Navigating Evidence, Challenges, and Caution in the Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorders
Open accessAbstract
Amidst the opioid epidemic, harm reduction-oriented approaches have gained traction, including interventions that focus on prescribing pharmaceutical-grade psychoactive substances, such as opioids, instead of illicit versions, intending to mitigate fatal overdose risks arising from the variability in potency and additives found in illicit drugs. Stimulants have increasingly been found in the victims of opioid overdoses, further prompting some to argue for the prescription of stimulant medications for individuals with stimulant use disorders. Yet, the evidence supporting this practice remains insufficient. In this communication, we critically examine the existing evidence, challenges, and cautions surrounding the treatment of stimulant use disorder.
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The current body of evidence supporting prescription stimulants for treating stimulant use disorders remains inconclusive.
“the current body of evidence supporting prescription stimulants for treating stimulant use disorders remains inconclusive [58,66,67,68,69].”
From Navigating the Complex Intersection of Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders: A Comprehensive Review (2024) · cites this paper as [68]
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- Authors
- Bahji, A., Danilewitz, M., & Crockford, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Bahji, Anees
- Venue
- Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2023-10-06
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1416
- ISSN
- 2076-3425 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10605120
- OpenAlex
- W4387405767
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 1.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R25DA037756)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Keywords
- stimulant use disorder, stimulant medication, harm reduction, opioid epidemic, opioid overdose, illicit stimulants, evidence base, treatment challenges
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