WHAT'S UP WITH ANTI-ADDICTION MEDICATIONS?

(VOICE, Winter 2007 - A biannual newsletter for the Hazelden community of patients, family, alumni, professionals and all those who are touched by the disease of addiction), "Hazelden adds anti-addiction medications as a treatment tool" by Linda E. Peterson.

Hazelden has added anti-medications approved by the U.S. Food and Durg Administration (FDA) for treatment of alcooholism since December 1, 2006.

"Medications such as naltrexone (ReVia) and acamprosate (Campral) are by no means considered a 'magic bullet' in the broad Hazelden treatment spectrum. Rather, ... one tool among many," according to Hazelden's National Medication Practices Team.

"Research has been conducted on combining the medications with minimal treatment, so we ([Hazelden} expect that combining the medicines with a treatment program of the breadth of ours will result in higher rate of effectiveness."

Fred Holmquist, director of the Hazelden The Lodge Program states, "Current brain research confirms what the text Alcoholics Anonymous has taught us for years: that the main problem of the alcoholic cneters on the mind. These medications may help people in early absinence be less dogged by the euphoric memories of alcohol use."

Given FDA guidelines on these medications, "Hazelden medical staff will prescribe medications only to paitents whose drug of choice is alcohol and who have experienced multiple relapses, multiple treatment attempts, and who describe a great deal of craving."

Medications that will be in use:
"Acamproasate and naltrexone, including Vivitrol and Disulfiram (Antabuse). Naltraxone is an anti-craving medication and, according to the VOICE article, "people with extensive cravings and multiple relapses tend to show more positive results than other groups of patients."

OFten people quit taking their meds, so Vivitrol, which is "administered by injection in a doctor's office and has an effect for a month, eliminates the issue of compliance."

Acamprosate studies "show some alcoholics have longer periods of abstinence and less relapse when this medicine is prescribed."

Critical in using medications to treat addicition, according to Chris Lind, RN, director of National Health Services and cochair of the Naitional Medication Practices Team at Hazelden, is to be aware that "None of these medicines are as effective if you don't use treatment with them."

More medications to come... The Hazelden VOICE shares Lind's comment that "Current study of the neurobiology of addiction indicates there is a marvelous potential for intervening to help addicts with a pharmacological approach. In the next five to 10 years, ... medicines will be developed that work better than current ones."

Hazelden is a leader in bombining anti-addiction medications with treatment programs.