NCJ Number
203092
Date Published
September 2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report presents a collection of articles dating from 1995 to 2001 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse focusing on their research findings in the field of heroin addiction.
Abstract
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports a significantly large portion of the world’s research on drug abuse and addiction. Research funded by NIDA enables scientists to apply the most advanced techniques available on the study of every aspect of drug abuse. This report presents 16 articles and their research findings in the area of heroin use that are reprinted from NIDA’s research newsletter dating from 1995 to 2001. Research findings include the following topic areas: (1) buprenorphine taken three times per week is as effective as daily doses in treating heroin addiction; (2) 33-year study finds lifelong, lethal consequences of heroin addiction; (3) burprenorphine proves effective in treating heroin addiction; (4) nicotine craving and heavy smoking may contribute to increased use of cocaine and heroin; (5) drug abuse treatment programs make gains in methadone treatment and HIV prevention; (6) recovery harder for addicts who start young; (7) high-dose methadone improves treatment outcomes; (8) heroin snorters risk transition to injection drug use and infectious disease; (9) heroin on the rise; (10) linking medical care with drug abuse treatment; (11) National Institute of Health panel calls for expanded methadone treatment for heroin addiction; (12) NIDA conference aims preemptive strike at increased heroin use among Nation’s young people; (13) applying scientific research can counter rise in heroin use; (14) rate and duration of drug activity play major roles in drug abuse, addiction, and treatment; (15) vocational screener helps methadone patients overcome job barriers; and (16) smoking and injecting heroin cause similar effects; usage patterns may be shifting.