NCJ Number
186809
Journal
Substance Use and Misuse: An International Interdisciplinary Forum Volume: 35 Issue: 12-14 Dated: 2000 Pages: 2011-2030
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the findings of recent research regarding what has been effective in treating cocaine dependence.
Abstract
Substantial strides have been made in the past 15 years in the development of effective treatments for cocaine dependence. Although no effective pharmacotherapy for general populations of cocaine-dependent individuals has been found, several pharmacotherapies that are effective for conditions that often co-occur with cocaine dependence can play an important role in cocaine treatment. The limits of clinical practice often mean that patients do not receive comprehensive assessment and identification of such problems; moreover, psychiatric care is not available in many treatment programs. In contrast, great progress has been made in the development of behavioral therapies for cocaine dependence: contingency management procedures, cognitive behavioral therapies, and manualized disease model approaches have been effective with diverse populations of cocaine users. Despite efforts to make these treatments more widely available through the publication of manuals, these treatments have not yet been widely adopted in clinical practice. Research is needed on strategies to translate these procedures into forms that can be used in community-based programs and on the level and type of training necessary to enable "real-world" clinicians to become proficient in their use. Four recommendations are offered for improving the quality of cocaine-dependence treatment programs based on correctional studies. 84 references