EBP Conference 2021 Session 17

Stimulants 2021: Epidemiology, Effects and Treatments

Thursday 8/19/2021 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM CST

Stimulant (methamphetamine and cocaine) use is a rapidly escalating public health problem in the US. Overdose deaths associated with stimulants (alone or mixed with fentanyl) have shown dramatic increases. Clinical challenges include difficulty in retaining patients in treatment, addressing their psychosis and anhedonia/depression and helping them develop concrete behavioral plans. At present, there are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of individuals who are dependent upon stimulants. Behavioral approaches, especially contingency management, have strong evidence of support.

Presented by:

Richard A. Rawson, Ph.D.

Dr. Rawson is Professor Emeritus at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and a Research Professor at the Vermont Center for Behavior and Health at the University of Vermont. He received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Vermont in 1974. Dr. Rawson conducted numerous clinical trials on pharmacological and psychosocial/behavioral addiction treatments for the treatment of individuals with cocaine and methamphetamine disorders. He has led addiction research and training projects for the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the U.S. State Department, exporting science-based knowledge to many parts of the world. He is currently working in California to develop knowledge and interventions to address the needs of healthcare professionals working with individuals who use stimulants and he is working with seven other states to help develop evidence-based treatments for stimulant use disorder. Dr. Rawson has published 3 books, 40 book chapters, and over 250 peer-reviewed articles and has conducted over 2,000 workshops, paper presentations, and training sessions.