Treating Cocaine Dependency with Psychopharmacotherapy and Behavioral Therapy

Cocaine is an addictive drug that affects more than 14 million people globally, according to the United Nations. This paper is a conceptual meta-analysis of numerous studies that tested the effects of psychopharmacological therapy along with behavioral therapy in the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is hypothesized that cocaine dependent individuals treated with a combination of psychopharmacological and behavioral therapies will be less likely to use cocaine. Measurements of cocaine use throughout the experiments were generally assessed by urine screenings. Results indicate that there is more evidence that a combination of psychopharmacological and behavioral therapies will reduce cocaine use. There are no indications that any specific type of psychopharmacology is more effective than others. This literature review suggests that, while there is no specific category of medication that is most effective in the treatment of cocaine addiction, more studies should be conducted, as it is a promising option that could be utilized along with behavioral therapy