dear friends
Addiction treatment and recovery resources for the addict and their families.
href="http://www.addictiontreatment.net">http://www.addictiontreatment.net

Unfortunately ...or fortunately...depending on who you talk to..and what the weather is going to be be today...I have been in and out of recovery for my cocaine/crack addiction for almost 20 years..

A vaccine that prevents the addict from feeling the effects...that's not the "cure"..

The ONLY WAY ...period ...end of story..that a crack/cocaine addict will not become active...is total abstinence of all mind altering substances..

All the vaccine would do is give yet another reason/excuse for the addict to use...and another overdose trying to get the effect..

Seen it too many times with heroin...

Instead of trying to find a "cure" with medicine...which is totally profit-based..why not try to fix the flow of cocaine into the country...or fix the ills of society which drive our members to first experiment with drugs in the first place...

Pain is a great motivator...and pain is a great excuse to "run away" from yourself at first...did anyone EVER SEE a "SOCIAL" crack/cocaine user....no..

Cut the crap people...it's all bull)(*%$$..the drugs come into the USA cause of money...

If people stopped using drugs...there goes our court system..there goes legal fees for the lawyers...there goes the popluation of the jalis...the cops wouldn't have anything to do and they would lose the drug money when they sell the evidence..

Drugs are a source of income for our economy...gonna stay that wat to..

If nobody got addicted..there would be a lot of jobs lost...and the BS high dollar "treatment centers" would be out of business...

Don't believe it...if you have not been "on the stret" and see what is and has happened to our society...don't come around and say you have a "cure" or "help" that is profit-based..

How many straight people ran out of drugs and then would do absolutely anything in order not to "run out" again..and chase it to insanity...and STILL want one more...

Addicts don't want pity...they really feel like crap about themselves...about what they are doing to themselves..the guilt and shame is unbearable to some..then comes the suicide attempts..

They want help...a way out..but usually they are dead broke...homeless...no family...no job...no nothing..and a treatment facility goes for over $ 1,000 per day ?????

What the heck is going on ?????

Why would a young dope dealer in New York, Washington,Chicago...work at McDonalds or Wal-Mart for $ 250.00 per week...when he can make that in 15 minutes on the street...that's the real deal America..as long as there is supply and demand...bingo..it ain't going away..

In fact some of the best crack/cocaine can be found less than 8 blocks from the White House...you don't think they know what's going on ???

How come a person on the corner in Suburbia lasts about 5 minutes..if their color of their skin don't match the neighborhood...before they will get attention from the Police...but yet that same person can go into the ghettos and make 1 grand a day selling to white people...young kids in their Daddy's cars....crack/heroin..they are designed to KILL people...after they get all of the money out the user...economics my friend..

And don't believe pot ain't in the same boat... nor alcohol.

Be real...we are all in this for the money or thrill...living on the edge...once we accept THAT...then we can go on and correct this...until then...sorry no CURE...

Very good addiction article.I just wish everything would be so simple.I'm addicted to cigarettes and nothing works for me.
Anyone ?

In response to Rockee, there can be a cure for those who actually want to get help and treatment. There may not be a cure that prevents individuals from becoming addicted, but after one becomes addicted there can be a cure. Sure they may always have the urge to get high, but it can become more bearable. Don’t blame addiction on the economy; blame it on the addict themselves. Medicines for addiction may gain some profit, but they are mainly put in place to help people like you overcome addiction. Medications and vaccines could pave the way toward relieving addicts of the pain they experience when attempting to become clean.
The vaccine being created for cocaine addiction does not stop the craving for cocaine, but it does take away the high experienced when using cocaine. This is a creative way to stop addiction. Addicts crave the high they get from using the drug, so if you take away the high then there will be no purpose in using the drug. The addict may stop craving it over time because the “reward” they get from using the drug will be taken away due to the vaccine. If they don’t get the high from the drug, then they won’t use as much and become addicted. The vaccine has shown promise where almost half the addicts in the study have been able to remain clean for over 6 months.
Despite the promise that the drug has been showing, I see some potential problems. The addict may become frustrated with the lack of the high they get from the cocaine and move to a different drug thus creating a new addiction. Due to this, further treatment on top of the drug may be needed. Many times drug addiction can be due to psychological issues as well as biological urges. The addict may need to see a psychologist on top of receiving the vaccine. They can work on methods to reduce the desire for the drug. Clearly the vaccine is meant for people who actually want to stop using, not for those who are forced into rehab. The drug will be beneficial for those who have the motivation to quit, but need the extra push that they get from psychological counseling and the vaccine. This vaccine is a great step toward overcoming the addiction illness and should not be looked at in a negative way.

I agree with Kristy—I think that this vaccine can potentially assist the abusers who have failed in the past to quit their addiction. However, I do not think that it should be the first method of treatment that a cocaine addict tries. Although studies for this vaccine for cocaine have shown promise, I do not think that the vaccine alone will cure addiction. This vaccine is a chemical, so it will enable the addict to fight the chemical urges and stimulation that occurs within their brain. But it will not help the psychological aspect of the addition. As Kristy said, the addict may turn to other drugs in order to cope. I think that this provides a perfect example of how it is necessary to have some aspect of psychological therapy. Furthermore, I have concerns with this vaccine’s effectiveness with preventing the high—is it possible that these pleasure centers in the brain that are responsible for feeling the high will become completely irresponsive? Could this, in turn, lead to depression?

I don't comment much usually but this i think is worth commenting, thanks much.