Pharmacological Interventions

So far we have seen that addiction is a complex subject that encompasses the fields of genetics and neurophysiology. Neurochemistry also plays a very significant role in addiction. Some of the newer psychopharmacological and physical aversion approaches to address addiction at the neurochemical and physiological level include Naltrexone, Disulfiram and Acamprosate.  Naltrexone is an antagonist to the mu-opioid receptors and interrupts the brains reward system. Disulfiram, also known as antibuse, irreversibly inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase and if alcohol is drunk while taking Disulfiram violent and painful physical reactions are immediately triggered. The exact mechanisms of Acamprosate are not yet fully understood. Acamprosate appears to hasten recovery from alcoholism by acting to normalize the glutaminergic excitation, which is one of the chemical imbalances that appear to be a important factor in alcohol relapse.

Rick