Program Proposal: Substance-related Psychosis - Assessment and Relapse prevention Key (SPARK)

Abstract

Record ID: 291

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: NA

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Methamphetamine usage in the United States has surged over the past few decades alongside a steady increase in cases of drug-induced psychosis. According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of people reporting past-year use of methamphetamine has increased from 684,000 individuals in 2016 to 1,048,000 in 2019. Few resources currently exist for those struggling with stimulant addiction, and individuals who present to hospitals and emergency departments with drugrelated psychotic episodes frequently slip through the cracks, unable to receive effective care for their addiction or mental health concerns. Methamphetamine use in particular is associated with a high risk of developing drug-induced psychosis, a condition that occurs in up to 40% of users and can recur with repeated usage. With Americans seeing unprecedented rates of methamphetamine usage, it is urgent to find solutions to mitigate these interlinked public health crises. Mental health issues and addiction often fuel each other, making recovery from one extremely difficult without treating the other. This project 22 University of Cincinnati   will provide the model for a research-based treatment program designed to identify and treat those experiencing psychosis triggered by substance use. The proposed program uses methods that have been successful in treating mental illness and addiction as coexisting issues, reducing substance usage, readmission rates, and cost burden to the healthcare system. By identifying patients who are presenting with drug-related psychotic symptoms in the emergency setting, those who are at risk for recurring episodes can be referred to a team of professionals to help treat addiction and mental illness simultaneously.