Future advances in addiction treatment

Until recently, there has been little effort toward developing medications to treat marijuana abuse/dependence. Potential medications now being considered include the agonist dronabinol, rimonabant, an antagonist and inverse agonist, and Sativex, an aerosol combining THC and cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabis ingredient. Behavioral interventions will continue to be necessary, not just to increase the likelihood that patients will take effective medications but also to assist them in improving their interpersonal, educational, and vocational skills so as to develop positive rather than just negative reasons for wanting to stop drug use.