Quality of life among treatment seeking methamphetamine-dependent individuals

Abstract

As the number of men and women entering treatment for substance use disorders continues to increase across the country, it becomes vitally important to understand their quality of life (QOL) or perceived health status, in order to inform treatment efforts for improving such outcomes. To date, QOL assessments among methamphetamine (MA) dependent users are limited. This paper examines QOL health status among a sample of 838 treatment seeking MA users at admission. Using regression analysis, predictors of QOL are examined among MA users. Predictors of poor QOL among MA users at treatment admission included being female, white, high school educated or more, married, experiencing psychosocial dysfunction (lifetime trauma, suicide, social conflict), reporting a high frequency of both MA and polydrugs for 15 days or more in the past month, chronicity of MA and polydrug use, injection use, and having co-morbid medical and psychiatric impairment. Employment status was the only factor related to better health status perceptions. This study expands the scope of scholarly examination of MA-dependent users entering treatment, as there has not been a development of coherent profiles of QOL among representative samples of clinical MA-abusing populations to date.

Fig. 1

Mean mental health trajectories from baseline (0) to 12-month follow-up (N = 723). *VT, SF, RE, and EWB subscales were significantly different at p < .05 from baseline and each follow-up point.

Fig. 2

Mean physical health trajectories from baseline (0) to 12-month follow-up (N = 723). *RP and GH subscale scores significantly different at p < .05 from baseline to 12-month follow-up points.