Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies. Naltrexone is effective for some opiate addicts and some patients with co-occurring alcohol dependence. Nicotine patches or gum, or an oral medication, such as buproprion, can help persons addicted to nicotine. Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way. Medical detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
Medical detoxification manages the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal.
For some individuals it is a precursor to effective drug addiction treatment. Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. Sanctions or enticements in the family, employment setting, or criminal justice system can significantly increase treatment entry, retention, and success. Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. Monitoring a patient's drug and alcohol use during treatment, such as through urinalysis, can help the patient withstand urges to use drugs.