A comprehensive treatment program for addictions to psychoactive substances

Psychological dependence: rewarding effect (reward centers in your brain), physically located in the nucleus accumbens
Physical dependence: the somatic distress associated with suddenly stopping to take a drug leading to withdrawal symptoms
Background: 1 in 4 adults with a mental illness also hass a substance abuse disorder

Examples of psychoactive substances
- Nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, opioids, Benzos, amphetamines, hallucinogens...
- their withdrawal symptoms look different depending on the substance taken
Psychotherapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy: alcoholics anonymous (www.aa.org)
Pharmacotherapy
- Fighting withdrawal symptoms
  - Alcohol: Naltrexone (first line), disulfiram (negative conditioning due to disulfiram reaction), acamprosate (blocks glutamate receptors and reduces alcohol cravings)
  - Alcohol-acute withdrawal symptoms: Benzos, antipsychotics
  - Opioids: Buprenorphine/naloxone; methadone (substitution therapy)
  - Cocaine: supportive, psychotherapy, group programs
  - Disulfiram, acamprosate: Alcohol- for acute cravings
  - Smoking: Varenicline, buproprion, nicotine patches/gums

Links[edit | edit source]

www.aa.org