What can we learn from the failure of yet another 'miracle cure' for addiction?

摘要

In this issue of Addiction, Ling and colleagues' [1] rigorous clinical trial concludes that the much-ballyhooed PROMETA?protocol is ineffective as a treatment for methamphetamine dependence. Patients receiving the protocol did no better than those on placebo, regardless of whether the outcome was self-reported methamphetamine use, urinanalysis confirmed use or self-reported craving. The story of this 'miracle cure' will, in some ways, be familiar to students of the history of addiction treatment [2], yet warrants analysis because of what it might teach us about the addiction treatment and research enterprise.