Treatment of Substance-Related Disorders: Introduction | Alcohol
| Nicotine | Benzodiazepines and Other Sedatives | Cocaine |
Methamphetamine | Opioids | Hallucinogens | Marijuana | Self-
Help Groups | Conclusion | References Drugs that produce
substance use disorders all activate the brain reward system,
but each class of drugs activates the system by a different
pharmacological mechanism. Thus, this chapter is organized
according to pharmacological class. The emphasis is on
pharmacotherapy, but all treatment using medications should be
accompanied by counseling or psychotherapy according to the
patient's needs. Medication combines very well with
psychotherapy, including self-help groups such as Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA). The majority of patients also have an additional
mental disorder (besides the addictive disorder) such as
depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. These comorbidities
require specific treatment including medication and
psychotherapy. The best treatments for addiction complicated by
addition