Medication for heroin addiction includes Methadone, LAAM, Naloxone, Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine. Of these, methadone is the most widely used. Methadone is a legal drug that can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription. It allows the heroin addict to function normally, but its disadvantage comes with its being addicting as well (Simpson, 1997). In a study by Blanken, Hendriks, Koeter, van Ree, & van den Brink (2005), they found that patients who had previously participated in abstinence-orientated treatment responded significantly better to treatment with medically prescribed heroin plus methadone than to standard methadone maintenance treatment, while patients without experience in abstinence-orientated treatment did equally well in heroin-assisted or methadone maintenance treatment. Among the behavioral therapies for heroin addiction, two have emerged successful: Contingency Management Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions (Parker & Parker, 2002). The Contingency Management Therapy utilizes a voucher-based system in which the patient can earn points for each of his or her negative drug test. These points can be accumulated and exchanged for particular items promoting healthy living. On the other hand, Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions work by helping the patient modify his or her cognitive processes, and by assisting in learning skills needed in coping with various stressors. In sum, heroin provides a pleasurable sensation, but it can also lead to addiction which comes with a host of negative short-term and long-term effects to oneself and the society. Though, worry should be limited by the availability of treatment in the form of medication and...
& Adamec, C.A. (2006). The encyclopedia of addictions and addictive behaviors. New York: NY Facts on File, Inc.
First and foremost is the recurrence of addiction with which Ms. Stone has struggled her entire life. This reflects the powerful dependency which is a distinct feature of heroin as is this compares to other substances. Indeed, Ms. Stone makes explicit mention of the intense physical and emotional rigors of withdrawal that are associated with detoxification. The number of times that Ms. Stone has engaged in detox and relapsed
Although there is a broad range of treatment options for heroin addiction, including medications and behavioral therapies, research indicates that when medication treatment is integrated with other supportive services, the addict is more often able to recover and return to a stable and productive lifestyle (NIDA). In 1997, a panel of national experts concluded that opiate drug addictions are diseases of the brain and medical disorders that can be treated
According to NIDA: A range of treatments exist for heroin addiction, including medications and behavioral therapies. Science has taught us that when medication treatment is combined with other supportive services, patients are often able to stop using heroin (or other opiates) and return to stable and productive lives. (NIDA, August 2009, p. 2) Drug treatment options are used often in combination with traditional cognitive behavioral and social behavioral therapies
One researcher suggested that instead of seeking a strict operational definition, one should think of alcoholism as they do mountains and seasons: "you know these things when you see them" (Shaffer pp). The most common conceptual error made by clinicians, researchers, and social-policy makers is to think that addiction resides as a latent property of an object, such as a drug or game of chance (Shaffer pp). For example, conventional
Heroin Addiction The drug known as heroin is a form of morphine, derived from poppy seeds. It is very easy to become addicted to heroin because of the euphoric feeling that it creates in the person who uses the drug. Morphine and its derivative heroin is a downer, this is the slang term for a depressant. It "affects the brain's pleasure systems and interferes with the brain's ability to perceive pain"
Addiction Methadone Maintenace Methadone Methadone Maintenance Methadone maintenance is essentially the use of methadone over a period of time for the treatment of individuals who are addicted to opioid drugs such as heroin. In more formal terms the central aim of methadone maintenance is defined as follows: "Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can help injection drug users (IDUs) reduce or stop injecting and return to productive lives" (METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT, 2002) There is still however a
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now