Vaccine for cocaine addiction

Scientists in California have discovered a vaccine that neutralizes the cocaine in mice, and now prepare a human version could also work with other addictive as nicotine and methamphetamine.

"Our very dramatic results show that we can protect mice from the effects (addictive) of cocaine, and we believe that these outcomes are very promising in the fight against addiction in humans," said lead researcher Ronald Crystal.


How does the vaccine?

The vaccine produces antibodies that neutralize the effects of cocaine addiction created, ie, suppresses the stimulatory effects of the drug before it reaches the brain.

In the laboratory model, the vaccine provided immunity to mice for a period of 13 weeks.

This new finding would be extremely useful for the treatment of cocaine addiction crack, which has the highest rate of relapse among patients in treatment for your addictions.

Drug addiction in the U.S.

According to the Institute of Health USA, in 2008 about five million 300 thousand Americans over age 12 had used cocaine 'crack' at least once in previous months. It is considered that the 'crack' is one of the most addictive version of cocaine, whose consumption is prohibited in the country.

The expersos know it will be a long way to go before the vaccine can be marketed, but hope that one day his discovery is very important to combat addiction in humans.