Final Research Paper during this week, you will create the final paper. Your research paper should be 1,500-2,000-words and reflect critical thinking and analysis. You must have a minimum of six references to support your research. The references should

Outline

Pharmacological treatment for substance use disorder – alcohol

I. Introduction

This is one of the best and most effective medical treatments for alcohol use disorder. Surprisingly, the medication is also very effective in blocking the effects of opioids as well as the reduction of craving for victims of alcohol use disorder. Naltrexone is often sold under the brand name ReVia or Vivitrol. This is an important medication because it treats more than one disorder; that is, alcohol use disorder and opioids dependence.

a. Describe alcohol use disorder.

b. Naltrexone treatment approach.

c. Thesis: This research paper will discuss the history of naltrexone, psychopharmacology of the drug, current trends, society concerns related to alcohol, the importance to the counseling profession, and future implications.

II. History of the drug

a. Naltrexone was first synthesized by metosian in 1963 in a small pharmaceutical company in the city of New York (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

b. It was characterized by Blumberg, Dayton, and wolf in the year 1965 and it is through this that it was found to be orally active, potent to opioid antagonist, and long acting (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

c. Naltrexone was first patented under the code EN-1639A in the year 1967 by the Endo laboratories (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

d. In 1973, clinical trials began in an effort to test the opioid dependence (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

e. In 1984, the drug was approved by the FDA for oral treatment under the brand name; Trexan (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

f. 11 years later, the drug was approved for oral treatment of alcohol dependence and the brand name changed to ReVia (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

III. Psychopharmacology of the drug

a. Effects on thinking, mood and behavior (Van den Brink, 2012).

b. Naltrexone and its active metabolite 6b- naltrexol are competitive antagonists (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

c. Mechanism of action. The blockade of the opioid receptors forms the basis for the drug action mechanism in managing opioid dependence (Van den Brink, 2012).

d. Pharmacokinetics. The drug is metabolized in the liver by the enzymes in about 4-13 hours (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

e. Pharmacogenetics. Alcoholics have a variant of the opioid receptor gene known as Asp40 (O'Brien & McKay, 2007).

IV. Current trends or issues

a. It only works once opioids are washed out of a person’s system.

b. Depersonalization.

c. Low dose.

d. Self-injury.

e. Behavioral disorders.

f. Interferon alpha.

V. Societal concerns or issues related to the topic

a. Generic names. According to Lee et al. (2015), they include; INN, USAN, BANM, USP, DCIT, DCF, and BAN.

b. Brand names. According to Lee et al. (2015), they include; Adepend, Antaxone, Celupan, Depade, Nalorex, Narcoral, Nemexin, Revia, Trexan, and Vivitrol.

VI. Significance or relevance of topic to the counseling profession

a. This is a very relevant research topic as far as the counseling profession is concerned.

b. It aids the counselor in understanding the importance as well as effects of long- term use of the medication.

c. Equip the counselors with relevant information concerning available medications for alcohol use disorders.

VII. Any future implications

a. With the current depth of research, another medication may soon be innovated rendering naltrexone ineffective.

b. More research needs to be done of how to reduce the side effects associated with the medication.

VIII. Conclusion

a. Describe alcohol use disorder.

b. Brief history of the drug.

c. Impact of the treatment approach.

d. Current trends.

e. Impact on society.

f. Relevance of the topic to the counseling profession.

g. Any future implications.

References

Douaihy, A. B., Kelly, T. M., & Sullivan, C. (2013). Medications for substance use disorders. Social work in public health, 28(3-4), 264-278.

Lee, J., Kresina, T. F., Campopiano, M., Lubran, R., & Clark, H. W. (2015). Use of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of alcohol use disorders and opioid dependence in primary care. BioMed research international, 2015.

Nora, D., & Volkow, M. D. (2004). Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. PNAS, 101, 8174-8179.

O'Brien, C. P., & McKay, J. (2007). Psychopharmacological treatments of substance use disorders. A guide to treatments that work, 145-177.

Sharma, D., & Kar, S. K. (2015). Recent advances in pharmacological management of substance use disorders. International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases, 5(4), 118.

Van den Brink, W. (2012). Evidence-based pharmacological treatment of substance use disorders and pathological gambling. Current drug abuse reviews, 5(1), 3-31.