Janie Sheridan and Graham Gulbransen

Methamphetamine

There is much in the media about the "methamphetamine problem'. This presentation is designed to provide delegates with research data which will help to provide a more realistic picture of the methamphetamine problem in New Zealand, in particular in the context of a poly drug use culture, and within a harm reduction minimisation framework.  The presentation will provide an overview of methamphetamine as a drug, what it is, how it works and what we know about it from the research. Janie will present some background on the use of methamphetamine in new Zealand and compare that with data from overseas. Data from national household surveys, other commissioned research and the Illicit Drug Monitoring Surveys will be used to explore the harms associated with methamphetamine use, patterns of use, cost and availability, and finally she will also explore the evidence around different pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment interventions, and explore what is available in New Zealand for those who use the drug in a problematic way.
Intended audience:  The session is suitable for people with little or no knowledge of methamphetamine as a drug, the effects and harmful outcomes of acute and chronic use, and treatments available. Delegates would be expected to have a basic understanding of the harms associated with drug use in general (health, social, legal and interpersonal), and a broad understanding of the government's harm minimisation approach to drug policy (see:
http://www.ndp.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/685/$File/nationaldrugpolicy20072012.pdf)

Biography: Associate Professor Janie Sheridan is the Head of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of Auckland, and Chair of the Faculty's Addition Research Network.  She has researched and taught in the area of substance misuse since 1990, initially focusing on developing the role of community pharmacists in the provision of services to opiate misusers, and more recently in New Zealand, her research has focused on people who drink problematically. Janie has been involved in a number of research projects relating to methamphetamine use, and has published widely in the field of substance misuse, including being a co-editor of Community Pharmacy and Drug Misuse.

Biography:Graham has worked as a Senior Medical Officer at the Auckland Community Alcohol and Drugs Services (CADS) since 1996. He is a Fellowship of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (FAChAM). He has considerable experience with opioid substitution treatment, especially methadone maintenance, and in medical detoxification.
His part time general practice experience dates from 1983. Much of this work involves assessing and managing addictions. He is an FRNZCGP at the Kingsland Family Health Centre.