Amphetamine Prescribing as a Harm Reduction Measure: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The study evaluated prescribing dexamphetamine for injecting primary amphetamine users. Subjects were prescribed dexamphetamine, up to 40mg daily, dispensed up to six times weekly. The treatment group were those 63 clients who had been prescribed dexamphetamine and fulfilled the study criteria. The control group comprised all 25 clients who fulfilled the same criteria but who had attended the service before dexamphetamine prescribing began. Three questions were addressed: does prescribing amphetamine attract high risk users, does it retain them in contact with the service and does it change behaviour. There were statistically significant increases in the number and proportion of amphetamine users attending the service and in the duration of contact with the treatment group. There were statistically significant reductions in the quantity and frequency of illicit amphetamine use, benzodiazepine use, money spent on drugs, injecting, needle sharing and track marks among the treatment group. Dexamphetamine prescribing merits further study.