Comparison of Use, Barriers, Treatment Seeking, and Mental Health Problems in Residential Methamphetamine Users
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: methamphetamine use has increased in Aguascalientes between the years 2013 to 2020, thus the government has implemented the Reintegra Program with the purpose to begin voluntary rehabilitation instead of taking the usual legal path for the individuals involved with the justice system for minor offenses.
Objective: to compare the consumption history, associated problems, use of health services, barriers to access treatment, as well as depression and suicidal behavior in methamphetamine users who entered residential treatment by the Reintegra Program with those who began undergoing treatment due to other circumstances.
Method: the study was descriptive, comparative and cross-sectional with 865 individuals in residential centers. Participants were categorized into the Reintegra Group (n = 453) and Not-Reintegra Group (n = 412). Data were collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, including logistic regression analyses.
Results: Reintegra Group participants showed higher prevalence of using habits, considered their use less dangerous, reported fewer associated problems with meth use, expressed less intention to quit using meth and sought help in fewer places when compared to the Not-Reintegra Group. Logistic regression identified differences between the groups, related to the total number of substances used, number of places where they sought help, and severity of problems related to meth use.
Discussion and conclusions: findings highlight differences between participants based on their enrollment in the program, displaying unique challenges and underscoring the importance of personalized interventions to enhance their effectiveness.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
Alexander, A. C., Obong’o, C. O., Chavan, P. P., Dillon, P. J., & Kedia, S. K. (2018). Addicted to the ‘life of methamphetamine’: Perceived barriers to sustained methamphetamine recovery. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 25(3), 241-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2017.1282423
Bayazit, H., Baronia, R., & Wakefield, S. M. (2024). Methamphetamine intoxication and suicidal ideation/behavior in the emergency department. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 40(5), 849-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2024.2333429
Borges, G., Wang, P. S., Medina-Mora, M. E., Lara, C., & Chiu, W. T. (2007). Delay of First Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders in Mexico. American Journal of Public Health, 97(9), 1638-1643. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.090985
Brecht, M.-L., Greenwell, L., & Anglin, M. D. (2007). Substance use pathways to methamphetamine use among treated users. Addictive Behaviors, 32(1), 24-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.03.017
Centros de Integración Juvenil [CIJ]. (2018). Diagnóstico del consumo de drogas en el área de influencia de CIJ Aguascalientes. México: CIJ. http://www.cij.gob.mx/ebco2018-2024/9870/9870CD.html
Clifford, B., Van Gordon, K., Magee, F., Malone, V., Siefried, K. J., Graham, D., & Ezard, N. (2023). “There’s a big tag on my head”: exploring barriers to treatment seeking with women who use methamphetamine in Sydney, Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09125-z
Comisión Nacional Contra las Adicciones [CONADIC]. (2020). Demanda de Tratamiento por droga de impacto en la Red Nacional de Atención a las Adicciones, 2020. México: CONADIC. Retrieved from https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiODNhYzY1MmUtOGRhZi00Nzc0LWI1MDAtZTI0ZjVkYWVlMzM5IiwidCI6IjlmODAzYzcyLTMyMzMtNDRlNi04ZTg0LTc2NGU0Y2JiMThmNCJ9&pageName=ReportSection5c35cefe07599f97da6e
Doherty, E. E., Green, K. M., & Ensminger, M. E. (2008). Investigating the long-term influence of adolescent delinquency on drug use initiation. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 93(1-2), 72-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.08.018
Dunn, J., Yuan, M., Ramírez, F., Garneau, H., Brown-Johnson, C., Breland, H., Antonini, V., Larkins, S., Rawson, R., & McGovern, M. (2023). Addressing Methamphetamine Use in Primary Care: Provider Perspectives. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 17(1), 60-66. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001035
Fried, E. I., Flake, J. K., & Robinaugh, D. J. (2022). Revisiting the theoretical and methodological foundations of depression measurement. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(6), 358-368. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-022-00050-2
Gizzi, M. C., & Gerkin, P. (2010). Methamphetamine Use and Criminal Behavior. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 54(6), 915-936. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X09351825
Gobierno del Estado de Aguascalientes. (2018). 2o Informe de Gobierno. Retrieved from https://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/SEPLADE/Docs/InformesGobierno/SegundoInforme2018/2do_Informe_completo.pdf
Gobierno del Estado de Aguascalientes. (2019). 3er Informe de Gobierno. Retrieved from https://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/SEPLADE/Docs/InformesGobierno/TercerInforme2019/3er_InformeMOS.pdf
Goldsmid, S., & Willis, M. (2016). Methamphetamine use and acquisitive crime: Evidence of a relationship. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 516. https://doi.org/10.52922/ti149987
González-Forteza, C., Jiménez-Tapia, J. A., Ramos-Lira, L., & Wagner, F. A. (2008). Aplicación de la Escala de Depresión del Center of Epidemiological Studies en adolescentes de la Ciudad de México. Salud Pública de México, 50(4), 292-299.
González-Forteza, C., Solís, C., Jiménez, A., Hernández, I., González-González, A., Juárez, F., Medina-Mora, M., & Fernández-Várela, H. (2011). Confiabilidad y validez de la escala de depresión CES-D en un censo de estudiantes de nivel medio superior y superior, en la Ciudad de México. Salud Mental, 34(1), 53-59.
Gordon, M. S., Kinlock, T. W., & Battjes, R. J. (2004). Correlates of Early Substance Use and Crime Among Adolescents Entering Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 30(1), 39-59. https://doi.org/10.1081/ADA-120029865
Grant, B. F., & Dawson, D. A. (1998). Age of onset of drug use and its association with DSM-IV drug abuse and dependence: Results from the national longitudinal alcohol epidemiologic survey. Journal of Substance Abuse, 10(2), 163-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-3289(99)80131-x
Karlén, M., Nilsson, T., Wallinius, M., Billstedt, E., & Hofvander, B. (2020). A Bad Start: The Combined Effects of Early Onset Substance Use and ADHD and CD on Criminality Patterns, Substance Abuse and Psychiatric Comorbidity among Young Violent Offenders. Journal for Person-Oriented Research, 6(1), 39-55. https://doi.org/10.17505/jpor.2020.22045
Martínez, K. I., Ojeda, Y. L., Hernández, J., & Contreras-Peréz, M. E. (2023b). Depression and Suicidal Behavior Comorbidity in Patients Admitted to Substance-Use Residential Treatment in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 20(4), 508-519. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2023.2172368
Martínez, K. I., Ojeda, Y. L., Robles, L., & Paz, M. A. (2023a). Barriers to methamphetamine treatment seeking in residential centers in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1193453
Martínez, K. I., Robles, L., Ojeda, Y. L., & Hernández, J. (2024). Rompiendo el cristal: Percepciones de los usuarios de metanfetamina sobre los desafíos para acceder y permanecer en un tratamiento. Health and Addictions/Salud y Drogas, 24(1), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.21134/haaj.v24i1.888
Mendez-Ruiz, M. D., Ortiz-Moreno, G. A., Eligio-Tejada, I. A., Yáñez-Castillo, B. G., & Villegas-Pantoja, M. A. (2018). Percepción de riesgo y consumo de alcohol en adolescentes mexicanos de preparatoria. Aquichan, 18(4), 438-448. https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2018.18.4.6
Meredith, C. W., Jaffe, C., Ang-Lee, K., & Saxon, A. J. (2005). Implications of Chronic Methamphetamine Use: A Literature Review. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 13(3), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/10673220591003605
National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA]. (2023). What is methamphetamine? NIDA. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/methamphetamine/what-methamphetamine
Poudel, A., & Gautam, S. (2017). Age of onset of substance use and psychosocial problems among individuals with substance use disorders. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1191-0
Prendergast, M. L., Farabee, D., Cartier, J., & Henkin, S. (2006). Involuntary Treatment Within a Prison Setting: Impact on Psychosocial Change During Treatment. In C. R. Bartol & A. M. Bartol (Eds.). Current perspectives in forensic psychology and criminal justice (pp. 231-238). Sage Publications, Inc.
Secretaría General de Gobierno [SEGGOB]. (2019). Convenio de Colaboración Interinstitucional que Celebran el Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Estatal de Seguridad Pública, la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública del Estado de Aguascalientes, y el Instituto de Servicios de Salud del Estado de Aguascalientes para el Cumplimiento de la Estrategia de Prevención Terciaria “Reintegra”. SEGGOB. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=1cc7b19f1c1e4cc33&q=https://eservicios2.aguascalientes.gob.mx/NormatecaAdministrador/archivos/EDO-8-86.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi30LOLu-P8AhXyk2oFHaywCeIQFnoECAAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3DTlNrCdT0uz0LiyPWS1gg
Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública [SESNSP]. (2019). Incidencia Delictiva del Fuero Común 2019. SESNSP. Retrieved from https://www.gob.mx/sesnsp/acciones-y-programas/incidencia-delictiva-del-fuero-comun-nueva-metodologia?state=published
Sistema de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de las Adicciones [SISVEA]. (2020). Informe SISVEA 2020. México: SISVEA. Retrieved from https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/746477/informe_sisvea_2020.PDF
Trujillo, C. A., Obando, D., & Trujillo, A. (2019). An examination of the association between early initiation of substance use and interrelated multilevel risk and protective factors among adolescents. PLoS One, 14(12), e0225384. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225384
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC]. (2023). World Drug Report 2023. UNODC. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2023.html
Villatoro-Velázquez, J. A., Resendiz-Escobar, E., Mujica-Salazar, A., Bretón-Cirett, M., Cañas-Martínez, V., Soto-Hernández, I., Fregoso-Ito, D., Fleiz-Bautista, C., Medina-Mora, M. E., Gutiérrez-Reyes, J., Franco-Núñez, A., Romero-Martínez, M., & Mendoza-Alvarado, L. (2017). Encuesta Nacional de Consumo de Drogas, Alcohol y Tabaco, ENCODAT 2016-2017: Reporte de Drogas. CONADIC. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zIPBiYB3625GBGIW5BX0TT_YQN73eWhR/view?usp=sharing
Winslow, B. T., Voorhees, K. I., & Pehl, K. A. (2007). Methamphetamine Abuse. American Family Physician, 76(8), 1169-1174. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17990840/
Xing, D. G., Horan, T., Bhuiyan, S., Faisal, A. S. M., Densmore, K., Murnane, K. S., Goeders, N. E., Bailey, S. R., Conrad, S. A., Vanchiere, J. A., Patterson, J. C., Kevil, C. G., & Bhuiyan, M. A. N. (2023). Social-geographic disparities in suicidal ideations among methamphetamine users in the USA. Psychiatry Research, 329, 115524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115524