A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence examined trends in psychiatric hospitalizations from 2015 to 2019. It highlights that, while the majority of these hospitalizations did not involve substances, there has been a notable increase in hospitalizations linked to methamphetamine, even as the total number of psychiatric admissions remained steady.
A recent study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, has analyzed trends in psychiatric hospitalizations from 2015 to 2019. The findings reveal that most hospital admissions did not involve substance use; however, there has been a significant rise in hospitalizations related to methamphetamine, while the overall figures for psychiatric admissions have stayed stable.
Moreover, the researchers pointed out that the highest rates of psychiatric hospitalizations connected to methamphetamine were recorded in the Mountain West region, although this trend is beginning to spread to other areas. “The rates of psychiatric hospitalizations involving methamphetamine are overwhelmingly highest in the Mountain West, which corresponds with both self-reported methamphetamine use and the number of methamphetamine-related overdose deaths in that region,” explained Susan Calcaterra, MD, MPH, a professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the lead author of the study. “We’re also observing a notable rise in methamphetamine-related psychiatric admissions in the Midwest and Northeast.”
During the study period, methamphetamine-related hospitalizations surged by 68%, whereas opioid-related hospitalizations dropped by 22%. The increase in methamphetamine cases may be linked to the drug’s widespread availability and low cost, along with insufficient resources for managing its use. The decrease in opioid-involved psychiatric hospitalizations is less understood but could be associated with the increase in fentanyl’s potency.
“A key conclusion from this study is the urgent need for resources dedicated to the mental and physical treatment of methamphetamine use,” Calcaterra stated.
“Despite the fact that most psychiatric hospitalizations during this period did not involve substance use, the significant rise in methamphetamine cases necessitates a stronger focus on harm reduction in clinical environments. Methods backed by evidence, like contingency management—which provides incentives for abstaining from drug use—combined with harm reduction education, provision of naloxone for overdose intervention, and increased access to comprehensive mental health treatments, have all shown effectiveness in reducing the negative impacts of methamphetamine, especially given the risks posed by substances contaminated with fentanyl. This approach is similar to the public awareness initiatives regarding opioid use.”
