Safety and Feasibility Pilot Trial of a Novel Pharmacological Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Australia has one of the highest rates of methamphetamine dependence in the world. Methamphetamine dependence is associated with a disproportionately high number of drug related hospitalisations and drug related deaths, and demand for treatment options has increased substantially in recent years. In Australia there are currently no approved pharmacological treatment options for methamphetamine dependence. Previous evidence demonstrates that a combination of naltrexone and bupropion could be an effective treatment option, however the formulations of the medications underpinning these findings are not available in Australia. In order to investigate whether a similar treatment approach could be viable in the Australian context, this study will explore the safety and feasibility of treating methamphetamine dependence using locally available formulations of these medications.

This PhD project will involve contributing to the design and implementation of a multi-site pilot trial of a novel pharmacological treatment for methamphetamine dependence, in outpatient settings. Potential activities/outputs could include:

• Reviewing existing evidence around methamphetamine treatment options and treatment adherence, in both the Australian context and globally
• Engaging with clients in outpatient settings seeking treatment for methamphetamine dependence, through participating in recruitment and data collection processes
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis from both standardised measures and semi-structured interviews relating to treatment acceptability and barriers/enablers to treatment uptake and adherence

Scholarship

• $37,684 per annum (2024 rate, indexed), 3.5 years
• Tuition fees scholarship for International candidates

Eligibility

• Domestic candidates only
• PhD only

How to apply

Please contact Professor Nadine Ezard (n.ezard@unsw.edu.au) for more information.