Changes in methamphetamine use among people under methadone treatment in Hanoi between 2018 and 2021

Abstract

This study used secondary data from two cross-sectional surveys in 2018 and 2021 on 591 patients receiving methadone treatment at 5 methadone treatment facilities in Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Nam Tu Liem, Tay Ho, Hoang Mai. The study aims to describe the change in the level of methamphetamine use and factors associated with this change during the 3-year period from 2018 to 2021. Participants were asked about their risk level of methamphetamine use using the ASSIST questionnaire and provided demographic characteristics. Additionally, participants underwent urine testing for methamphetamine, MDMA, THC, and morphine. The results show that both the level of methamphetamine use, assessed by the ASSIST score and the rate of positive urine tests for methamphetamine both in 2021 compared to 2018. A positive methamphetamine test result in 2018 and age of first meth use were associated with increased meth use in methadone patients with OR = 6.65 (p < 0.001) and OR = 1.05 (p = 0.04), repectively.