dopetalk
Core Topics => Treatment, Recovery and Rehabilitation => Topic started by: Chip on March 01, 2019, 01:17:48 PM
-
source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-17/new-treatment-for-meth-addiction-trialled-in-australia/10000750
Meth addiction targeted by new-generation drug that restores 'balance' to the brain
A world-first trial of a drug that could reduce cravings for ice in addicts has begun in Australia.
an excerpt:
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is described as one of a "new generation" of medications being used to treat addiction.
Curtin University lead researcher Rebecca McKetin said NAC is a compound which alters the brain chemicals associated with addiction.
"NAC can reduce cravings for methamphetamine or other drugs including tobacco, cocaine and cannabis," she said.
"What we don't know is whether or not it can reduce levels of use in people who are actively using, and that's what our trial is aimed to identify."
'I'm not an addict': What it's like to quit and enter rehab
The ABC is given rare access inside rehab as a suburban legal secretary and a ship foreman lay bare their struggles.
Read more
The chemicals involved with addiction are known as glutamates.
"The brain systems change, they adapt to the drug and these glutamate systems become out of balance," Associate Professor McKetin said.
"N-acetyl cysteine is a drug that can restore balance to those brain systems.
"A lot of the drugs that we've tried before are replacement drugs. So we give a very similar drug in a milder dose to the person to stave off the cravings.
"We also have drugs that block the action of heroin for example — naltrexone. What we're looking at is targeting the brain changes that occur with addictive behaviour."
-
Isn't NAC used for acetominaphen overdose?