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Abstract
Background: Increasingly, the use of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) has been associated with psychopathology, cognitive deficits, and aggression. These are important co-morbidities that need to be considered, particularly in residential drug treatments.
Aims: This study compared levels of aggression, psychopathology, and executive function between participants identified as being ATS or non-ATS users who were residents within Drug Therapeutic Communities (DTCs).
Method: A sample of 67 males and 37 females, aged 19–60 years, undertaking residential treatment at one of four DTCs, completed a self-report questionnaire. Participants were grouped as sustained and recent ATS use (n = 51) or prior and no ATS use (n = 53).
Results: Psychopathology and executive dysfunction were high among all participants. ATS users exhibited significantly higher levels of depression, executive dysfunction, and aggression compared to non-ATS users, and these measures were highly intercorrelated. Younger age was weakly associated with ATS use.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that co-occurring problems are common among all drug users in residential treatment; however, ATS users who represent the younger generation of drug users are presenting for treatment with significantly elevated levels of cognitive dysfunction, depression, and aggression, which need to be considered in treatment protocols.