Six-Year Follow-up of People Who Use Methamphetamine in Iran: A Case Series Study

Background: Despite the increased use of methamphetamine, little is known about its adverse events in developing countries. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the adverse events of methamphetamine use in Iran. Methods: A total of 29 subjects who were recruited in the Iranian Mental Health Survey (IranMHS, a 2011 national household survey) and used methamphetamine more than 5 times in the past year were enrolled in this case series study. Six years after the index interview, eligible participants were contacted to assess their frequency of methamphetamine use in the past year, the incidence of adverse events, and utilization of substance use treatment services. Results: One death was recorded among 29 eligible cases. Of the 13 completed interviews (all male), the majority (n = 10) reported abstinence, and 2 reduced their methamphetamine use in the past year. More than two-thirds (n = 9) of participants experienced at least 1 adverse event. Incarceration and violent behavior were the most common adverse events. Of the 10 individuals with methamphetamine use disorder, none received specific health care treatment. Conclusions: Our participants experienced a high rate of adverse events, and no one with methamphetamine use disorder received specific treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the causal relationship between methamphetamine use and adverse events.