Kalivas' research also reinforces the notion that addicts will grapple with intense cravinp for the rest of their lives. But recovery may be eased with the emergence of new drugs. Among the goals of this research is to develop medications to address the brain changes and perhaps even reverse them. That's promising news to doctors in the trenches treating addicted patients. The past five years alone have brought many new drugs that help, says Dr. E. Michael Lampkin, medical director of Roper North Treatment Center.
Drugs are available today to block the dopamine rush.
This is how schizophrenics can be treated. Trouble is, without dopamine's alert that something important is happening, patients get bored with life. Then it becomes a struggle for them to continue taking their medications because they aren't enjoying the world. Besides, drug addicts appear driven by glu- tamate telling them to take some action in response to their environmental cues to use drugs. But you want some glutamate release some cravings are good, such as the urge to eat.