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In Case You Haven't Heard…
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
alcoholism and drug abuse weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7591
pISSN - 1042-1394
DOI - 10.1002/adaw.32581
Subject(s) - stimulant , buprenorphine , (+) naloxone , contingency management , methadone , heroin , addiction , voucher , methamphetamine , medicine , safe haven , psychiatry , opioid , drug , business , economics , receptor , international economics , accounting , intervention (counseling)
We have been hearing that housing is what people really need to overcome substance use disorders. With opioids, they could say, instead, “buprenorphine” or “Vivitrol” or, more rarely, unfortunately, “methadone.” And naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses is also essential. But now stimulant use disorders may be getting new funding (in State Opioid Response [SOR] grants, see p. 1), and that has everyone asking what medications can be used for it. Well, it's just possible that what people really need is housing, especially if there just aren't any medications. But there is one evidence‐based treatment for stimulant use disorders: contingency management. If the bias against “paying drug users not to use drugs” can be overcome, vouchers and gift cards and cash may be the fastest path to recovery for people with methamphetamine or cocaine use disorders. As for giving them housing — would it come with a contingency?