Why Do People Use Methamphetamine?

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, the overall use of methamphetamine has remained stable in recent years (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013). However, there has been a shocking change in the preferred form of methamphetamine. In 2010, 51% of individuals who use methamphetamine preferred the powder form, while only 22% of individuals who use methamphetamine preferred ice (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013). This survey was given again in 2013 and it revealed shocking results. In 2013, the usage of powder had fallen to 29% while the usage of ice had increased to 50% (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013). Furthermore, individuals who already use methamphetamine reported that they saw an increase in the number of times they used the drug (Rechichi, 2014). This can be incredibly dangerous, especially if the individual is not aware of the different properties of each form of methamphetamine. If an individual were to switch from using powder to using the potent form of ice, the results could be catastrophic as the effects of the drug would be much greater. Additionally, the number of hospital admissions due to amphetamine related incidents saw an all time high in 2011 (Rechichi, 2014). Moreover, there was an 88% increase in ambulance call outs for ice related …show more content…
The most effective treatment for ice addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy (Lee, 2013). Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to teach individuals addicted to various forms of methamphetamine a variety of coping skills so that they can deal with cravings more effectively and avoid relapse (Lee, 2013). Other treatment options include interventions, counseling, residential rehabilitation, and group therapy (Jenner & Lee, 2008). These various psychological and psychosocial have proven to be effective in treating ice