Drug overdoses involving methamphetamine increased 3.6-fold from 2011 to 2016 – surpassing the increase in heroin-related deaths during that period. Rates of cocaine-related deaths also doubled from 2011 to 2016. Methamphetamine use is largely concentrated in the Western US, and Nevada and New Mexico have been disproportionately burdened by the opioid epidemic and high rates of methamphetamine use. This is a multi-year, mixed methods study in Nevada and New Mexico is examining the patterns, reasons for, and health concerns related to methamphetamine use and opioid use.
Published Papers
- Harding, R.W., Wagner, K.T., Fiuty, P., Smith, K.P., Page, K., Wagner, K.D., (2022) “”It’s called overamping”: Experiences of overdose among people who use methamphetamine”. Harm Reduction Journal. 19(1): 1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-022-00588-7
- *Rhed, B.D., Harding, R.W., *Marks, C., Wagner, K.T., §Fiuty, P., Page, K., Wagner, K.D. (2022) Patterns of and rationale for the co-use of methamphetamine and opioids: Findings from qualitative interviews in New Mexico and Nevada. Frontiers Psychiatry, 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.824940/full
- Wagner, K.D., *Marks, C., §Fiuty, P., Harding, R.W., Page, K. (2023) A qualitative study of interest in and preferences for potential medications to treat methamphetamine use disorder. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. 18:47 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-023-00401-1
- Wagner, K.D., Fiuty, P., Page, K., Tracy, E.C., Nocera, M., Miller, C.W., Tarhuni, L.J., Dasgupta, N. (2023). Prevalence of fentanyl in methamphetamine and cocaine samples collected by community-based drug checking services. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 252: 110985 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110985
- *Erinoso, O., *Daugherty, R., *Kirk, M.R., Harding, R.W., Etchart, H., Reyes, A., Page, K., Fiuty, P., Wagner, K.D. (accepted 9 May 2024) Safety Strategies and Harm Reduction for Methamphetamine Users in the Era of Fentanyl Contamination: A Qualitative Analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy. (COMING SOON)