Related Experiment Videos
New Approaches in Drug Dependence: Opioids
Juliane Mielau1, Marc Vogel2,3, Stefan Gutwinski1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital of Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital, Große Hamburger Straße 5- 11, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Current Addiction Reports
|May 31, 2021
Summary
Standard and adjunctive treatments for opioid dependence include oral opioid substitution treatment (OST) and heroin-assisted therapies. A harm reduction approach and integrated care are crucial for effective, individualized opioid addiction management.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Opioid dependence presents complex challenges requiring diverse treatment strategies.
- Therapy-refractory cases necessitate exploration of advanced and adjunctive interventions.
- Harm reduction principles are integral to managing opioid addiction effectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review standard and adjunctive treatment options for opioid dependence.
- To discuss oral opioid substitution treatment (OST), heroin-assisted therapies, and harm reduction.
- To consider non-pharmacological approaches for therapy-refractory opioid use disorder.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current treatment guidelines and research.
- Analysis of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
- Discussion of individualized treatment approaches and harm reduction strategies.
Main Results:
- Recommended OST options include methadone, buprenorphine, SROM, and levomethadone.
- Heroin-assisted treatment (diamorphine) is a cost-effective option for non-responders.
- Evidence for adjunctive psychological interventions in opioid treatment is limited.
Conclusions:
- A broader range of formulations supports a harm reduction approach in opioid addiction treatment.
- Integrating pharmacological treatments into holistic care models is essential.
- Reducing fragmentation in services, policies, and philosophies is key for global opioid addiction management.