Addiction Treatment

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Americans say that addiction treatment works, they want to see expanded access to treatment services for those in need, and they’re willing to pay for it.

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When comparing results of treatment retention, reductions in criminal behavior and even gains in health and well being, chronic heroin addicts given medical grade heroin for a year did far better than those given methadone for that same time period.

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A Swedish research team has determined that a hunger regulating hormone, Ghrelin, may play an important role in the development of alcohol addiction. The team is hopeful that future research will lead to effective treatment medications for alcoholism.

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Canadian researchers plan to supply medical grade heroin to 200 addicts in Vancouver and Montreal during a 3 year harm reduction study.

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Researchers from the UK’s University of Southampton are optimistic that alcoholic liver disease can be cured, even in the most severe cases. Since a quarter of people with alcoholism-related cirrhosis die before they get the chance to stop drinking the key is to keep the patient alive long enough for them to stop drinking, and to maximize their chances of continued abstinence with effective addiction treatment.

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A study out of John Hopkins University suggests that insurance companies could actually save money by providing more coverage for early and aggressive substance abuse treatment.

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A Yale University study had to be stopped for ethical reasons after researchers realized how much better their patients on Suboxone were doing, than their patients on Naltrexone.

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The medication increases the sedative effects of alcohol while reducing the pleasurable, or euphoric effects.

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Governor Otter vetoed funding for drug-treatment, the State Senate vetoed Governor Otter.

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Currently, SAMHSA estimates that 1.7 million American seniors struggle with substance abuse. In 12 years, SAMHSA says there will be 4.7 million.

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University researchers have announced a potential breakthrough in the understanding of cocaine addiction - and a common high blood pressure medication may change the way cocaine addicts get better.

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The DEA is scaring doctors, and they want to broaden their influence over the way doctors prescribe medications.

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Users taking Suboxone to stave off the withdrawal pains of an opiate addiction aren't supposed to be able to abuse the medication. That was the idea anyway when the FDA approved the drug in 2002 for take-home use. Today's thriving street market for the drug has the FDA change its tune.

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A promising new drug that seems to stop the cravings and euphoria of cocaine and meth is now on the FDA fast track to approval.

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Once a recognized leader in substance abuse treatment and prevention, Minnesota now ranks 47th on numbers receiving drug treatment.