Sunday, April 19, 2009

Naltrexone for Addiction


Naltrexone (brand names: ReVia, Depade) is a medicine that reduces the desire for alcohol after a person stop drinking. Naltrexone may help a person stay sober for a long time. Although naltrexone may help stop drinking, this medicine is not a complete cure for alcoholism.

CNN has an article on naltrexone. "the credit goes to a prescription medication -- a pill called naltrexone. It's part of a new generation of anti-addiction drugs that may turn the world of rehab on its head.

Dr. Mark Willenbring, who oversees scientific research at the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, says alcoholism has reached a point similar to one depression reached 30 years ago -- when the development of Prozac and other antidepressants took mental health care out of the asylum and put it in homes and doctors' offices.

"There will be a 'Prozac moment,' " Willenbring says, "when primary care doctors start handling functional alcoholics."

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It is fairly odd that America spends billions on its sham 'War on Drugs' but tolerates, even encourages alcohol consumption as a way of life. The holidays together with the customary sports rituals are little more than excuses for alcohol abuse.

That proverbial elephant in the living room waves an American flag in its trunk.

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