A comparison of methamphetamine users and non-methamphetamine substance abusers on levels of sensation seeking and narcissism among the outpatient drug treatment population

One hundred eight English speaking, adult, outpatient drug treatment patients were recruited from drug treatment programs in southern California. Substance abusers with a primary drug choice of methamphetamine were compared with substance abusers with a primary drug choice of drugs other than methamphetamine or alcohol on sensation seeking, non-clinical narcissism and the relationship between the personality traits sensation seeking and non-clinical narcissism. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between drug of choice and sensation seeking, drug of choice and narcissism, and sensation seeking and narcissism. The analysis of the data revealed that their was not a significant difference on Narcissistic Personality Inventory scores, or general Sensation Seeking Scale-V scores between participants who reported methamphetamine and participants who reported drugs other than methamphetamine or alcohol as their primary drug choice. A strong positive relationship between narcissism and sensation seeking was evidenced by participants' narcissism scores increasing, as their sensation seeking scores increased. Post Hoc analyses of the Sensation Seeking Scale-V subscales Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Experience Seeking, Disinhibition, and Boredom Susceptibility did not reveal a significant difference on scores between participants in the methamphetamine group and the other drugs and alcohol group. Post Hoc analyses also identified that the demographic variables time since last use of drugs or alcohol and ethnicity were not predictors of sensation seeking or narcissism within this population. Participants' age was not found to be a predictor of sensation seeking, but was found to be related to a decrease in narcissism. Male participants scored significantly higher than the female participants did on the Sensation Seeking Scale-V. However, there was not a significant difference found between the male and the female participants' scores on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. Implications of these findings in clinical treatment of both adolescent and adult substance abusers and prevention for adolescents at-risk for substance abuse are vast. Future research assessing adult drug treatment patients on levels of narcissism over time in treatment and the relationship between narcissism and sensation seeking among polysubstance abusers would yield data relevant to enhancing prevention efforts and standard of care in clinical treatment.