Experimental Therapeutics in Addiction Medicine (Journal of Addictive Diseases Series)

Experimental Therapeutics in Addiction Medicine contains the latest experimental research on innovative drug abuse treatments, including new medications and behavioral therapies for heroin and cocaine addictions. The editors present original experimental research on the effectiveness of innovative treatments for heroin/opiate, cocaine, and methamphetamine addiction. Unlike much previous drug treatment research, the studies in this book use biological indicators of drug use, not just self-report measures. The validity of the studies’conclusions are strengthened by the inclusion of drug toxicologies to measure outcomes.The 15 studies are a result of a nationwide treatment research initiative sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and come from 11 different states. The evaluations, most using rigorous experimental designs with random assignment, include investigations of promising pharmacological, psychosocial and behavioral therapies. The psychosocial and behavioral therapies included several innovative, theory-based intensive outpatient programs for cocaine and methamphetamine abusers; medical maintenance for stabilized methadone patients; acupuncture treatment for cocaine and crack abusers; and intensive counseling combined with contingency management for methadone patients. All of the studies in Experimental Therapeutics in Addiction Medicine are scientifically rigorous, with most using true experimental designs, and all emphasize treatment outcomes for patients. The reader will learn which treatments were effective and which remain promising, as well as which did not work as expected. The book also offers new research on special issues in clinical treatment. Both new pharmacological and psychosocial/behavioral treatment strategies are covered. Clinicians--physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, researchers--and other professionals involved in providing, supervising, administering, or studying substance abuse treatment can find important facts to help improve treatment outcomes for substance abusers. Administrators and policymakers can be assisted by this volume to develop more effective treatment programs and researchers can utilize the insights to help guide their future treatment research.