Anti-Addiction PIll

CNNhealth.com had a story yesterday regarding the cutting edge prescription pills that will soon be available at most doctor's office, anti-addiction drugs. More specifically, the drugs are used as a treatment to alcoholism. Dr. Mark Willenbring of the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse says that alcoholism has reached a point similar to one depression reached 30 years ago.

There are many studies happening around the US on these new drugs. Dr. Bankole Johnson of the University of Virgina found that topirimate (currently used to treat epilepsy and migraines) can reduce the number of days on which alcoholics drank heavily, by more than 25%. Naltrexone combined with therapy treatment have patients staying by abstinent and drank less if they did relapse.

Addiction is a brain disease, not just willpower. These drugs have the ability to block the release of brain chemicals that are linked to pleasure and excitement. These drugs are neither addictive or carries significant side effects. It does appear that each might work better in certain subgroups -- topiramate for repeat relapsers, and naltrexone in people with a strong family history of alcoholism.

These drugs are not an attempt to simply cure the disease. Many experts still argue that the best process takes a lot of support and dedication to recovery. Alcoholism is multifaceted disease of the brain so it has a spiritual component and a behavioral component to it.

I think these new drugs are great. I'm not one for taking medications because I honestly believe my body can take care of itself. However, I've seen how alcoholism can change a man and how difficult it is to break the addiction so I believe that any help scientist and researchers can give to addicts is a good thing. I still think that the addict needs to commit themselves to quitting before recovery can be made, but this new therapy can be of great assistance to them and our society.

[image via ehow.com]