Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Second Edition)
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Principles of Effective Treatment
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do drug-addicted persons keep using drugs?
- What is drug addiction treatment?
- How effective is drug addiction treatment?
- Is drug addiction treatment worth its cost?
- How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
- What helps people stay in treatment?
- How do we get more substance-abusing people into treatment?
- How can families and friends make a difference in the life of someone needing treatment?
- Where can family members go for information on treatment options?
- How can the workplace play a role in substance abuse treatment?
- What role can the criminal justice system play in addressing drug addiction?
- What are the unique needs of women with substance use disorders?
- What are the unique needs of adolescents with substance use disorders?
- Are there specific drug addiction treatments for older adults?
- Are there treatments for people addicted to prescription drugs?
- Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?
- Can a person become addicted to psychotherapeutics that are prescribed by a doctor?
- How do other mental disorders coexisting with drug addiction affect drug addiction treatment?
- Is the use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine simply replacing one drug addiction with another?
- Where do 12-step or self-help programs fit into drug addiction treatment?
- Can exercise play a role in the treatment process?
- How does drug addiction treatment help reduce the spread of HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis C (HCV), and other infectious diseases?
- Drug Addiction Treatment in the United States
- Evidence-Based Approaches to Drug Addiction Treatment
- Resources
Are there treatments for people addicted to prescription drugs?
The nonmedical use of prescription drugs increased dramatically in the 1990s and remains at high levels. In 2007, approximately 7 million people aged 12 or older reported nonmedical use of a prescription drug. The most commonly abused medications are painkillers (i.e., opioids: 5.2 million people), stimulants (e.g., methylphenidate and amphetamine: 1.2 million), and central nervous system (CNS) depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines: 2.1 million). Like many illicit substances, these drugs alter the brain's activity and can lead to many adverse consequences, including addiction. For example, opioid pain relievers, such as Vicodin or OxyContin, can present similar health risks as do illicit opioids (e.g., heroin) depending on dose, route of administration, combination with other drugs, and other factors. As a result, the increases in nonmedical use have been accompanied by increased emergency room visits, accidental poisonings, and treatment admissions for addiction. Treatments for prescription drugs tend to be similar to those for illicit drugs that affect the same brain systems. Thus, buprenorphine is used to treat addiction to opioid pain medications, and behavioral therapies are most likely to be effective for stimulant or CNS depressant addiction—for which we do not yet have medications.
This page was last updated April 2009.
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Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
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