Treatment Options for Drug Addiction
• The person should be removed to an institution, so as to remove him from the association with which the addiction started.
• Constant supervision to prevent addict from obtaining secret supplies of the drug.
• Detoxification: This consists of reduction in dosage of drug over a period of 1 to 3 weeks.
• Administration of drugs, such as sedatives, benezidine, hyoscine.
• Diverting the mind by engaging him physically and mentally in some occupation.
• Antabuse agents & anticraving agents
• Psychotherapy (group, family of individual).
• Improving general health.
• Symptomatic. The treatment is successful only in 10 to 25% of cases.
• Rehabilitation
ANTABUSE- Disulfuram
ANTICRAVING Agents-
- Naltrexone
- Naloxone
- Subutex
- Campral
- Baclofen
- Neurontin
- Methadone
- Suboxone
- Levo alpha acetyl methadol
- Fluoxetene
- Acamprosate
- Topamax
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
They may begin within 6 to 8 hours following stoppage of the drug or they may be delayed for 24 to 48 hours, depending upon the particular drug being used. The length of period of withdrawal symptoms also varies and can last up to ten days. The intensity of the symptoms depends on the dose and type of the drug used, the duration of addiction, and the suddenness of withdrawal of the drug. They can be divided into three stages-
FIRST STAGE
• Chilliness, sensation of cold, uneasiness, yawning and rhinorrhoea.
SECOND STAGE
• Respiration become labored, sharp and very rapid.
• Goose skin, lacrimation, gross tremors and dilated pupils are seen.
• Anorexia is present in all the stages.
THIRD STAGE
• Sleep. lasting from 8 to 16 hours. Upon awakening, all the previous symptoms become intense.
• In addition, there is tachyapnoea, fever, hypertension, pain and cramps in the legs and abdomen, perspiration, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Newborns of addicted mothers may show withdrawal symptoms from one to 56hours after birth and require treatment. The symptoms are hyperactivity, twitching and convulsions.
TREATMENT OF WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS
• Isolation
• Restoration with small amount of addicted drugs
• Alternative– methadone, codein etc
• Antipsychotic– chlorpromazine
• Anxiolytic– diazepam, chlordiazopoxide
• Anticraving agent- acamprosate, naltrexone, fluoxetine
• IV fluid
• Antibiotics to combat infection