Abstract
M.A.
The aim of the present study was to establish the existence of potential
cognitive impairment in a group of 14 currently using methamphetamine
addicts in comparison to a group of 17 abstinent recovering
methamphetamine addicts and a matched control group of 18
participants.
The current study was undertaken as methamphetamine abuse has risen
dramatically over the past several years (Hart, Ward, Haney, Foltin &
Fischman, 2001). This resurgence into popular culture imposes a sense of
urgency for understanding the effects of methamphetamine medically
and neurologically (Simon et al., 2000; Volkow et al., 2001a). Twenty nine
million people consumed amphetamine-type stimulants in the late 1990s,
a larger number than that of people using cocaine and opiates
combined (World Health Organisation, 2001).
South Africa is one of the countries world-wide that is currently
experiencing a methamphetamine pandemic. The startling increase of
methamphetamine use in South Africa is further exacerbated by the fact
that 80 percent of methamphetamine users in the Western Cape are
under 21 years of age, according to the South African National Council
on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) (Morris & Parry, 2006).
Methamphetamine has been established as neurotoxic in chronic doses
abused by humans. The resultant deleterious consequences of this drug
on cognitive functioning have led researchers to conclude that the
observed deficits are as a direct result of methamphetamine’s
neurotoxicity (Nordahl, Salo & Leamon, 2003; Vocci & Appel, 2007; Yucel,
Lubman, Solowij & Brewer, 2007). Amongst the cognitive functions
affected by methamphetamine, preliminary findings indicate that
attention, memory and executive functioning may potentially be
compromised (Barr et al., 2006). These findings need to be corroborated in
the South African milieu using culture fair measuring instruments.
Furthermore the possible effects of previous use of methamphetamine in
recovering addicts need to be ascertained.
A comparative and quantitative ex post facto research design was
utilised in the research. Participants were selected according to stringent
inclusion and exclusion criteria. A neuropsychological test battery,
comprising of pen and pencil tests, was used to assess the cognitive
functions of attention, memory and executive functioning in the two
experimental groups and the control participants. Statistical analysis was
performed on the raw data by the Statistical Consultation Service of the
University of Johannesburg. The research was conducted according to a
specified code of ethics stipulated for psychological research.
Significant results were established between the two experimental groups
in comparison to each other and the control group for the cognitive
functions of attention and memory. Assessment of executive functioning
yielded results in which significant results were observed between the
current and recovering users of methamphetamine and between the
control group and recovering methamphetamine addicts. There were no
significant results detected between the current users of
methamphetamine and the control group regarding executive
functioning.