Addiction
Behavioral And Psychosocial Treatments
For Drug Addiction
In order to break the cycle of chronic drug use, drug-dependent individuals must make important changes in their life styles and attitudes and usually need help in doing so. Behavioral and psychosocial treatments are the cornerstone of services available to help drug users achieve and sustain meaningful periods of abstinence.
However, research efforts in this important area have remained relatively stagnant in relation to the pace of research on biological and molecular bases of drug dependence and medications development.
Treatment Of Opiate Users
Opiate users frequently receive treatment in methadone programs, where behavioral/psychosocial therapies are combined with a medication to control heroin use. Their other illicit drug use, especially cocaine, is often a primary target of behavioral interventions.
Research has now shown that drug abuse counseling with abstinence incentive procedures and access to psychosocial services is an active ingredient in the treatment process; and that more services produced better outcomes.
Among patients in a VA methadone maintenance sample, 90 - 100% who received psychosocial services and incentive procedures were abstinent from heroin and cocaine for as long as 8 weeks; only 30% of patients who received methadone without services were abstinent.
Incentives can be effective way to motivate abstinence from illicit drug use. In one study, 32% of methadone patients stopped all illicit drug use for sustained periods of time when offered the chance to receive methadone take-home privileges following drug-free urinalysis test results.
Only 8% of controls stopped drug use. Take-homes are the most powerful reward available in the normal operation of methadone treatment programs.
In another study with cocaine abusing methadone patients, the chance to receive retail items from the program motivated 47% of heavy cocaine users to stop using cocaine for prolonged periods of time during treatment. Only 6% of controls stopped using cocaine for any meaningful duration.
Treatment Of Cocaine Users
Treatment of primary cocaine users relies entirely on behavior and psychosocial therapies because there have been no effective medications discovered to date.
Community Reinforcement therapy is a powerful new behavioral treatment for cocaine abuse. The treatment combines couples counseling, recreational therapy and tangible incentives (retail items) that help to motivate abstinence. The treatment retains patients in treatment (e.g. 58% retained for 24 weeks compared with 11% of controls) and promotes long durations of sustained abstinence.
Relapse prevention therapy, which teaches patients to recognize high-risk situations for drug use and to implement coping strategies, has also shown promise for treatment of cocaine users. Rates of retention and abstinence have been better for relapse prevention than for control therapy in two studies.
Treatment Of Tobacco Smokers
Many smokers who would like to stop prefer to do it on their own with no professional help. However, less than 10% of smokers who try to quit succeed on any given quit attempt (so try to quit 10 times and you should get it right once - that's a joke, but maybe...)
Research has identified specific physiological, psychological and environmental factors that lead to relapse versus successful abstinence after quitting.
Treatments can be tailored to address these factors. Research has shown that the most effective method for smoking cessation combines nicotine replacement with patch or gum and behavior therapy that teaches patients to recognize high-risk situations for smoking and to implement coping strategies. 30-40% can achieve long-term abstinence with this approach on a given quit attempt.
Smokers with a history of depression have an especially hard time quitting. Research has now shown that these smokers can benefit from a special mood management therapy in combination with nicotine replacement.
The College on Problems of Drug Dependence is the leading scientific society in the drug abuse field. Founded in 1929 as part of the National Academy of Sciences, CPDD in now an independent organization promoting scientific research on drug abuse problems. As a service to the academic community and policy makers, CPDD offers updates on recent advances that have implications for future research and public health agendas.
Books Buzzed:
The Straight Facts About
the Most Used and Abused Drugs
from Alcohol to Ecstasy
An account of various drugs and their effects on the body, brain, and emotions. Also includes info about the addictive potential of the drugs discussed.
Includes alcohol, caffeine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, herbal drugs, inhalants, marijuana, nicotine, opiates, sedatives, steroids, stimulants, etc.
Buzzed From Chocolate to Morphine:
Everything You Need to Know
About Mind-Altering Drugs
A well written book about the history of drugs and drug use with black and white illustrations throughout. About 3/4 of the book deals with the drugs themselves, the rest is a look at the relationship between people and drugs.
In a way that neither condemns nor condones drug use, the authors describe the likely effects of each drug and discuss precautions and alternatives, allowing readers to make informed and intelligent choices.
Covers a wide range of substances like stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marijuana, solvents, PCP, ketamine, smart drugs, medical drugs, and more.
From Chocolate to Morphine Illegal Drugs:
A Complete Guide to Their
History, Chemistry, Use and Abuse
Very good book about the history, sociology, legal and medical aspects of illegal (and some legal) drugs. Looks at all the popular illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. Also investigates legal drugs like caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. And covers more obscure drugs like betel nuts and kava kava.
At about 500 (easy to understand) pages, the book contains a lot of text that might overwhelm the casual reader looking for basic info. This is more for someone with a serious interest in the subject or someone doing research.
Illegal Drugs
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