Drug abuse and addiction are often difficult disorders to treat due to the psychological and biological components that complicate the recovery process. In understanding the nature of drug abuse and addiction, it is important to recognize when medication is necessary to treat symptoms associated with the biological changes that take place from years of substance use. Additionally, it is important to treat the initial withdrawal from certain drug use as well as the potential depression and anxiety that develops after cessation of using a drug. In recent years, there have been medications introduced in the treatment process to aid the drug user with dealing with symptoms while trying to stay sober and learn healthier living patterns.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is a medication considered as an opioid antagonist and has use in rapid detox from drugs as well as for longer term treatment in alcohol and opiate abuse. The “American Journal of Psychiatry” published a study in 2008 indicating that naltrexone is a potential medication effective in treating amphetamine and cocaine dependence. Naltrexone has been found to reduce the craving for stimulants by blunting the effect the stimulant has on the user. At this juncture in the research, naltrexone has no serious negative side effects when used as a medication for treating stimulant abuse. This is a significant finding since there have been no known medication treatments for stimulant drug abuse in prior years.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is used in the treatment of opioid addiction. Commonly abused opioids include heroine, oxycodone and morphine. Buprenorphine is used in medication-assisted treatment programs as part of reducing harm to the substance user by decreasing the addiction to the illicit drug while simultaneously using the buprenorphine. This medication is regulated in the same way as methadone, another opioid addiction drug, yet unlike methadone, this medication is not intended for long-term use once the withdrawal symptoms have subsided. Buprenorphine works as a medication that has a ceiling, which means that once the desired result is achieved in the body, no additional dosage is needed to produce additional effects. The ceiling effect prevents possible overdose that can be common in using opiate agonist medications.
Bupropion
Bupropion is a dopamine targeting medication that was originally intended for treating depression and cessation of smoking. An article in Medical News Today titled “Bupropion as Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment Holds Promise” reports that bupropion has been researched in the last decade for also treating methamphetamine addiction due to the medication targeting the dopamine neurotransmitter, which is prominently disrupted during methamphetamine abuse. The buproprion has been found to reduce cravings and reduce the high obtained from methamphetamine virtually making the intended effects of meth blunted. This is a key finding due to the lack of medication treatment available for methamphetamine addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is still researching effects of using this medication for this purpose, but thus far the results are promising.
About this Author
Aureau Walding is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Missouri. Walding has worked in the field for a decade and she utilizes a holistic and strengths-based approach. She has published articles on topics such as anxiety, addiction, and social change for LIVESTRONG and Examiner.com.
