Integration of Research in Pharmacotherapy for Addictive Disease: Where Are We? Where Are We Going? (From Integration of Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Treatments in Drug/Alcohol Addictions, P 83-102, 1997, Norman S Miller and Barry Stimmel, eds. - See NCJ-170457)

• NCJ Number: 170463
• Author(s): W Ling; S Shoptaw
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): R18 DA6082; R4408786
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

Systematic efforts by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse to develop new medications for drug and alcohol dependence have resulted in recent Food and Drug Administration approval of levo alpha acetyl methadol (LAAM) for opiate dependence, naltrexone for alcohol dependence, and a nasal spray for nicotine dependence.

Abstract

Strategies guiding these development efforts are reviewed, with emphasis on the examination of interactions between potential pharmacotherapeutic agents and drugs of abuse, the enhancement of pharmacotherapeutic efficacy with nonpharmacological interventions, and the development of more precise and meaningful research outcome measures. Medications evaluated or being considered for the treatment of opiate, cocaine, and alcohol abuse and dependence are listed. Recent interest in developing substitution medications for cocaine and amphetamines is discussed, and the effect of nonpharmacological interventions on medication efficacy trials is evaluated. Methodological advancements in measuring patient responses to medications are noted. 42 references, 1 table, and 1 figure