NAC as a Potential Treatment for Methamphetamine Dependence

Methamphetamine is a potent, highly addictive psychostimulant that produces psychomotor
activation and euphoria (Ellinwood and Cohen 1971; Martin et al 1971). The abuse of MA is
rapidly becoming both a national and a global epidemic (SAMHSA 2007), as the drug is
illicitly manufactured on a large scale by criminal cartels using relatively inexpensive
ingredients. Current treatments for MA dependence consist primarily of psychosocial and
rehabilitation approaches, which have limited long-term success (Rawson et al 2004). The
identification of effective medication treatments is an extremely high priority.