A Vaccine for Cocaine Addiction?

Alcohol and drug treatment has seen a new promising advancement in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). With the successful use of opioid replacement therapy for heroin addicts and Vivitrol for alcohol cravings, there is now hope for those suffering from cocaine addiction.

MAT is not the pursuit of miracle drugs that cure alcohol dependence and drug addiction. It is type of therapy that has proven to enhance cognitive behavioral treatment. When patients add MAT to the alcohol and drug treatment regimen, they are less distracted by the physical and craving aspects of the disease.

Cocaine addiction is driven by strong cravings. Physical withdrawals are not as much of a factor, as would be the case with alcohol, heroin, or prescription drugs like Vicodin and Xanax. So reducing or eliminating those cravings can have a significant effect on a cocaine addict remaining abstinent.

The vaccine being tested has shown to reduce relapse rates in enough cocaine addicts to give it a promising grade. The full study has been published on the Archives of General Psychiatry website at this link: http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/10/1116. And while trials continue on the vaccine, this is promising news for cocaine addicts everywhere.

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A vaccine to treat cocaine dependence yielded good results in a phase-2 clinical trial and will be tested next year in a larger study, researchers reported today.

The cocaine vaccine is not intended to prevent addiction but instead is designed for use with other treatments, such as behavioral therapy, to assist people in recovery. The vaccine is among a number of research projects relying on similar technology to treat nicotine, heroin and methamphetamine addiction.

-- Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/10/cocaine-vaccine.html --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides medication assisted treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

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