Project details:
In March 2024, Bristol ESG were asked to undertake a systematic review of the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of cocaine use disorder. The review is funded by the NIHR Evidence Synthesis Programme (project number: NIHR165378) and is one of four projects allocated to Bristol ESG examining the effects and safety of psychosocial or pharmacological interventions for the treatment of drug use disorders.
Project status: ongoing
What is the problem?
Increasing numbers of people, especially people under 30, are using cocaine regularly and a portion of those people will develop a cocaine addiction. Unfortunately, repeated cocaine use over time can lead to issues with heart and brain health, as well as contribute to the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Pharmacological treatments (drug therapy) can be an effective tool in helping people combat addiction. However, despite increasing research in this area, no specific drugs have been approved for the treatment of cocaine addiction.
What are we trying to find out?
We will gather the available evidence on drug therapies which have been tested as a treatment for cocaine addiction. We will then compare the effectiveness and safety of those drugs to see if any are able to treat cocaine use disorder effectively and safely and identify which might be the best.