PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR OPIOID AND COCAINE ABUSE

Opioid and cocaine abuse is a significant health problem in the United States and a major risk factor for acquiring HIV infection. Pharmacot herapy for opioid use includes detoxification with methadone and cloni dine, alone or with naltrexone. Long-term maintenance treatment with m ethadone can reduce the risk of HIV in heroin users. More recent optio ns for opioid maintenance include LAAM, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. The pharmacology of cocaine is reviewed. Currently, no effective phar macotherapy for cocaine use has been established; drug trials fox coca ine abuse are summarized.