Biological therapies

Therapies:
Based on assumption that addictions are a disease and normally involve some sort of medication
They normally aim for abstinence
It normally involves individual experiencing withdrawal symptoms so an important part of treatment is to treat these:

AGONIST THERAPIES
>An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell.
>Agonists cause an effect
>An agonist often mimes the action of a normally occuring substance, e.g, methadone
Antagonist treatment:
-prevents an effect
-bind to receptors to dampen or block the biological response,e.g, naltrexone
Adverse agent treatments:
A drug which is used to create an adverse or unpleasant reaction when a particular substance is taken, e.g, antabuse creates nausea and vomiting if alcohol is taken.

Research
Opoids (heroin, morphine)
-methadone and buprenorphine suppress withdrawal symptoms and releive cravings
-naltrexone blocks the effects of heroin and should only be used in detoxified…