Is the prescription of amphetamine justified as a harm reduction measure?
Although amphetamine is the most widely illicitly used drug in the United Kingdom after cannabis, relatively few problematic users present to treatment agencies. Injecting amphetamine users are a high risk group as far as HIV transmission is concerned. This paper reviews the first 3 years' operation of an oral amphetamine prescribing programme for injecting users. Over half the subjects ceased injecting, and there was a considerable reduction in injecting by the remainder. 85% had not used or shared injecting equipment during the programme. However, subjects reported still using street amphetamine and offending, although at a lower rate than previously. There was little change in sexual practices. There was an increase in primary amphetamine users presenting for treatment. There is a case to be made that closely controlled and monitored programmes such as this can be justified on harm reduction grounds. A number of issues concerned with amphetamine prescribing are discussed.
Fleming
P M
PM
Drug Advice Centre, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Roberts
D
D
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D000662:Amphetamines; D013287:Illicit Drugs