A Cocaine Vaccine?

Can a vaccine help fight cocaine addiction? One is currently under development.

Is an FDA-approved medication for cocaine addiction on the way? The National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) and researchers at Baylor College of Medicine Houston believe so. NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow and Thomas Kosten, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston recently unveiled the first successful placebo-controlled intervention that shows positive results in blocking the euphoric effects of cocaine addiction.

The study was undertaken because cocaine abuse continues to be a serious public health problem, according to Dr. Volkow, who added that, “one out of three emergency room drug-related visits is related to cocaine. It is estimate that there are 1.4 million cocaine users in the United States.”

How the Cocaine Vaccine Works

The vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies. In this case, the vaccine is targeting cocaine molecules while they’re still in the bloodstream. This action prevents the cocaine from entering the brain and exerting the usual psychoactive effect. This process may also be transferrable to other drugs as well.

The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, and it’s the first successful placebo-controlled demonstration of a vaccine targeting an illicit drug of abuse.  Of course, the vaccine doesn’t stop the use of cocaine and it could lead users to ingest more of the dangerous drug in an attempt to achieve the euphoric high they’re craving. Booster shots will also be required from time to time for the vaccine to remain effective.

“We’re very enthusiastic about this and we think there is great promise for all the other drugs we can vaccinate against, with the exception of alcohol because the molecule itself is too small to make an antibody,” Dr. Kosten said.

Drug Addiction Help

If you or a family member is struggling with a drug addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.