According to an article posted on MSNBC.com cocaine addicts may soon have an easier way to kick their habit. At the moment, two Baylor College of Medicine researchers are working on creating the very first vaccine whose main responsibility will be to help users stop craving the use of the drug. Dr. Tom Kosten, a psychiatry professor who is assisting with the study says:
“For people who have a desire to stop using, the vaccine should be very useful. At some point, most users will give in to temptation and relapse, but those for whom the vaccine is effective won’t get high and will lose interest.”
The study, which is still in the midst of clinical trials brings hope to addicts who truly have a desire to stop their habit. Right now, the main treatment for cocaine addiction includes rehab and a Twelve step relapse prevention program, so this drug comes at the right time. After all, any advancement is worth it in order to find a solution. With most medications, there is of course a chance that the vaccine will not work for everyone, but researchers are hopeful for it’s progress. The vaccine’s main job will be to motivate the immune system to attack products of the real drug when it’s taken. The body’s immune system is not built to recognize drug particles as they are too small, and the main ingredient in this vaccine will help the body to recognize the cocaine and will then trigger the brain to release antibodies to attack it. Currently, the vaccine is awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin institutional trials, but if this goes through, it will be a remarkable breakthrough for the world of cocaine addiction. For more information about drug and alcohol treatment, please visit The Right Step today!
