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Crack cocaine in the Dublin region - Health Research Board

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Appendix A:An evidence base for treat<strong>in</strong>g<strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> and crack <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong>Source: Long J and Keenan E (2007) The evidence base for treatment of problem<strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use. Drugnet Ireland, Spr<strong>in</strong>g Issue 21: 16The follow<strong>in</strong>g is an extract taken from an annotated bibliography of studies evaluat<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> effectiveness of a variety of treatment <strong>in</strong>terventions for problem <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use.OrganisationThe four-tier model of service delivery, which offers clients <strong>the</strong> least <strong>in</strong>tensive<strong>in</strong>tervention appropriate to <strong>the</strong>ir need has been adopted as <strong>the</strong> framework for <strong>the</strong>future delivery of alcohol and drug services <strong>in</strong> Ireland; this approach should beconsidered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> development of any crack treatment strategy.Evidence base for crack treatmentThis section presents details a summary of <strong>the</strong> evidence-base for <strong>the</strong> treatment of<strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> ei<strong>the</strong>r powder or crack. Many of <strong>the</strong> studies reviewed <strong>in</strong>clude polydrug users.Where possible, <strong>the</strong> evidence is based on systematic reviews (Greenhalgh 1997). Asystematic review is an overview of primary studies that used explicit and reproduciblemethods. The treatment options exam<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong>clude psychosocial approaches,complementary <strong>the</strong>rapies and medications.The ideal comb<strong>in</strong>ation of <strong>in</strong>terventions selected would seek to attract persons <strong>in</strong>totreatment, reta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> treatment, reduce or cease <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> and o<strong>the</strong>r drugs use,and prevent relapse.As with all drugs except opiates, <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>rapeutic management of people addicted tocrack or powder <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> is based on abst<strong>in</strong>ence from <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use. In <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itial periodfollow<strong>in</strong>g cessation, <strong>the</strong> person be<strong>in</strong>g treated may experience an <strong>in</strong>tense crav<strong>in</strong>g for<strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong>, and symptoms such as depression, fatigue, irritability, anorexia and sleepdisturbance. The past decade has seen a susta<strong>in</strong>ed search for an effective treatment for<strong>the</strong> management of <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> dependence.The <strong>in</strong>dicators used to measure <strong>the</strong> success of treatment for problem <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use used<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> evidence presented are: <strong>the</strong> absence of drug metabolites <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ur<strong>in</strong>e dur<strong>in</strong>gand follow<strong>in</strong>g treatment; retention <strong>in</strong> and completion of treatment <strong>in</strong>terventions; andattendance at aftercare.126 <strong>Crack</strong> <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dubl<strong>in</strong> <strong>region</strong>: an evidence base for a crack <strong>coca<strong>in</strong>e</strong> strategy

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