Cocaine and Crack Abuse (cont.)
What Treatment Options Exist?
Behavioral interventions -- particularly,
cognitive-behavioral therapy -- have been shown to be effective for decreasing
cocaine use and preventing relapse. Treatment must be tailored to the individual
patient's needs in order to optimize outcomes -- this often involves a combination
of treatment, social supports, and other services.
Currently, there are no medications for treating cocaine addiction, so this
remains one of NIDA's top research priorities. Researchers are looking for
medications that help alleviate the severe craving experienced by people in
treatment for cocaine addiction, as well as medications to counteract other
triggers of relapse, such as stress. Several compounds are currently being
investigated for their safety and efficacy, including a vaccine that would
sequester cocaine in the bloodstream and prevent it from reaching the brain.
Research so far suggests that addiction medications are most effective when used
as a part of a comprehensive treatment program.
How Widespread is Cocaine Abuse?
Monitoring the Future Survey*
According to
the 2007 Monitoring the Future survey -- a national survey of 8th-, 10th-, and
12th-graders -- cocaine use among students did not increase significantly, though
it remained at unacceptably high levels: 3.1 percent of 8th-graders, 5.3 percent
of 10th-graders, and 7.8 percent of 12th-graders have tried cocaine; 0.9 percent
of 8th-graders, 1.3 percent of 10th-graders, and 2.0 percent of 12th-graders
were current (past-month) cocaine users.
Use of Cocaine in Any Form by Students 2007 Monitoring the Future Survey
| |
8th-Graders |
10th-Graders |
12th-Graders |
| Lifetime** |
3.1% |
5.3% |
7.8% |
| Past Year |
2.0 |
3.4 |
5.2 |
| Past Month |
0.9 |
1.3 |
2.0 |
Crack Cocaine Use by Students 2007 Monitoring the Future Survey
| |
8th-Graders |
10th-Graders |
12th-Graders |
| Lifetime** |
2.1% |
2.3% |
3.2% |
| Past Year |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.9 |
| Past Month |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.9 |
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)***
According to the 2006
National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 35.3 million Americans aged 12 and older
reported having used cocaine, and 8.5 million reported having used crack. An
estimated 2.4 million Americans were current (past-month) users of cocaine;
702,000 were current users of crack. There were an estimated 977,000 new users
of cocaine in 2006 -- most were 18 or older when they first used cocaine. Among
young adults aged 18 to 25, the past-year use rate was 6.9 percent, showing no
significant difference from the previous year.
Next: Where can I find more information about cocaine abuse? »
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