Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is responsible for supporting treatment services through a block grant program, as well as disseminating findings to the field and promoting their adoption. They operate the 24-hour National Treatment Referral Hotline (1-800-662- HELP), which offers information and referral services to people seeking treatment programs and other assistance

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking and the craving for alcohol. Naltrexone reduces relapse to heavy drinking, defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more for men. Naltrexone cuts relapse risk during the first 3 months by about 36 percent but is less effective in helping patients maintain abstinence. Acamprosate or Campral® acts on the gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate neurotransmitter systems and reduces symptoms of protracted withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness and dysphoria. Studies show that acamprosate helps dependent drinkers maintain abstinence for several weeks or months and may be very helpful for patients with severe dependence.

Drug Addiction Affects Behavior

Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior. Drug addiction has cognitive, behavioral and physiological characteristics that contribute to continued drugs use despite the harmful consequences. Scientists have found that chronic drug abuse alters the anatomy and chemistry of the brain and that these changes can last for months or years after the individual has stopped using drugs. This transformation may help explain why addicts are at a high risk of relapse to drug abuse even after long periods of abstinence and why addicts persist in seeking drugs despite deleterious consequences.

Treatment Helps Recovery

Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time. Drug addiction is a serious problem that can be treated and managed throughout its course. Effective drug abuse treatment engages the participant in a therapeutic process, retains the user in treatment for an appropriate length of time and helps the addict learn to maintain abstinence over time. Addicts may require multiple episodes of treatment. Outcomes for drug abusing offenders in the community can be improved by monitoring drug use and by encouraging continued participation in treatment.