A greater understanding of the sub-cellular mechanisms involved in addictions is resulting in a
shift in the approach to treatment. This understanding led to a Nobel Prize in Medicine1 in 2000.
Formerly treatment was based almost entirely on "talk therapy." Counseling, psychotherapy and
self help/12 Step recovery formed the sole basis of treatment. These modalities remain useful.
However, medications development in the area of addiction medicine has led to a change in attitudes toward the use of medications.
The future looks bright for further advances in the prevention and treatment of the disease of addiction.
Pharmaceutical companies are coming out with new medications. We are just beginning to realize how the new
field of pharmcogenomics will guide treatments in the future. Further in the
future we may see the use of
PGD as a method of prevention.
1source: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2000/
