Health-related quality of life (HRQL) among methamphetamine users in treatment

Little is known about the effectiveness of available treatment options for methamphetamine (MA) abuse and dependence. This study aimed to measure improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQL) among MA users associated with different treatment options. Data are from 501 individuals (366 males and 135 females) recruited into the Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study (MATES) who were aged 16 years and over. Participants completed the SF-12 Short Form questionnaire on entry to treatment (or to the study), and again 3 months (n = 404) and 12 months after starting treatment (n = 375). The SF-6D scoring algorithm was used to elicit single preference-based measures of HRQL from participants in the non-treated group (n = 101) and three treatment modalities: counselling (n = 40), residential rehabilitation (n = 248) and detoxification (n = 112), at baseline, 3 and 12 months post-treatment entry. There was complete data available at the three time points for 349 participants. The results indicate that both the treatment and non-treatment groups were found to have an improved HRQL at the 3 and 12-month follow-ups, though the improvement experienced by the group receiving residential rehabilitation was of a greater magnitude than the other groups. Methamphetamine users have a lower HRQL when compared to the general population. The HRQL of MA users had improved 3 months after they started treatment, and had improved again 12 months after starting treatment.