INTERVENTIONS/TREATMENTS

BIOLOGICAL
The main assumption is that addictions are a disease and normally involve some sort of medication. Aim for abstinence and think the idea of withdrawal symptoms are a key and important factor.

agonist therapies:
an agonist is a chemiccal that binds to the receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. They cause an effect as they often momoc the action of a normally occuring substance

antagonist therapy:
They prevent an effect. Will bind to receptors to dampen or block the biological response.

Nicotine replacement therapy - gum, inhalers, spray - work by still giving nictoine but taking away other harmful components and negative consequences of the addiction

Buproprion and varencline - mechanism action in the brain that helps to prevent relapse. Both recommended with behavioural therapies. They are anti depressants which both block the effects of nicotine and make you happy.

evaluation...
-most are slow  releasing so are less satisfying which can lead to relapse
-nicotine treatment used as treatment but nicotne is addictive component so not really tackling the addiction as nicotine is still harmful.
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