Furthermore, in 2018, NIDA-supported research led to the FDA approval of lofexidine, the first non-opioid treatment for opioid withdrawal. These advancements have expanded the options available for clinicians and individuals seeking recovery from opioid addiction. Furthermore, NIDA advocates for expanding access to addiction treatment in all settings, including correctional facilities, as everyone deserves access to effective treatment 1. By implementing evidence-based practices and providing medications for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, individuals in jails and other institutional settings can receive the necessary support to overcome addiction and maintain long-term recovery 1.
How to Build Emotional Resilience in IOP and PHP Programs
Peer support models have been shown to be effective in reducing relapse rates and improving overall well-being. Peer recovery support models include various approaches such as peer mentoring, support groups, and recovery coaching. These models create a safe and non-judgmental space recovery national institute on drug abuse nida for individuals in recovery to connect with others who have faced similar challenges.
Open Funding Opportunities
Other health conditions that commonly occur with substance use disorders are HIV, hepatitis C, and chronic pain. Researchers are actively working to develop compounds to treat addiction to stimulants, cannabis, and other drugs for which FDA-approved medications do not yet exist. They are also studying medications that could treat side effects of addiction, like sleep problems.
- Moreover, involving the family in the recovery process can help rebuild trust and strengthen relationships that may have been strained due to substance abuse.
- Assessment is mandatory for infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis and others during recovery, and counseling should be available to address them.
- Recent advances include the ReSET-O smartphone app, designed to support individuals in recovery through digital interventions.
- Researchers analyze the health care costs of substance use benefits and find substance use treatment is cost-effective.
This includes detecting and responding to emerging substance use trends, understanding how drugs work in the brain and body, identifying social determinants of substance use risk and SUDs, and developing and testing new approaches to prevention, treatment, and recovery. 2015 — The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 changed the rules again for federal funding related to syringe exchange programs. NIDA awards grants to the first five regional sites under its new Clinical Trials Network (CTN). NIDA offers various grants and funding programs dedicated to research on SUD treatments, including incentive-based approaches. Funding is available for pilot studies, randomized controlled trials, technology development, and implementation research.
Detoxification alone without subsequent treatment generally leads to resumption of drug use. The chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process, but newer treatments are designed to help with relapse prevention. Like treatment for other chronic diseases such as heart disease or asthma, addiction treatment is not a cure, but a way of managing the condition. Treatment enables people to counteract addiction’s disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives.
Treatment
NIDA supports the development of these interventions through various stages of research, from initial testing in controlled settings to real-world application. An essential aspect of effective treatment is ensuring accessibility and timeliness, helping individuals when they are ready to seek help. Continual assessment and adjustment of treatment plans are necessary, addressing multiple needs such as medical, psychological, and social aspects. NIDA emphasizes the development of incentive-based treatments for SUDs as a promising approach. These treatments use rewards and reinforcement to motivate individuals to reduce drug use and maintain recovery.
This information guides policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers in designing targeted interventions and allocating resources efficiently. It ensures that responses to the drug crisis are timely and based on current, reliable data. These interventions aim to motivate individuals toward recovery, often through behavioral methods, pharmacotherapy, or digital solutions. By continuously supporting research that advances pharmacotherapy options, NIDA aims to broaden the arsenal of effective treatments available for individuals struggling with addiction, emphasizing a personalized and comprehensive approach. In addition, NIDA’s studies explore genetic, environmental, and societal factors that influence drug use. These insights have led to the development of personalized interventions tailored to individual needs, improving treatment efficacy.
- By providing 24/7 support and real-time guidance, the app aims to increase engagement in recovery and improve treatment outcomes.
- As a leading federal agency, NIDA supports and conducts research to deepen our understanding of the biological, behavioral, and social mechanisms that contribute to addiction.
- This expansion of telehealth services has proven to be particularly beneficial during times of social distancing and limited in-person healthcare visits.
- Feedback to patients who test positive for illicit drug use is an important element of monitoring.
- The agency supports research across all phases, mainly stages I–III, following the NIH Stage Model.
Reduced drug use is a meaningful treatment outcome for people with stimulant use disorders
The overarching aim is to match treatments to individual needs, considering age, gender, ethnicity, and culture, and to ensure treatment availability when individuals are ready to seek help. In recent years, NIDA has acknowledged these issues and launched the Racial Equity Initiative (REI) to address disparities and promote more equitable research funding and treatment programs. However, critics argue that the REI lacks a detailed, sustainable action plan to reform existing policies substantively. For example, the development of biosensors for measuring opioid receptor activation and smartphone apps like ReSET-O aim to monitor and support recovery efforts remotely.
How Ambulatory Detox Supports a Comfortable Withdrawal Process
NIDA also funds research into innovative treatment tools, including digital therapeutics and incentive-based interventions. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a federal agency affiliated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and its mission is to use scientific research about drug and alcohol abuse to aid in prevention, treatment, and public policy. Additionally, medications are used to help people detoxify from drugs, although detoxification is not the same as treatment and is not sufficient to help a person recover.
NIDA’s investigations into the neurological aspects of addiction have revealed how certain brain processes heighten the rewarding effects of drugs like cocaine. For instance, research has identified pathways involving neurotransmitters that amplify drug-induced pleasure, which contributes to the compulsive nature of addiction. Many therapies are needed for success, including individual, group, and cognitive therapies that treat the whole person.
How to Develop a Relapse Prevention Toolkit with CBT
NIDA is a biomedical research organization and does not provide personalized medical advice, treatment, counseling, or legal consultation. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation. Explore the different types of medications prescribed for opioid overdose, withdrawal, and addiction. By considering the unique needs of each individual, tailored treatment programs increase the likelihood of successful outcomes and long-term recovery.
One defining feature of recovery support services is the central role of peers who have lived or living experience of SUD. It can involve individual support by recovery coaches, living or working in settings with others in recovery such as recovery housing or recovery community centers, or mutual-aid groups like traditional 12-step programs and newer models like SMART Recovery. Among the many questions being addressed by NIDA grantees, therefore, are ways to support peers and their professional advancement to foster a more sustainable recovery workforce. NIDA is also working with startups to develop apps and other digital tools that can be used to facilitate connecting to peers, including mobile apps and digital peer-support platforms accessible in treatment settings for patients who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Through these research initiatives, NIDA aims to advance the understanding of addiction science and develop evidence-based interventions to improve the lives of individuals affected by substance use disorders.
A person who has a severe substance use disorder, also known as addiction, finds it very hard or even impossible to control their drug use. It affects physical and mental health, strains relationships, and hampers productivity and overall well-being. Substance use disorders can lead to a range of consequences, including health problems, legal issues, and financial instability. NIH-supported clinical trial shows AI tool as effective as healthcare providers in generating referrals to addiction…
