Drug Addiction Treatment Medications

Individuals who have a history of abusing – but not necessarily being physically addicted to – alcohol or other drugs may benefit from a rehabilitation experience that focuses primarily on behavioral therapy (including individual, group, and family counseling, and participation in an ongoing support group.

For those who have been suffering with a physical addiction, though, the rehab and recovery process will often incorporate medical assistance in order to ensure a safe and effective experience. Medical oversight is of primary importance during the withdrawal phase, but can also play an essential role in relapse prevention.

Detox & Withdrawal

Depending upon the nature and severity of their addiction, individuals who are addicted to narcotics will often be switched to a substitute substance such as methadone. A synthetic drug that is usually taken in oral form once per day, methadone eases cravings for the drug of addiction, and produces less severe withdrawal symptoms.

Other substances that are employed during the detoxification/withdrawal stage include diazepam and phenobarbital, both of which have anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, and sedative properties. Patients are traditionally given the minimum dose that is necessary to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms, and are then gradually weaned from these drugs as the withdrawal risk subsides.

Relapse Prevention

Once an individual has stopped using the drug to which he was formerly addicted, the next challenge is to establish a foundation upon which to build a healthy, drug-free life. Because drug dependence involves both physical and psychological components, the mere removal of physical cravings does not eradicate the risk of relapse.

Behavioral therapy and participation in ongoing sobriety support groups are essential components of relapse prevention efforts, but some cases also demand the continued use of medication. For example, long-term methadone treatment allows for the continued suppression of opiate cravings – which allows the formerly addicted individual to function as a contributing member of her family, community, and workplace.

Common Medications

• Methadone – Perhaps the most widely known relapse prevention drug, methadone is a synthetic opiate that was first synthesized in Germany during the 1930s. Methadone maintenance programs were developed in the United States in the 1960s, and remain one of the most effective medically supported means of helping addicted individuals free themselves from the chains of opiate dependence.
• LAAM – Since 1993, levomethadyl acetate (commonly referred to as LAAM) has also been used to help recovering addicts. A synthetic opiate that is similar to methadone, LAAM is administered only three times per week, in contrast to methadone’s once-a-day regimen.
• Diazepam – Also used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, diazepam is used to mitigate the effects of withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, delusions, and hallucinations. Diazepam is not used in long-term relapse prevention programs.
• Naltrexone – An “opioid receptor antagonist,” naltrexone is used in rapid detoxification programs for individuals who are addicted to opioids or alcohol. The drug interrupts the body’s reaction to opioids, but has little effect on cravings – thus, as with diazepam, its use is limited to the withdrawal process. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any medications to treat addictions to cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, steroids, inhalants, or marijuana. However, a range of drugs are available to be prescribed for effects – such as seizures or psychotic reactions – that result from abusing these substances.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the development of a drug to treat cocaine addiction remains a top research priority.