdf
    Other | 2022
    Acheson L; Williams B; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried K, 2022, VAN (Video Abstracts by NCCRED) - Pharmacotherapies for Methamphetamine Withdrawal, , https://youtu.be/P8hriMrg-oE
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    Acheson LS; Gordon C; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop A; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried K, 2022, 'An exploratory analysis of actigraphy and sleep diaries in a methamphetamine withdrawal clinical trial', presented at Lisbon Addictions, Lisbon, Portugal, 23 November 2022 - 25 November 2022
    Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Acheson LS; Gordon C; Ezard N; Lintzeris N; Dunlop AJ; Brett J; Rodgers C; Gill A; Christmass M; McKetin R; Farrell M; Shoptaw S; Siefried KJ, 2022, 'An exploratory analysis of actigraphy and sleep diaries in a methamphetamine withdrawal clinical trial', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 41, pp. S23 - S24, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000862018700042&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Clifford B; Acheson LS; Brener L; Siefried KJ; Steele M; Matthews G; Ezard N, 2022, 'A qualitative exploration of client and healthcare provider perspectives on why people who inject drugs with injecting-related infections discharge against medical advice', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, pp. S43 - S44, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000862018700077&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    Ezard N; Clifford B; Siefried K; Acheson L, 2022, 'Safety and tolerability of lisdexamfetamine for  methamphetamine dependence and withdrawal, early experience from Australia: The LiMA Trial and OLAM pilot', presented at Annual Meeting Conference of the Norwegian Association for Addiction Medicine, Bergen, Norway, 02 November 2022
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    Siefried K; Acheson L; Williams B; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N, 2022, 'OUTCOMES AND MEASURES USED IN RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS EXAMINING PHARMACOTHERAPIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF METHAMPHETAMINE WITHDRAWAL: RESULTS OF A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW', presented at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence 84th Annual Scientific Meeting, Minneapolis, USA, 11 June 2022 - 15 July 2022, https://d2p55c5k0gw6a2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-CPDD-Abstract-Book.pdf
    Conference Presentations | 2022
    Williams BH; Acheson LS; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried K, 2022, 'Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials', presented at RANZCP 2022 Congress, Sydney, 15 May 2022 - 19 May 2022, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00048674221088686
    Conference Abstracts | 2022
    Williams BH; Acheson LS; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried KJ; Farrell M, 2022, 'PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT FOR METHAMPHETAMINE WITHDRAWAL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS', in AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, Vol. 56, pp. 208 - 209
    Conference Posters | 2021
    Acheson L; Williams BHM; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried K, 2021, 'Pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials', Virtual, presented at The APSAD Scientific Drug and Alcohol Conference, Virtual, 07 November 2021 - 10 November 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13384
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Black E; Monds L; Chan B; Brett J; Acheson LS; Hutton J; Penm J; Demirkol A; Lintzeris N, 2021, 'THE ONE STUDY (OVERDOSE AND TAKE-HOME NALOXONE IN EMERGENCY SETTINGS): A PILOT STUDY EXAMINING FEASIBILITY OF DELIVERING BRIEF INTERVENTIONS ADDRESSING OVERDOSE PREVENTION WITH 'TAKE-HOME NALOXONE' SUPPLY IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SETTINGS', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, pp. S47 - S47, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000715073200123&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Posters | 2021
    Siefried K; Acheson L; Dunlop A; Lintzeris N; Christmass M; Bonomo Y; Arunogiri S; Hayllar J; Ezard N, 2021, 'A clinical research network approach to a trial of lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal', Virtual, Vol. 40, pp. S132 - S133, presented at The APSAD Scientific Drug and Alcohol Conference, Virtual, 07 November 2021 - 10 November 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13384
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Siefried K; Arunogiri S; Brett J; McKetin R; Acheson LS; Knock E; Farrell M; Dunlop A; Lintzeris N; Ezard N, 2021, 'The future of pharmacotherapy clinical trials in Australia: the OLAM trial; the MOXY trial; the PSIMA trial; the TINA trial', presented at The APSAD Scientific Drug and Alcohol Conference, Virtual, 07 November 2021 - 10 November 2021, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.13384
    Conference Abstracts | 2019
    Acheson LS; Murray E; Clifford B; Siefried KJ; Matthews GV; Ezard N, 2019, 'OPTIMISING CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO INJECT DRUGS: A RETROSPECTIVE MEDICAL RECORD REVIEW OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BACTERAEMIA TREATMENT', in DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, WILEY, Vol. 38, pp. S22 - S23, https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000494890100057&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Conference Abstracts | 2019
    Acheson LS; Murray E; Clifford B; Siefried KJ; Matthews GV; Ezard N, 2019, 'Optimising care for people who inject drugs: A retrospective medical record review of staphylococcus aureus bactaraemia treatment', in Drug and Alcohol Review, Wiley, Hobart, Australia, Vol. 38, presented at Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) Scientific Conference, Hobart, Australia, 10 November 2019 - 13 November 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.12991
    Conference Abstracts | 2019
    Sandra S; Demerikol A; Branezac M; Ezard N; Siefried KJ; Acheson LS; Bascombe F; Tremonti C; Haber P; Lintzeris N, 2019, 'Are we detoxing the right people, in the right setting and in the right way? A rapid review of the literature on withdrawal management', in Drug and Alcohol Review, Wiley, Hobart, Australia, Vol. 38, presented at Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) Scientific Conference, Hobart, Australia, 10 November 2019 - 13 November 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.12991
  • Media | 2022
    Acheson L; Williams B; Farrell M; McKetin R; Ezard N; Siefried K, 2022, VAN (Video Abstracts by NCCRED) - Pharmacotherapies for Methamphetamine Withdrawal, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/30423

My current trials include investigating a combination of naltrexone and bupropion for the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder and lisdexamfetamine for the treatment of acute methamphetamine withdrawal. Upcoming trials include other potential treatment options for methamphetamine use and GHB withdrawal.

I am also interested in the intersection of sleep and substance use, and have begun a program of research to improve out understanding of how substance use interacts with sleep and vice versa. My research is mixed methods, and has also investigated the participant experiences of clinical trials.