Treatment Options
ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC, RELAPSING BRAIN DISEASE1,2
Addiction is a recurring brain disease with physical and physiological effects.1,2 Fortunately, like many other diseases, opioid and alcohol addiction can be treated, and patients can get on a path to recovery.
Understanding how alcohol and opioids affect the brain
Brain regions associated with dependence
Dependence affects both the cortex and the limbic system.2
Cortex
Counseling targets the cortex to help treat the psychological aspects of dependence. The cortex is responsible for:
- Decision-making
- Thinking
- Reasoning
- Planning

Limbic Region
Medication targets the limbic region to help treat the physical effects of dependence. The limbic region is responsible for:
- Basic drives or urges
- Rewards
- Pleasure
Treatment programs include counseling and social support to treat the psychological aspects of addiction. They may also include medication to help treat the physical effects of addiction.1,2
The Brain and Alcohol Use
Drinking alcohol can cause an increased release of endogenous endorphins, which can bind to opioid receptors and stimulate the dopamine reward system. For some people, this increased dopamine release can cause them to seek out this feeling again and again.3
Endogenous
Opioids

Reward System

The Brain and Opioid Use
Heroin and prescription pain relievers are exogenous opioids. When they bind to opioid receptors in the brain, the resulting dopamine release can be 2–10 times greater than the dopamine release associated with natural pleasures. This excess of dopamine has a powerful reinforcing effect on the brain, which is why opioids have a high potential for abuse.2

Reward System


What is MAT?
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a combination of medication and therapy used to treat substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.4 Types of MAT for opioid dependence:
Full opioid agonists
Agonists bind to mu opioid receptors and fully activate them.
Does not require opioid detox before initiation

Reward System


Partial opioid agonists
Partial agonists bind to mu opioid receptors, blocking them from other opioids, and partially activating them, producing typical opioid agonist effects, which are limited by a ceiling effect.
Does not require opioid detox before initiation

Reward System


Opioid antagonists
Opioid antagonists bind to mu opioid receptors in the brain, blocking the receptors from opioids.
Requires opioid detox before initiation

Reward System Is Blocked




HOW VIVITROL WORKS
VIVITROL is an opioid antagonist.7 Learn more about offering VIVITROL and counseling as part of your program.
Find out how VIVITROL works

VIVITROL Q&A
Have questions about VIVITROL? Check out our Q&A section for answers that may help.
See VIVITROL Q&A
VIVITROL is not right for everyone. There are significant risks from VIVITROL treatment, including but not limited to, risk of opioid overdose, injection site reaction and sudden opioid withdrawal. See Important Safety Information below.
References:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction. Updated January 2019. Acccessed April 10, 2019.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addictions. NIH Publication No. 14-5606. https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/soa_2014.pdf. Revised July 2014. Accessed April 10, 2019.
- Herz A. Endogenous opioid systems and alcohol addiction. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1997;129(2):99-111.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Opioid Treatment Programs. Treatment Improvement Program (TIP) 43. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 12-4214. 2005.
- Office of National Drug Control Policy. Healthcare Brief: Medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. http://adai.uw.edu/pubs/infobriefs/ondcpMATbrief.pdf. September 2012. Accessed April 10, 2019.
- Kosten TR, George TP. The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment. Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13-20.
- VIVITROL [prescribing information]. Waltham, MA: Alkermes, Inc.; rev July 2020.