ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS EXPERIENCE AND ATTITUDES ON PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR ALCOHOLISM

Clinical studies have demonstrated that pharmacotherapies may improve alcoholism treatment, when combined with traditional psychosocial ther apies. Recently, the opioid antagonist, naltrexone, has been approved as an adjunct in alcoholism treatment, and several other pharmacothera pies for alcoholism are under development. Because of the abstinence o rientation of many patients, we assessed attitudes regarding medicatio ns, and explored whether alcoholic patients would consider taking medi cation as part of their alcoholism treatment. Active patients (n = 127 ) in three alcohol treatment settings were surveyed with an anonymous questionnaire which asked demographics, personal alcoholism history an d questions about medication use. They were asked whether they felt di sulfiram and naltrexone were helpful for alcoholics and whether they w ould take the medications. The findings indicate that the patients wer e divided about the use of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of alcoho lism. The strongest predictor of willingness to take medication was a belief that the medication would be helpful.