Helpful or Harmful? The Therapeutic Potential of Medications with Varying Degrees of Abuse Liability in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
Bradford Martins, Will Rutland, Joao P De Aquino, Benjamin L Kazer, Melissa Funaro, Marc N Potenza, Gustavo A Angarita
Current Addiction Reports August 15, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00432-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Gabapentinoids Baclofen Modafinil Ketamine Cannabinoids Gamma-hydroxybutyrate Psychedelics Stimulant medications |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Cocaine Alcohol Substance-related disorders Craving Opioids Cannabinoids Abuse liability Addictive behaviors |
| Key findings | The authors report that gabapentinoids, cannabinoids, stimulants, ketamine, and psychedelics show potential benefits across alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid use disorders, including reduced withdrawal, craving, and use. They argue that agents with abuse liability should not be dismissed prematurely as treatments, but contend further clinical research is needed before implementation in practice. |
Abstract
Purpose of review: This review summarizes recent clinical trial research on pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders, with a specific focus on agents with potential abuse liability. Recent findings: Pharmacological treatments for substance use disorders may include gabapentinoids, baclofen, modafinil, ketamine, cannabinoids, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, and psychedelics. Gabapentinoids may decrease negative subjective effects of withdrawal in alcohol and cannabis use disorders. Cannabinoids similarly appear to decrease use and withdrawal symptoms in cannabis use disorder, while research shows stimulant medications may reduce cravings and increase abstinence in cocaine use disorder. Ketamine and psychedelics may help treat multiple substance use disorders. Ketamine may reduce withdrawal symptoms, promote abstinence, and diminish cravings in alcohol and cocaine use disorders and psychedelics may promote remission, decrease use, and reduce cravings in alcohol and opioid use disorders. Summary: Regardless of current regulatory approval statuses and potentials for abuse, multiple agents should not be dismissed prematurely as possible treatments for substance use disorders. However, further clinical research is needed before effective implementation can begin in practice. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40429-022-00432-9.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |