Each year, 24.7 million people use methamphetamine (MA) worldwide, which represents more consumers than that of heroin or cocaine [1]. It is also a significant problem in Los Angeles County where a majority of individuals seeking publicly-funded treatment reported methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse [2]. Despite numerous clinical trials, no medication has been approved to treat methamphetamine (MA) dependence. As a result, novel approaches to medication development for MA dependence is needed.
Following up on the Phase I safety trial of ibudilast, CBAM is currently conducting a Phase II clinical trial to test the effectiveness of ibudilast as a possible pharmacological treatment for MA dependence. Join UCLA addiction and internal medicine physician Dr. Keith Heinzerling, CBAM Medical Director, for a webinar on Thursday March 6, 2014 at 11:30am where he will discuss new research aimed at reducing brain inflammation to improve brain function and reduce relapse in patients being treated for methamphetamine addiction.
Register for the webinar at http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=2399. Join the conversation on Twitter at @UCLAHealth with hashtag #UCLAMDChat to ask Dr. Heinzerling questions.
To learn more about this and other clinical trials, visit our Active Studies Page.
[1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2008. World Drug Report, 2008. Vienna, Austria.
[2] LA County Evaluation System, 2010