Treatment and support

Counselling techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy or motivational interviewing have been found to be useful strategies to support people who are trying to stop or reduce their amphetamine or cocaine use [23510]. For users needing to recover from amphetamine or cocaine use, it is helpful to sleep, exercise, have good nutrition and allow time to feel well again.

It can be hard for some people to stop or reduce their drug use because of the withdrawal symptoms that can occur [32703]. People may experience various mental and physical symptoms such as depression, anxiety, tiredness, headaches and intense drug cravings. Having a strong support network of health professionals, friends and family can increase the likelihood of recovery [49600].

Research indicates that historical trauma, social disadvantage and racism impact the way that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use methamphetamine (ice), and seek treatment for drug use [32152]. Recommendations for the treatment of ice dependence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people include:

• provide culturally sensitive, collaborative and family inclusive approaches to treatment
• provide strategies to support families to stay in touch with relatives who use ice
• create after-care services to support people who are returning home from jail or a treatment centre
• use strategies that help people feel less shame about their ice use.