A comparison of patterns of methamphetamine and cocaine use.
Typical use patterns of methamphetamine (MA) users were examined using self-report measures from 120 MA and 63 cocaine users. Twenty (14 MA and 6 cocaine) of the participants also took part in structured interviews designed to provide more specific descriptions of their drug use. The typical MA user uses more than 20 days a month. Use is evenly spaced throughout the day, and although the amount of drug used per day is not different, MA users use fewer times per day than do cocaine users. Fewer of the cocaine users are continuous users, and they use in the evening rather than the daytime. The cocaine pattern of fewer days of use, evening use, and more frequent doses per day fits a picture of recreational use, whereas the all-day-most-days methamphetamine pattern does not.
Simon
Sara L
SL
Los Angeles Addiction Research Consortium, USA. slsimon@ucla.edu
Richardson
Kimberly
K
Dacey
Jennifer
J
Glynn
Susan
S
Domier
Catherine P
CP
Rawson
Richard A
RA
Ling
Walter
W
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D013997:Time Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine