"190 • Treatment should address other possi ble mental disorders. • Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment. • Treatment doesn’t need to be voluntary to be effective. • Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. • Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/ AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce their risk of these illnesses. How is drug addiction treated? Successful treatment has several steps: • detoxification (the proces s by which the body rids itself of a drug) • behavioral counseling • medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction) • evaluation and treatment for co - occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety • long - term follow - up to prevent relapse A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow - up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow - up care may include community - or family - based recovery support systems. Ho w are medications used in drug addiction treatment? Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co - occurring conditions. Withdrawal: Medications help suppress withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Detoxification i s not in itself “treatment,” but only the first step in the process. Patients who do not receive any further treatment after detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of treatment facilities found that medications were used in almost 80 perce nt of detoxifications (SAMHSA, 2014). Relapse prevention: Patients can use medications to help re - establish normal brain function and decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of opioid (heroin, prescription pain relievers), tobacco (nicot ine), and alcohol addiction. Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the substances the y use. • Opioids: Methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®), buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®, Probuphine®), and naltrexone (Vivitrol®) are used to treat opioid addiction. Acting on the same targets in the brain as heroin and morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress withdrawal symptoms and relieve cravings. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids at their receptor sites in the brain"