This study aimed to examine the feasibility of agonist maintenance treatment for the major psychoactive drug classes: opioids, nicotine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, psychostimulants and alcohol.

Project Supporters

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

The wide application of opioid maintenance has led many to ponder, from both clinical and public health perspectives, whether agonist substitution is a possibility for other drug classes. To date, there has been no systematic examination of the major drug classes to determine their suitability for agonist maintenance treatment.

To examine the feasibility of agonist maintenance treatment for the major psychoactive drug classes: opioids, nicotine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, psychostimulants and alcohol.

Design and Method

Eight clinical criteria for an agonist maintenancedrug were assessed for each major drug class. These related to pharmacological aspects of the drug (agonist, pharmacologicalstability, dose response, non-toxic) and neurocognitive sequelae (psychiatric, cognitive, craving, salience). Drug classes assessed were opioids, nicotine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, psychostimulants and alcohol.

Benefits

The study provides novel clinical insight into the appropriateness of each major drug of dependence for agonist maintenance.

A paper has been accepted for publication: Darke, S. & Farrell, M. (In press) Which medications are suitable for agonist drug maintenance? Addiction.