The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) announced a relief effort valued at over $5 million to provide primary inpatient beds and addiction treatment for the thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina. Many victims who are facing withdrawal or are in need of ongoing treatment services are in shelters where there are no facilities and do not have resources available to them.

NAATP will coordinate the relief effort with HopeNetworks.org, a grassroots organization founded in Louisiana in 2002, networks people and organizations for action to reduce the impact of addiction on communities.

What are the treatments for heroin addiction?

A variety of effective treatments are available for heroin addiction. Treatment tends to be more effective when heroin abuse is identified early. The treatments that follow vary depending on the individual, but methadone, a synthetic opiate that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has a proven record of success for people addicted to heroin. Other pharmaceutical approaches, such as buprenorphine, and many behavioral therapies also are used for treating heroin addiction. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the array of medications now available for treating addiction to heroin and other opiates. This medication is different from methadone in that it offers less risk of addiction and can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor's office. Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is a combination drug product formulated to minimize abuse.

Dealing with alcohol addiction can be quite difficult. Many people can face this problem without a hope .
Those who struggle with alcohol abuse or drug addictions are finding that often the mainstream thinking isn’t helping them. Three or four rehabs later, many counseling sessions attended, and hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent only to find out that relapse is a part of treatment and the addiction "disease" is with you forever! What? Then why go? If something does not produce acceptable results, why continue in it? Because we have been led to believe that it is the only way.

You do not have a disease! And there are recovery alternatives to current drug abuse and alcohol addiction treatment! Your will to survive is strong, and your own path unique. I found that people who have overcome a drug or alcohol addiction did so through a willingness and a desire to redirect their lives. With the Five Forgotten Steps, we can help you strengthen your resolve to deal with the problems of alcohol abuse.

Dealing with alcohol addiction can be quite difficult. Many people can face this problem without a hope .
Those who struggle with alcohol abuse or drug addictions are finding that often the mainstream thinking isn’t helping them. Three or four rehabs later, many counseling sessions attended, and hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent only to find out that relapse is a part of treatment and the addiction "disease" is with you forever! What? Then why go? If something does not produce acceptable results, why continue in it? Because we have been led to believe that it is the only way.

You do not have a disease! And there are recovery alternatives to current drug abuse and alcohol addiction treatment! Your will to survive is strong, and your own path unique. I found that people who have overcome a drug or alcohol addiction did so through a willingness and a desire to redirect their lives. With the Five Forgotten Steps, we can help you strengthen your resolve to deal with the problems of alcohol abuse.

MSNBC has a great article on a treatment for alcoholism waiting for approval by the FDA. The drug is called Vivitrex and the buzz on the drug is quite good.

Campral can help alcoholics remain sober by easing withdrawal symptoms and reversing drinking-induced imbalances in brain chemistry. The drug costs $3.70 for an average daily dose of six tablets.

Cambridge-based Alkermes Inc. expects to hear back from federal regulators by Sept. 30 on its application to begin marketing its new drug, Vivitrex, to doctors specializing in addiction medicine. In a clinical trial, the number of heavy drinking days per month among patients taking Vivitrex and undergoing counseling was reduced from an average 19 days to three over six months.

1. What are Suboxone and Subutex?

Subutex and Suboxone are medications approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Both medicines contain the active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence.

2. Why did the FDA approve two medications?

Subutex contains only buprenorphine hydrochloride. This formulation was developed as the initial product. The second medication, Suboxone contains an additional ingredient called naloxone to guard against misuse.

Subutex is given during the first few days of treatment, while Suboxone is used during the maintenance phase of treatment.

Subutex
In October 2002, the FDA approved buprenorphine monotherapy product, Subutex®, and a buprenorphine/naloxone combination product, Suboxone®, for use in opioid addiction treatment. The combination product is designed to decrease the potential for abuse by injection. Subutex® and Suboxone® are currently the only Schedule III, IV, or V medications to have received FDA approval for this indication. Note that aside from Subutex® and Suboxone®, other forms of buprenorphine, e.g., Buprenex®, are not approved for treatment of opioid addiction.

The FDA approval of these buprenorphine formulations does not affect the status of other medication-assisted opioid addiction treatments, such as methadone and LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol). As indicated in Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 8 (42 CFR Part 8), these treatments can only be dispensed, and only in the context of an Opioid Treatment Program. Also, neither the approval of Subutex® and Suboxone®, nor the provisions of DATA 2000, affect the use of other Schedule III, IV, or V medications, such as codeine, that are not approved for the treatment of addiction. Lastly, note that aside from Subutex® and Suboxone®, other forms of buprenorphine, e.g., Buprenex®, are not approved for treatment of opioid addiction.

Medical Encyclopedia: Opiate withdrawal
Alternative names
Withdrawal from opioids; Dopesickness

Definition

Opiate withdrawal is caused by stopping, or dramatically reducing, opiate use after heavy and prolonged use (several weeks or more).

Opiates include heroin, morphine, codeine, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, methadone, and others. The reaction frequently includes sweating, shaking, headache, drug craving, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, inability to sleep, confusion, agitation, depression, anxiety, and other behavioral changes.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors