Cognitive Effects of Nicotine in Methamphetamine Users

Much research has been conducted on the effects of certain drugs on the user's cognitive functioning. Methamphetamine (MA) has been shown, via several cognitive assessments (i.e. Stroop Test, Wisconsin Card Sort, Backward Digit Span, etc.), to significantly decrease cognition in those who use the drug for long periods of time. MA users show significant reductions in working memory, impulsivity, and abstract reasoning compared to control subjects. These findings may explain why MA users make poor decisions and relapse following treatment. Nicotine is known as a cognitive stimulant, thereby improving performance on many of the above-mentioned assessments. Thus far, though, no research has been conducted measuring the cognitive function of MA users who also use tobacco compared to MA users who do not. It is hypothesized that those using both nicotine and MA will have significantly higher levels of cognitive function compared to those MA users who do not use tobacco. Implications of such a result may include the administration of low-dose nicotine to non-smoking MA users in treatment. Findings from the early stages of this research will be presented.