ORIGINAL ARTICLE Methamphetamine Users in Sustained Abstinence A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

have been detected by magnetic resonance spectros-copy in frontostriatal regions of individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, but less is known about the effects of drug abstinence on me-tabolite levels. Objective: To assess the effects of long-term metham-phetamine use and drug abstinence on brain metabolite levels. Design: To assess regional specific metabolite levels us-ing magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging tech-niques in 2 groups of currently abstinent methamphet-amine users: methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence and methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study. Setting: Participants were recruited from outpatient sub