Assessing and Treating Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Course overview

This course provides an overview of stimulant use disorders with a specific focus on methamphetamine use disorder. Under DSM-5 diagnosing conventions, methamphetamine use disorder is coded under the larger category of stimulant use disorder and diagnosed with the specific named disorder. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1.6 million people in the U.S. used methamphetamine in the past year, and nearly half used in the past month (NIDA, 2021). In 2016, the average age of individuals starting to use methamphetamine was 23.3 years old (SAMHSA, 2017). The chemical make-up of methamphetamines makes it relatively easy, yet extremely dangerous to manufacture, simple to acquire illicitly, and very difficult to treat once an individual is addicted. In this course, you will learn how methamphetamines affect the body and about the components of assessment of methamphetamine use and misuse. Effective treatment approaches will be discussed with a focus on motivational interviewing (MI), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and the Matrix Model. DSM and DSM-5 are registered trademarks of the American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association is not affiliated with nor endorses this course.