UNIVERSITY GROUP HELPS METH USERS

While many perceive college as an opportunity to be on drugs, one
University group is effectively taking strides to get users off them.

The START research and treatment program has been operating on campus to
provide no cost treatment to methamphetamine users since this past fall.
The program tests the effectiveness of various medications in reducing
cravings for methamphetamine.

"There are currently no rehabilitation clinics in the Kansas City area that
specialize in helping methamphetamine users," said Carolyn Rowe, the
project director.

According to Rowe, Independence, Mo. is still one of the largest areas for
methamphetamine abuse. Only a minute fraction of methamphetamine users seek
treatment at rehabilitation clinics. Methamphetamine, commonly known as
meth, speed, chalk or ice, is extremely addictive and has profound effects
on the central nervous system and also the heart muscles. Its effects last
for up to eight hours. It causes increased activity and a decrease in appetite.

The program is partly supported by UMKC, since the Institutional Review
Board for the research is located here. This board functions to ensure the
legality of the research.

The START program uses a method based on the theory that medications could
be used to decrease cravings for narcotic drugs. The study is currently
using Ondansetron, an anti-nausea medication (marketed as Zofran) used
normally with patients following surgery.

According to Rowe, the medication does not appear to be working. "We are
now trying the use of Wellbutrin. It has already been used to help with
cigarette smoking and as an anti-depressant. The antidepressant effect
should be very useful to the patients [subjects]." she said. Both these
medications are not addictive and are approved by the Food and Drug
Administration.

Kansas City is one of six sites nationwide participating in the
Methamphetamine Clinical Trials group, established by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse and lead by the University of California, Los
Angeles. The study is trying to use the MATRIX model's approach to
rehabilitation. The MATRIX model is an established approach used with many
other kinds of drug addictions. It teaches the patients about the disease
of addiction, the working of the brain and why the drugs have the effects
they do.

"It shows patients ways to stop themselves from using the drug, as merely
thinking about the drug can also lead to a relapse. Patients often can't
understand their feelings and have problems with anger management," said Rowe.

She still believes that the best thing to do for patients is to get
involved with organizations like Narcotics Anonymous that help the patients
in recovery.

"The program is an asset in that it provides no-cost service and sometimes
even pays patients to come seek treatment," she said.

The program is government funded and located at the Western Missouri Mental
Health Center on Hospital Hill. Screening for those interested in joining
occurs over two to four weeks, and the treatment itself has now been
increased from eight to twelve weeks. Confidentiality of patients is
maintained, and there are three evening sessions each week. For further
information, contact Carolyn Rowe at (816) 512-4795 or (816) 668-9504.