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.