Cited by 310Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesHIV, Drug Use, Sexual RiskYouth, Drugs, and Violence

Responding to global stimulant use: challenges and opportunities

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Farrell, Michael, Martin, Natasha K, Stockings, Emily, Bórquez, Annick, Cepeda, Javier A, Degenhardt, Louisa, Ali, Robert, Tran, Lucy Thi +4 more·2019·The Lancet

Abstract

We did a global review to synthesise data on the prevalence, harms, and interventions for stimulant use, focusing specifically on the use of cocaine and amphetamines. Modelling estimated the effect of cocaine and amphetamine use on mortality, suicidality, and blood borne virus incidence. The estimated global prevalence of cocaine use was 0·4% and amphetamine use was 0·7%, with dependence affecting 16% of people who used cocaine and 11% of those who used amphetamine. Stimulant use was associated with elevated mortality, increased incidence of HIV and hepatitis C infection, poor mental health (suicidality, psychosis, depression, and violence), and increased risk of cardiovascular events. No effective pharmacotherapies are available that reduce stimulant use, and the available psychosocial interventions (except for contingency management) had a weak overall effect. Generic approaches can address mental health and blood borne virus infection risk if better tailored to mitigate the harms associated with stimulant use. Substantial and sustained investment is needed to develop more effective interventions to reduce stimulant use.

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  1. [95]UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Systematic literature review on HIV and stimulant drugs use (B). Part 5/5 Treatment and prevention of HIV, HCV and HBV among stimulant drugs users Vienna: UNODC, 2017.

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Authors
Farrell, M., Martin, N. K., Stockings, E., Bórquez, A., Cepeda, J. A., Degenhardt, L., Ali, R., Tran, L. T., Rehm, J., Torrens, M., Shoptaw, S., & McKetin, R.
Affiliations
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • The University of Adelaide (AU)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
Corresponding author
Farrell, Michael
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-11
Volume
394
Issue
10209
Pages
1652-1667
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
OpenAlex
W2981405421
Cited by
310
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 4
FWCI
4.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI147490)
  • National Institute for Drug Abuse (R01 DA03773)
  • NIH (P30 AI036214)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
Keywords
stimulant use, cocaine, amphetamine, prevalence, substance dependence, mortality, suicidality, HIV, hepatitis C, blood-borne viruses, cardiovascular risk, psychosis, depression, violence, pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, contingency management, harm reduction
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Amphetamines, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Mental Disorders, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cocaine, Female, Hepatitis C, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Virus Diseases, HIV Infections, Incidence, Prevalence, Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Young Adult

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