Reducing addiction: drug therapy
Drug therapy uses prescribed medication to reduce or stop addictive behaviour. Drugs either replace the addictive substance, block its pleasurable effects, or reduce cravings.
Real World
The NHS prescribes nicotine patches to help smokers quit — the patch delivers a controlled dose of nicotine through the skin, easing withdrawal symptoms like irritability and cravings without exposing the person to tar and carbon monoxide from cigarettes.
Exam Focus
Always name the specific drug (e.g. Antabuse, methadone, NRT) and explain its mechanism of action — vague answers about 'taking medication' lose marks.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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