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Baylor College of Medicine has conducted a study that may prove to be very beneficial to people battling drug addictions. They have developed vaccines which reportedly combat methamphetamine and cocaine addiction. The potential use for these medications in rehab facilities could be a breakthrough discovery. While they are referred to as vaccines, one researcher pointed out that they are not preventative—their use is for individuals who already have a drug abuse problem.

They way they work is by attacking the cocaine or methamphetamine while it is in the blood, before it gets to an addict’s brain. This way, there is no reward or high for the drug use. Use of these vaccines is also said to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal from the drugs. They decrease the amount of the drug that reaches the brain gradually over time.

According to the study, these vaccines have been proven to help people overcome drug addictions. A series of injections of the cocaine vaccine were given to participants over a period of three months. They started responding to the medication in approximately one month. This has wonderful implications for helping people who suffer from cocaine and meth addictions.

However, the vaccines do nothing to prevent future relapses. An addiction treatment program is still necessary to reduce the chances of the individual returning to drug abuse in the future. If psychological counseling and behavioral modification measurements aren’t taken, the addict will likely relapse. For these reasons, rehab facilities will still be a good option for someone who uses one of these vaccines, if they become publicly available in the future. Another larger study is scheduled on the medications before they will be submitted to the FDA for approval.

The studies are funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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