Background Consumption of stimulant drugs, a heterogeneous group of addictive substances, has significantly increased in recent years with rising numbers of stimulant-associated intoxications and deaths.

Objectives To provide an overview of recent scientific evidence of the diagnosis and treatment of stimulant use disorders.

Material and methods A literature review of the neuropathology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria and evidence-based treatments for stimulant use disorders.

Results Chronic use of stimulant drugs is associated with significant physical (e.g. hypertension, tachycardia and dyspnoea) and psychological harm (e.g. dependence, psychosis and affective dysfunction). Despite major advances into the neuropathology of stimulant use disorder and the refinement of diagnostic criteria, the disorder still presents a public health burden, not least because of the lack of effective treatments. There are currently no approved pharmacotherapeutic interventions for stimulant use disorder and meta-analyses suggest that the efficacy of behavioural interventions is low to moderate, similar to cognitive behavioural treatments.

Conclusions Despite growing insights into the neuropathology associated with stimulant use disorder, treatment remains a challenge. The lack of medically approved interventions makes it difficult to give clear recommendations for clinical practice. Further research is thus warranted.