Pharmacologic treatments for drug and alcohol dependence

Although psychosocial methods remain the most widely used approach for the treatment of patients with substance-use disorders, pharmacotherapy has com e to play an increasing role in such treatment. Individual and group counse ling and 12-step programs are basic elements of most rehabilitation program s for alcohol and drug dependence. Although medications are commonly used t o treat withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, opioids, or nicotine, their rol e in the rehabilitation of patients dependent on these substances remains l imited. Notable exceptions to this include opioid-agonist maintenance and m edications used to treat comorbid psychiatric disorders in patients with a substance-used disorder. This article focuses on medications that serve to augment psychosocial therapies in the rehabilitative treatment of patients with opioid, nicotine, alcohol, and cocaine dependence.