31st January 2024

Management

Aside from the acute management required if a person presents severely unwell after stimulant use/withdrawal, psychosocial intervention and harm reduction are the key components of management for stimulant misuse. Any side effects from stimulant misuse and/or withdrawal, including acute co-presenting or coexisting psychiatric disorders, should be managed symptomatically as indicated, with reassurance and support offered. Specific targeted pharmacological therapies have been explored in relation to management of stimulant misuse; however, to date, there is little evidence that these have been effective in supporting and maintaining sobriety, hence the current recommendation for psychosocial interventions to remain the mainstay of treatment. Safety advice should also be given, e.g., in relation to injection safety if the substances are being taken intravenously.