Building on a series of conferences that brought together European researchers and clinicians in the past years, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of research regarding treatment approaches to cocaine dependency and their effectiveness.
The review summarises a variety of topics related to cocaine treatment: current issues in the treatment of cocaine dependence; pharmacological and psychosocial treatment; harm reduction; patient treatment and aftercare. It also explores a number of innovative European and global responses to cocaine treatment
The main findings of the review are as follows:
The treatment of cocaine dependence frequently still includes the use of antidepressants, especially SSRIs, despite the low evidence level for their efficacy. More promising results are expected from topiramate and other antiepileptic drugs, and much hope is being placed in the development of the cocaine vaccine.
Because of the lack of effective pharmacological treatment, European clinicians working with cocaine-dependent clients rely mostly on psychosocial interventions to reduce cocaine-related problems.
The report calls for further research on problematic cocaine use in relation to the European treatment context. More specifically, the review identifies some gaps in knowledge treatment and harm reduction responses related to polydrug use and differences in crack cocaine use.
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