Addiction is a brain disease. Treatment for drug addiction has to be customized for each patient, there is no blanket approach that works for every addict. However, drugs and psychotherapy are typically employed as part of a drug treatment program. It is estimated that between 40 and 70 percent of people who complete a drug treatment program will stay drug-free.
Detoxification is the part of treatment where an addict gets used to not having drugs in his system. Medications can be given to help stabilize a patient’s brain and make the detox process less painful. Research indicates that if withdrawal is less painful, an addict is less likely to relapse.
Because brain changes are a hallmark of addiction, treatment will sometimes involve the use of medication to combat cravings and prevent a patient from relapsing. Examples include naltrexone, acamprosate and naloxone.
Medication is typically prescribed in conjunction with therapy. Cognitive therapy and support groups can be an integral part of the treatment process. In therapy, addicts learn new ways to think and act. They talk about personal problems and how to handle their problems without using drugs. Therapy is also where addicts learn to recognize cravings and manage the high-risk situations that might lead them to use drugs.
Another method that is sometimes used in addiction treatment is maintenance therapy. For example, people addicted to heroin may take methodone once daily to suppress withdrawal. This method is controversial because methodone is itself a narcotic, but when used under a doctor’s supervision, it can help a heroin addict kick heroin cravings.
The future for addiction treatment is promising as researchers continue to unlock the genetic code. Identifying the genes that cause addiction opens the door for new drugs to be developed that stabilize brain pathways and restore normal brain function in addicts.