HEROIN ADDICTION TREATMENT APPROACHES

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the existing literature related to several treatment modalities for heroin addiction. The focus of this examination is the comparison of traditional treatment strategies with new alternative approaches.

The review begins with a description and discussion of traditional methods followed by a description and discussion of alternative treatment therapies; it ends with a comparison of the two basic methods which focuses on their similarities and dissimilarities as well as the ways in which the newer approaches have attempted to correct for some of the problems associated with the older treatment approaches.

So that the therapies discussed can be placed in context, a brief description of heroin addiction and its diagnosis as well as withdrawal problems is offered below.

Diagnosis of Heroin Addiction and Withdrawal Problems

Finnegan (1991) has noted that the following physical signs are indicative of an individual who is addicted to heroin: pupillary constriction; dermatologic signs of IV injection (track marks, thrombotic veins, subcutaneous nodules and localized edema over superficial veins); bizarre behavior or labile affect; and a history of drug-associated disease (e.g. hepatitis, bacterial endocarditis or cellulitis). While all of these signs strongly point to heroin addiction, Finnegan states that the most effective

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e ex-addict support network. All weekly meetings are highly structured and include discussion, in continuous sequence, of a variety of preselected addiction-related issues, the main goal of which is to increase addicts' ability to avoid relapse. After the full program has been completed, addicts are encouraged to remain involved in RTSH by serving in the ex-addict support network. In this way, their involvement provides them with a structure that assists in preventing relapse. Also, the continuing involvement helps them to serve as role modes for new members of the program inspiring them to believe that they too can kick the habit. In their review of the research on new and innovative drug-free outpatient programs, Rawson and Ling (1991) have stated that the highest success rates are observed for the periodic heroin abuser whose dependency is more psychological than physical and who is living in a relatively stable home situation. The RTSH is not recommended for street addicts because it does demand both persistence and fairly strong motivation from those using the services. Another new form of therapy for heroin addiction is family therapy. This approach, as it applies to the client who is being maintained on methadone, h
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Approximate Word count = 4937
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page)

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