Publications by authors named "Liam Acheson"

Background: Interventions are required that address delays in treatment-seeking and low treatment coverage among people consuming methamphetamine.

Objective: We aim to determine whether a self-administered smartphone-based intervention, the "S-Check app" can increase help-seeking and motivation to change methamphetamine use, and determine factors associated with app engagement.

Methods: This study is a randomized, 28-day waitlist-controlled trial.

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Introduction: Sleep disturbance is common during methamphetamine (MA) use and withdrawal; however, the feasibility of combined subjective-objective measurement of sleep-wake has not been shown in this population. Actigraphy is a well-established, non-invasive measure of sleep-wake cycles with good concordance with polysomnography. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and utility of using actigraphy and sleep diaries to investigate sleep during MA withdrawal.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aims to explore the perspectives of individuals who used methamphetamine and participated in a clinical trial for lisdexamfetamine to address acute withdrawal, highlighting the need for patient-centered trial design.
  • Using thematic analysis of interviews with eight participants, the research identified key factors influencing their experiences, including the importance of transparent procedures, a welcoming environment, and effective communication, all of which impacted their enrollment decisions.
  • Four main themes emerged from the analysis: agency, caring-trust, safety, and communication, suggesting that by incorporating participants' experiences into trial design, future studies can enhance participant retention and overall experience.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored the use of lisdexamfetamine for safely managing acute methamphetamine withdrawal in an inpatient setting, as there are currently no effective treatments.
  • Ten participants were enrolled, and the tapering doses of lisdexamfetamine were generally well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
  • The results showed that withdrawal symptoms and cravings decreased over the course of treatment, indicating that this approach could be a feasible option for addressing methamphetamine withdrawal.
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Introduction: Methamphetamine (MA) use disorder is an important public health concern. MA withdrawal is often the first step in ceasing or reducing use. There are no evidence-based withdrawal treatments, and no medication is approved for the treatment of MA withdrawal.

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Issues: Cessation of methamphetamine use may result in a characteristic withdrawal syndrome, no medication has been approved for this indication. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine withdrawal, the first comprehensive meta-analysis since 2008.

Approach: MEDLINE (1966-2020), CINAHL (1982-2020), PsychINFO (1806-2020) and EMBASE (1947-2020) were systematically searched.

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Objective: Although most unintentional opioid deaths in Australia are attributed to pharmaceutical opioids, take-home naloxone (THN) programmes have to date predominantly targeted people using illicit opioids in drug treatment and harm reduction settings. We sought to examine the feasibility of delivering THN brief interventions (THN-BIs) with intranasal naloxone in EDs.

Methods: This pilot feasibility study was conducted across three major metropolitan EDs in Sydney and Melbourne.

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Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is often a complication of injecting drug use, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This article reports the first audit of inpatient parenteral treatment of SAB completion among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia. Of 198 patients admitted with SAB, 106 were analysed.

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Lung function and vascular effects of expert trumpet performance has not been elucidated. Airway mechanics, gas exchange and cardiovascular function were investigated in expert trumpeters during a challenging performance. Respiratory impedance was measured in expert trumpeters and violinist controls prior to and following performance.

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Background: Stimulant drugs are second only to cannabis as the most widely used class of illicit drug globally, accounting for 68 million past-year consumers. Dependence on amphetamines (AMPH) or methamphetamine (MA) is a growing global concern. Yet, there is no established pharmacotherapy for AMPH/MA dependence.

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