Medical interventions for addictions in the primary care setting

Primary care physicians treating HIV-infected patients should not be afraid or reluctant to engage in medication-assisted treatment for substance dependence. Effective medications are available for many types of substance addictions, including buprenorphine for opioid dependence, disulfiram for cocaine dependence, bupropion for methamphetamine dependence, and naltrexone for alcohol dependence. Physician use of medications coupled with encouragement to adhere to all aspects of treatment including counseling and other psychosocial interventions can produce substantial rewards in terms of keeping patients involved in their HIV care and improving overall patient health and functioning. This article summarizes a presentation made by R. Douglas Bruce, MD, MA, MSc, at the 12th Annual Clinical Conference for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program held in October 2009 in Dallas, Texas. The original presentation is available as a Webcast at www.iasusa.org.