Addiction Treatment Research

Drug addiction treatment research is an ongoing effort in an attempt to find more effective and efficient treatment methods for specific drug addictions. New medicines and therapeutic techniques are constantly being tested under laboratory conditions in order to make drug addiction recovery more comfortable, increase the chances of success and decrease the possibility of relapse. While today's treatment methods are not ineffective, striving for even better treatments increases our understanding of these abused drugs.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Research

Treatment for the abuse of alcohol involves detoxification and medicinal treatment. Withdrawal symptoms in this case can be uncomfortable and are usually treated using detoxification methods. Medicinal treatments are used to prevent relapse to alcohol abuse. Disulfiram, for instance, works by producing an unpleasant sensation when alcohol is consumed, while others, such as Naltrexone or Alcamprosate control physical cravings for alcohol. Antidepressants and similar medicines are used to treat underlying emotional disorders that may contribute to the alcohol addiction and abuse. Behavioural therapy is also effective in treating alcohol addiction as often the root of the problem is a need to escape from some aspect of daily life.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Research

Medicines such as Gamma Vinyl Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GVG), which are usually used in the treatment of Epilepsy, effectively block the resultant release of dopamine, the 'happy hormone', upon cocaine abuse, although these drugs are still under clinical trials. Another medicine which controls cocaine-influenced dopamine production is Vanoxerine, which reduces the effect of cocaine, thus resulting in decreased use of the drug. Cognitive behavioural therapy in addition to medicinal treatments increases successful recovery. Social therapy groups such as Cocaine Anonymous (based on Alcoholics Anonymous) can help to overcome the social stresses which may lead to cocaine abuse or relapse. Coca herbal tea has also been shown to significantly decrease the risk of relapse. Research is underway into a 'Cocaine Vaccine', which may prevent the user from achieving the desired effects by using the drug.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Research

Heroin addiction is commonly treated with similar but milder drugs, such as Methadone, which controls the withdrawal symptoms by drug replacement, ending with a tapering off of the methadone, whose withdrawal symptoms are milder. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Serax are also used in Heroin addiction treatment to control the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Recently, Buprenorphine has been used to treat Heroin addiction in place of Methadone, as it is less addictive, has much milder withdrawal symptoms and is harder to overdose on than Methadone. Research is currently being carried out on the development of a 'reservoir' treatment using Buprenorphine. This would prevent abuse and subsequent addiction of the treatment medicine itself whilst enabling treatment of withdrawal symptoms to continue for up to six weeks at a time. Naloxone and Naltrexone have also been found to effectively block the brain's receptor sites for Heroin, making the drug ineffective. There is some evidence that a controversial treatment, Ibogaine, based on an African medicine may be effective in treating Heroin addiction for up to 3 months.

Nicotine Addiction Treatment Research

There are a large number of treatments available for nicotine addiction, although it is argued that successful and long-term nicotine addiction recovery is only possible with the addict's willpower. Available treatments include patches and gum, which deliver a gradually decreased amount of nicotine; inhalers, which deliver nicotine and replace the physical action of smoking; and behavioural therapy, to alter the psychological reasons that lead to smoking. Other more controversial treatment methods are used such as hypnotherapy, which supposedly erases the physical and psychological addiction from the brain, and acupuncture, which works on the basis of stimulating certain points of the body with needles in an attempt to suppress cravings and control withdrawal symptoms.

New developments in our knowledge of addictive drugs enable us to find more effective ways of treating the addiction. The most efficient drug rehabilitation and treatment centers will keep in contact with researching bodies to ensure they are offering the very best and most effective treatment to their patients.