BACKGROUND: Several pharmacological approaches are effective in the treatment

As the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, glutamate plays an undisputable integral role in opiate addiction. This relates, in part, to the fact that addiction is a disorder of learning and memory, and glutamate is required for most types of memory formation. As opiate addiction develops, the addict becomes conditioned to engage in addictive behaviors, and these behaviors can be tri...

AIMS To describe important non-biological factors which influence the course of opiate addiction. METHOD Studies were reviewed that present empirical results on the long-term course of opiate addiction, progress of opiate addicts during and after treatment, variables that predict remission and abstinence, comparisons of treated and untreated samples, and recovery from opiate addiction without...

This article explores the evolving evidence supporting the provision of opioid maintenance therapies to incarcerated populations.

This article explores the processes through which dependence on opiates affects parenting capacity and family processes. The findings are based on in-depth interviews with 100 parents (50 drug-using [opiate dependent] and 50 non-drug using) living in Dublin. Qualitative analyses of semi-structured interviews suggest that opiate dependence has a specific impact on parenting processes and particu...

Background

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the relative efficacy of three buprenorphine dosing schedules. Opioid-dependent adults were randomly assigned to receive buprenorphine seven, 3 or 2 days per week for 24 weeks. Daily maintenance doses were 4, 8, 10, or 12 mg of the sublingual buprenorphine solution. Participants who attended the clinic daily received a maintenance dose of buprenorphine d...