Opioids: Heroin and Prescription Drugs

Abstract

This chapter will focus on the pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of opioid dependence, including maintenance pharmacotherapies such as methadone and buprenorphine, the use of antagonists such as naltrexone and medications used in the management of withdrawal. The interest in this aspect of addiction treatment has generated a range of pharmacotherapies broader than is found in other areas of addiction treatment. In addition to the inherent interest in this area, opioids offer a window to the future development of pharmacotherapies for other types of drug dependence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)