Analyzing the Treatment of Heroin Addiction Research Paper

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Abstract

The research question was assessing substance abuse treatment effectiveness. This is an important topic because substance abuse is a chronic disorder that many patients are unable to get rid of and this causes social strife and increases criminal activity in the country. Heroin addiction is currently the most abused drug in the country and this trend not only affects the poor but also the will to do individuals in society. It is therefore vital that we address the treatment methods currently being used. We have assessed the various treatment options that are currently available for the treatment of heroin addiction. Methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine have been assessed and described in detail offering information on the effectiveness of each drug. We have established that methadone is still the most effective drug for the treatment of heroin addiction. The other two drugs are also effective in their own way, but when compared to methadone there are inferior. The results show that relapse rates are lower with patients who use methadone. Buprenorphine is also effective provided the patient is able to follow the prescribed dosage. The drug also has less potential for abuse as compared to methadone. Therefore, patients who do not have the appropriate social support, and diligence to follow doses should be prescribed for methadone.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Substance Abuse Treatment

Introduction

The dependence on drugs is a chronic and relapsing disorder that requires specialized treatment. It is difficult to break the dependency cycle, and hardcore drug users will often suffer extreme psychological, economic, physical, emotional, and social pain (Livingston, Milne, Fang, & Amari, 2012). Hardcore drug users are isolated from the society in many ways, and their addiction affects not only them but their families and friends as well. According to Dunn et al. (2010) treatment of drug abuse is considered to be the process of breaking an individual's dependence on illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine or licit drugs like alcohol and prescription medications. Drug abuse treatment is a complex and variable network of services that are tailored to meet the needs of an individual. The underlying understanding in a majority of research is that drug abuse treatment does work. However, identifying how effective a treatment is and for whom is the most difficult task. This is because individuals will react differently to different forms of treatment.

Evaluating the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment begins with an understanding of the hardcore drugs like heroin and cocaine. Heroin is defined as an opioid (a substance that acts upon the opioid receptors) that is mostly used as a recreational drug because of its euphoric effects. Heroin is also medically used in several countries to relieve pain or in opioid replacement surgery. The drug is normally injected into a vein, but it can also be snorted, smoked, or inhaled.

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The onset of its result is typically rapid and the effects will last for a few hours.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of the available treatment options for heroin. This will assist in determining if the treatment options being used are working or there is a need for change. The paper is structured in a systematic manner and it begins with the pharmacological treatment options that are available for heroin. Each treatment option is critically analyzed and its effectiveness is presented backed by available research. We will then discuss the most effective treatment option for heroin. Finally, we will end the paper with a conclusion the reiterates the information we have presented in the paper briefly.

Effective Drug Abuse Treatment

It is vital to understand what it means when we say that a treatment option is effective. This is based on the primary goals of any drug abuse treatment. Reducing the use of the primary drug. In order for a treatment to be considered effective, it should be able to reduce relapse time, increase abstinence, reduce the frequency of drug usage, and reduce the amount of drug used in total (Messina, Grella, Cartier, & Torres, 2010). Improving the functioning of drug users in terms of employment refers to increasing the number of days individual works, and improving their performance at work. Improving education status denotes the individual being able to attend school and increasing the individual's attendance in school. This also refers to improving grades and overall performance in school. Improving medical status is determined by a decrease in the number of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and doctor visits. Improving interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and employers. Improving mental health status, and improving the legal status of the individual.

Pharmacological Treatment of Heroin

There are two main approaches that are employed in the pharmacological treatment for opioid dependence. The first approach is short-term treatment where the addict is detoxified to a drug-free state. The second approach is long-term treatment where the addict is maintained in a legally sanctioned narcotic like methadone. The majority of pharmacological treatment programs make use of the long-term treatment approach, which requires the administration of a medication that is either aimed at replacing the illicit drug or blocking the effects of the drug. In most cases, the medication is administered for at least 1 month, but it can also be administered for several years. This is mostly dependent on individual cases. The medications used in pharmacological treatment are methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine.

Methadone

Methadone is considered to be a slow-acting opioid agonist that is taken orally in order for it to reach the brain slowly, which dampens the high that would occur with….....

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