Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug whose illicit use and resultant addiction has become an alarming global phenomenon. The mesolimbic dopaminergic system in the brain, originating in the ventral tegmental area and terminating in the nucleus accumbens, has been shown to be central to the neurobiology of addiction and the establishment of addictive behaviour. This pathway, as part of the reward system of the brain, has also been shown to be important in classical conditioning, which is a learnt response. This common pathway has supported theories suggesting addiction as a case of maladaptive associative learning. Within the modulation of learning and memory, the neurohypophyseal hormones vasopressin and oxytocin have been seen to play a vital role. Vasopressin exerts a long- term facilitatory effect on learning and memory processes. Studies have shown that the stress responsive AVP V1b receptor systems are a critical component of the neural circuitry underlying emotional consequences of drug reward. Oxytocin, on the other hand, has an effect on learning and memory opposite to that of vasopressin. Previous studies have shown that oxytocin caused a decrease in heroin self-administration, as well as attenuated the appearance of cocaine-induced hyperactivity and stereotyped behaviour. Therefore, we adopted a reinstatement conditioned place preference model to investigate whether a V1b antagonist or oxytocin treatment would cause a decrease in methamphetamine seeking behaviour. Behavioural findings indicated that methamphetamine induced a change in the place preference in the majority of our animals. This change in preference was not seen after vasopressin administration in the extinction phase. On the other hand, the change in place preference was enhanced during the reinstatement phase in the animals treated with oxytocin. Striatal dopamine levels were determined, as methamphetamine is known to increase dopamine transmission in this area. Results showed that rats that received both methamphetamine and oxytocin had significantly higher striatal dopamine than those that received oxytocin alone. Western blot analysis for hippocampal cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) was also conducted as a possible indicator of glutamatergic NMDA receptor activity, a pathway that is important for learning and memory. The Western blot analysis showed no changes in hippocampal pCREB expression. Overall our data led us to conclude that methamphetamine treatment can change place preference behaviour in rats and that this change may be partially restored by vasopressin antagonism, but exaggerated by oxytocin. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / This study presents a discursive journey with regard to the risk and protective factors confronting individuals who engage in methamphetamine use within the Manenberg area. Given that this journey requires a cautious and sensitive approach to the meaning making of the lived experiences of the six (6) individual users (the informant base); the study adopted an analysis process that would allow for a guided “tour” of these experiences. In doing so, the study made use of the grounded theory method that allowed for this guided “tour” to be fully anchored in the collected data. External to this data, and once the data emerged as engageable themes, the study introduced, relevantly so, Bronfenbrenner's social-ecological model of human development, so to multiply and deepen the meanings embedded within the data. The merging of this external frame, provided by Bronfenbrenner's model, and the rich data provided by the six (6) informants, uncovered critical themes in understanding the risk and protective factors at play within Manenberg. These themes relate to the historical identity of Manenberg, given the history of Apartheid, the role of the local community and its perceived tolerance of the practice of drug use, which is further echoed in the identity of the family and its limited ability to support drug users in the face of ever-growing poverty. The themes also uncovered the bipolarity in the practice of drug trade and gangsterism as serving a subsistence function, at one level, and an exploitative function at another. Furthermore, the study solidified traditional views that the peer collective is, indeed, a critical actor on the stage of drug use and that the individual (as an actor) continues to be confronted by a script of poverty and disillusionment. This script, as will be illustrated, is also active in preconceived notions of gender stratification. / South Africa

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a dramatic increase in the use of the drug methamphetamine, also known locally as tik, in the Western Cape, specifically in Cape Town. This trend impacts the availability and the quality of labour as well as the productivity of current employees. The presence of tik abuse in the workplace represents both legal and ethical challenges to employers. The Labour Relations Act of 1995 states that employers must ensure a safe working environment for their employees. The actions of tik users tend to increase the risk of injuries at work and the occurrences of workrelated accidents that may harm others. Social responsibility requires employers to operate their business in an honourable manner, to provide good working conditions and to work actively to better the quality of life of the local communities where it operates. This responsibility translates into helping the tik users that they employ. The current relationship between employer and employee regarding tik is marred by conflict and misunderstanding. Employers seem unsure what to do and are unaware of how far-reaching tik abuse is. Tik abuse causes many problems for employees and also for their family and friends. By gathering information in a structured way the study aims to improve the understanding of employers so that they can help and prevent tik-related problems in the future. The study utilized descriptive qualitative research in the form of a questionnaire given to recovering tik users at two treatment centres in Cape Town, SANCA and De Novo. The research ran for about a month and gathered 82 usable questionnaires. Results, along with a literature study, were used to create a framework to guide employers on identifying tik users and on how to deal with them. The framework, the Tik Identification and Intervention Protocol (TIIP), contains criteria to help identify employees that may be using tik. The study showed that many international trends are evident in Cape Town. Approximately 40% of participants indicated that they were absent from work more often than prescribed by labour legislation; 70% of participants experienced that tik affected their ability to perform their duties; 32% of participants admitted that they stole to obtain funding for their drug habit. Some new findings became evident, such as the impact of the family on the participant's decision to go for treatment. The Western Cape's treatment centres are severely hampered by a lack of resources and are incapable at present of dealing with the current flood of patients. While plans are in place to rectify this, it is clear that in the short term at least, employers will have to take up more of the slack. The recovery process for a drug addict takes a long time; experts suggest it may take up to two years. Therefore employers need to be involved and create support programs at work to assist employees in their recovery. Employees can be cured from their dependency on tik, so that they can become healthy and contribute to the community and to their employer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is 'n dramatiese toename in die voorkoms en gebruik van metaphetamien (plaaslik bekend as tik) in die Wes-Kaap, spesifiek in Kaapstad. Die tendens het 'n impak op die verskaffing en die kwaliteit van beskikbare arbeid, sowel as die produktiwiteit van huidige werknemers. Die voorkoms en gebruik van tik in die werksplek het beide wetlike en etiese uitdagings vir werkgewers. Die Arbeidswet van 1995 verklaar dat die werkgewer daarvoor verantwoordelik is om te verseker dat hul werksplek veilig is vir hul werknemers. Tik gebruikers verhoog die risiko en die voorkoms van werksbeserings en werksongelukke wat ander werknemers ook mag beinvloed. Sosiale verantwoordelikheid vereis van werkgewers om hul besighede op 'n eerbare wyse te bestuur, om goeie werksomstandighede te verseker en 'n aktiewe bedrae te lewer in die plaaslike gemeenskap waar hulle hul ook mag bevind. Die verantwoordelikheid sluit tik gebruikers in. Die huidige verhouding tussen werkgewers en werknemers in verband met die misbruik van tik word gekenmerk deur konflik. Werkgewers blyk onseker te wees ten opsigte van wat hul te doen staan en hoe verreikend die impak van die misbruik van tik mag wees. Die misbruik van tik veroorsaak 'n menigte probleme vir werknemers, sowel as vir hul vriende en families. Hierdie studie poog am deur 'n gestruktureerde wyse informasie te versamel met die doel om die begrip van werkgewers te verbeter, sodat hul tik gebruikers kan help en tik-verwante probleme in die toekoms kan voorkom. Die studie is beskrywend kwalitatief van aard en gebruik 'n vraelys om informasie te versamel by twee behandelingsentrums in Kaapstad, SANCA en De Novo. Die navorsing het vir omtrent 'n maand geduur waarna 82 bruikbare vraelyste ingewin is. Die resultate, sowel as die literatuurstudie wat gedoen is, is gebruik om 'n raamwerk op te stel wat werkgewers kan help om tik gebruikers te identifiseer, sowel as hoe om hulle te ondersteun. Die eerste gedeelte van die raamwerk, die Tik Identifikasie en Ingrypings Protokol (TIIP), bestaan uit kriteria wat gebruik kan word om werknemers te identifiseer wat tik gebruik. Hierdie studie het gewys dat verskeie internasionale tendense sigbaar is in Kaapstad. Ongeveer 40% van die deelnemers het aangewys dat hulle meer as die wetlike hoeveelheid dae afwesig was van die werk, 70% van die deelnemers het erken dat tik hulle vermoe am hul werk behoorlik te kan doen beinvloed het en 32% van die deelnemers het erken dat hulle gesteel het om geld te verkry am tik te koop. Die studie het daarop gedui dat die familie 'n integrale rol gespeel het in die deelnemers se besluit om vir behandeling te gaan. Dit blyk dat die Wes-Kaapse behandelings-hulpbronne ver te kort skiet om die saak te hanteer. Daar is tans planne in plek am die probleem die hoof te bied, maar dit is duidelik dat in die korttermyn, werkgewers 'n groter rol sal moet speel. Die herstelproses is van lange duur, en kenners meen dat dit tot twee jaar mag neem voor tik gebruikers volkome herstel het. Die werkemers het ondersteuning nodig gedurende hierdie moeilike proses. Die studie het bevind dat werknemers herstel en gesond kan word om weer 'n bydrae te kan lewer vir beide die werkgewer en die bree samelewing.

3,4-methlenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the main constituent of Ecstasy, is a ring-substituted amphetamine commonly abused in recreational users. High doses of MDMA determined by allometric scaling produce serotonin (5-HT) axon deneveration. Studies suggest that this interspecies scaling does not reflect human use. An 'effects' scale comparing similar behavioral and physiological effects between species has been postulated as more accurate for translational studies. Experiment 1 examined the effects of MDMA on serotonergic forebrain innervation using immunohistochemical labeling targeting the serotonin transporter protein (SERT). Experiments 2 and 3 examined low and high doses of MDMA on spatial memory, prefrontal functioning, and serotonergic neurotoxicity using 'effects' scaling. Long Evans rats were given MDMA regimens of: chronic low dose (daily injections of 1.5 mg/kg for 10 days); binge low dose (2 days of 4 x 1.5 mg/kg spaced 2 hours apart), binge high dose (2 x 7.5 mg/kg sp aced 2 hours apart). Acquisition, retention, and spatial reversal (SR) were measured in a water maze task. A 2.0 mg/kg MDMA drug challenge was then given prior to a serial spatial reversal (SSR) task to assess performance while under the effect of the drug. Attentional set shifting and behavioral flexibility were assessed in an intradimensional extradimensionl (IED) task using odor/texture discriminations. MDMA chronic and binge low doses did not impair water maze or IED performance and produced no reductions in SERT expression. MDMA binge high dose resulted in significant reductions of SERT density in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, cortical mantle, hippocampus, amygdala, and many thalamic nuclei. Despite prominent 5-HT denervation, water maze performance was unaffected. Selective impairment in behavioral flexibility on the IED test was found. / This suggests that low doses of MDMA do not produce long-term deleterious effects. But, high doses of MDMA taken in 'binges' produces widespread loss of forebrain SERT fiber innervation and significant impairments in reversal learning, while leaving attentional set shifting and spatial navigation unscathed. / by Stephanie Brooke Linley. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

This thesis, presented as a collection of articles, journalistic in its tone, is titled "Menace or Moral Panic? Methamphetamine and the New Zealand Press". Within the collection, evidence and background information is presented that supports a claim that a moral panic fitting Stanley Cohen's classic model occurred between 1999 and 2004.This moral panic was also identified using Stuart Hall's definition of a moral panic outlined in his mugging study published in 1978 as well as the more contemporary model of Goode and Ben-Yehuda (1994). Jock Young's theory of The Deviance Amplification Spiral is also addressed and can be applied to this collection when considering the close 'symbiotic' relationship that our press here in New Zealand have with our police force. In looking at this particular subject it is vital that we look at how drugs and drug use play a role in the media. Also as part of the backgrounding for this collection it was of critical importance to find whether a moral panic happened anywhere else in the world in relation to methamphetamine. Two previous moral panics about methamphetamine are featured in this collection as part of a case study presented in "Ancient Anecdotes meet Modernity: Drugs and the Rise of Methamphetamine" in which between the years of 1989 and 1996 America passed through two moral panics brought on to a considerable extent by a mixture of media hype and political opportunism. By including a foreign case study we can begin to see how the New Zealand methamphetamine situation had similarities to the American example, making identification of New Zealand's moral panic more definitive. Giving verification to the claims, a lengthy analysis of twenty-five samples from the New Zealand press is also featured in this collection. By looking at the way the stories from the samples developed identification of the various stages of the moral panic become more visible. The last article in this collection investigates, using expert interviews, if there is enough evidence to support the claim that methamphetamine may be a menace to New Zealand society, but that the extent of that menace may be exaggerated by a moral panic brought on by our media and fuelled by our police force.

This thesis, presented as a collection of articles, journalistic in its tone, is titled "Menace or Moral Panic? Methamphetamine and the New Zealand Press". Within the collection, evidence and background information is presented that supports a claim that a moral panic fitting Stanley Cohen's classic model occurred between 1999 and 2004.This moral panic was also identified using Stuart Hall's definition of a moral panic outlined in his mugging study published in 1978 as well as the more contemporary model of Goode and Ben-Yehuda (1994). Jock Young's theory of The Deviance Amplification Spiral is also addressed and can be applied to this collection when considering the close 'symbiotic' relationship that our press here in New Zealand have with our police force. In looking at this particular subject it is vital that we look at how drugs and drug use play a role in the media. Also as part of the backgrounding for this collection it was of critical importance to find whether a moral panic happened anywhere else in the world in relation to methamphetamine. Two previous moral panics about methamphetamine are featured in this collection as part of a case study presented in "Ancient Anecdotes meet Modernity: Drugs and the Rise of Methamphetamine" in which between the years of 1989 and 1996 America passed through two moral panics brought on to a considerable extent by a mixture of media hype and political opportunism. By including a foreign case study we can begin to see how the New Zealand methamphetamine situation had similarities to the American example, making identification of New Zealand's moral panic more definitive. Giving verification to the claims, a lengthy analysis of twenty-five samples from the New Zealand press is also featured in this collection. By looking at the way the stories from the samples developed identification of the various stages of the moral panic become more visible. The last article in this collection investigates, using expert interviews, if there is enough evidence to support the claim that methamphetamine may be a menace to New Zealand society, but that the extent of that menace may be exaggerated by a moral panic brought on by our media and fuelled by our police force.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Substance abuse is a global epidemic which is internationally recognised as an illness, characterised as being primary, chronic, progressive and terminal. Methamphetamine in South Africa is now drawing the interest of younger first time drug users from as young as thirteen years old, who are presenting at various rehabilitation centres in Cape Town. Many of the low socio-economic status areas are afflicted communities in Cape Town, which has been recognised by the Provincial government as an area troubled with societal concerns such as poverty, risky behaviour while using drugs or alcohol, violence and social disintegration. This qualitative study has its focus on the community leaders‟ perceptions of risk factors contributing to the spread of methamphetamine addiction in Manenberg and Lamberts Bay. The stigma attached to this area is often one that paints the portrait of a crime-ridden, desolate and poor community. The aim is to identify which risk factors community leaders believe are contributing to the increase of methamphetamine addiction in the area. Bronfenbrenner's social-ecological systems approach will act as a framework for this research study as well as utilising thematic analysis. It provides an understanding by which various systems within a community function and mutually co-operate. This allows one to expand on connotations ingrained in data collected from study participants.

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) / Substance abuse among adolescents is a global problem and South Africa is no exception. In the Western Cape there is an alarming popularity and increased use of an illicit highly addictive substance, locally known as 'tik-tik'/methamphetamine. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of this substance and there is an urgent need to address the 'tik-tik' problem in the Westen Cape. Tik/methamphetamine has thus become a great concern to educators, social workers and health practitioners in the province. The goal of this study was to explore the life-world of the adolescent methamphetamine/'tik-abusers' in order to describe their experiences of personal, social and environmental issues in the process of tik-addiction. / South Africa

As a part of the overall program in the Grandy laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), studying the underlying chemical biology of methamphetamine (Meth) addiction, this dissertation reports on the development of six new thyronamine analogs which were synthesized and assayed against trace amine associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), giving preliminary results consistent with the analogs being inverse agonists. Due to highly variable TAAR1 expression levels in the assays, based on inter-assay response to control Meth stimulation as well as other possible factors, kinetic models were developed to qualitatively explain the assay results. The models set approximate limits on the analogs' binding and disassociation rates relative to those of Meth. Analysis of the assays also provides more evidence of TAAR1's basal activity. Based on the models, the conversion rate of ligand-free inactive TAAR1 to ligand-free active TAAR1 is less than 6% of the binding rate of Meth to TAAR1. The models also suggest that the inverse agonists bind to the inactive ligand-free form of TAAR1 between 10 and 100 times faster than Meth binds to the inactive ligand-free form of TAAR1. Three of the new analogs, G5-110s8, G5-112s5, and G5-114s5, bind to the ligand-free active form of TAAR1 faster than they bind to the inactive ligand-free form of TAAR1. The models do not suggest an upper limit on the binding rate of those 3 analogs to the ligand-free active form of TAAR1. A control assay lacking TAAR1 revealed an electrophysiological off-target effect caused by G5-109s8. Also, a novel synthetic route was developed for ET-92, the lead compound for this project, which reduced the number of synthetic steps from 14 to 5 and improved the overall yield from 15.3% to 18.3% (77.4 mg) with the hope that further improvements in yield are possible.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Motivated by the observation that children living in the Western Cape face challenges relating to methamphetamine (tik) abuse, this research attempts to develop and propose a strategy that can be used in preventing mid-adolescents from engaging in tik use. To develop this strategy, a contextual analysis and hermeneutical process of the life of mid- adolescents and the environment in which tik abuse is occurring was initially undertaken. Through a contextual analysis of children living in Lavender Hill and surrounding areas, it was discovered that most children were attracted to tik due to the influence of modern technology, rampant poverty, the cheap cost of the drug, dysfunctionality of families, influence of gangs and lack of recreation facilities. Acknowledging that adolescence is an important stage in the formation of the character of any individual, this research attests that adolescents who use and abuse tik are those who do not have an enabling family and societal environment. It is suggested in this research that the Church can play a pivotal role in creating a socio-spiritual environment that would enable adolescents to develop themselves in such a manner that they do not need to use tik, or any other drug for that matter. This research thus develops a prevention strategy for dealing with tik abuse during mid- adolescence. This preventive strategy centres on the Church being of service to others. Based on a literature research conducted on the Lavender Hill community of the Cape Flats, this research proposes practical recommendations that could help different Christian churches in the fight against methamphetamine use by mid-adolescents. These recommendations attempt to involve different members of the community in the spirit that John Mbiti encapsulates in the proverb ―We are therefore I am‖. In this all- inclusive endeavour, this research supposes that if a community is properly functioning, it is possible for it to weed out unwanted elements in a manner that protects all its members, particularly the young. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie fokus op die vraagstuk van Metamfetamien-verslawing onder jeuggroepe binne die konteks van die Kaapse Vlakte met ‘n besondere fokus op die Lavender Hill- area. Daar is besluit om op middel-adolessensie te fokus omdat dit die fase is waarin jongmense uiters broos is en veral vatbaar is vir buite-invloede. Dit is ook die fase waarin vaste gedragspatrone binne identiteitsvorming vasgelê word. Die oogmerk was om veral op voorkomingstrategieë binne gemeentelike verband te fokus ten einde die pastorale bediening van die problematiek bewus te maak. Omdat verslawing ingebed is binne plaaslike kultuurkontekste, is besluit om aan te sluit by ‘n sosiaal-kontekstuele analise. Metamfetamien (of tik) raak betekenisraamwerke asook die mens se soeke na erkenning en aanvaarding. Vandaar die keuse vir ‘n kwalitatiewe benadering in aansuiting by ‘n pastoraal-hermeneutiese metodologie. Die sosiaal-kontekstuele analise in die Lavender Hill-area het aangetoon dat veral die sopsiale media en tegnologie ‘n groot rol speel in die gebruik van tik onder kinders. Binne ‘n armoedekultuur en die impak van gesinsverbrokkeling op jongmense se identiteitsontwikkeling, veral binne die bruingemeenskap, word ‘n teelaarde vir dwelmisbruik geskep. Tik is bekostigbaar en die situasie word deur bendes (gangsters) uitgebuit. Daar is ook bevind dat omgewingsfaktore ‘n bydraende rol speel, veral die gebrek aan doeltreffende ontspanningsgeriewe. As gevolg van die gebrek aan voldoende sosiale en familiale ondersteuningstrukture, word persoonslikheidsontwikkeling en karaktervorming hierdeur nadelig beïnvloed. Teen hierdie agtergrond stel die studie voor dat die kerk binne gemeenteverband as ‘n soort ‘familie‘ gestruktureer moet word. Die kerk is die skakel tussen die sosiale dimensie en spirituele raamwerke. Die gemeentelike bediening moet derhalwe by identiteitsontwikkeling betrokke wees ten einde voorkomend op te tree. Kerklike voorkomingstrategieë moet gekoppel wees aan die ekklesiale modus van diakonale uitreik ondanks religieuse and kulturele grense. In dié verband moet verskillende denomenasies hande vat en ook intensief saaamwerk met plaaslike gemeenskapsleiers. Dit is hier waar die Afrika-spiritualiteit , soos onder andere deur John Mbiti geformuleer, ‘n deurslaggewende rol kan speel, naamlik: ons bestaan vir mekaar, daarom leef ek as individu en bestaan ek as mens. Hierdeur word ‘n inklusiewe benadering geprofileer wat die gemeenskap inskakel ten einde die euwel van tik doeltreffend te bestry.