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Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance dependence: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology

Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance dependence: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology
Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance dependence: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology

The British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for the management of substance dependence focus primarily on the pharmacological aspects of treatment. A group of international experts from a wide range of disciplines reviewed the current evidence in their field, considered the strength of the evidence and discussed the clinical implications at a consensus meeting. The guidelines focus on the pharmacological management of dependence on alcohol, benzodiazepines, 'z-drugs', γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gabapentinoids, opioids, nicotine, cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine, dissociative drugs and their analogues. They are based on the available evidence and make recommendations to aid clinical decision making, as well as highlighting the gaps in the current evidence-base.

detoxification, evidence-based guidelines, harm reduction, international, medically assisted withdrawal, pharmacotherapy, relapse prevention, substance dependence, substance use disorder, substitution therapy, tapering, treatment
0269-8811
Sinclair, Julia M.A.
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Kalk, Nicola J.
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Kaar, Stephen J
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Agabio, Roberta
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Arunogiri, Shalini
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Bisaga, Adam
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Chesney, Edward
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Daly, Chris
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Dewhurst, Jonathan
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Freeman, Tom P
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Ghosh, Abhishek
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Hemrage, Sophia
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Leggio, Lorenzo
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Lingford-Hughes, Anne
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Matheson, Catriona
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McKetin, Rebecca
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Paterson, Louise M
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Roberts, Emmert
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Robson, Deborah
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Scott, Jenny
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Welch, Sarah
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Sinclair, Julia M.A.
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Kalk, Nicola J.
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Kaar, Stephen J
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Agabio, Roberta
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Arunogiri, Shalini
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Bisaga, Adam
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Chesney, Edward
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Daly, Chris
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Dewhurst, Jonathan
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Freeman, Tom P
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Ghosh, Abhishek
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Hemrage, Sophia
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Leggio, Lorenzo
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Lingford-Hughes, Anne
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Matheson, Catriona
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McKetin, Rebecca
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Paterson, Louise M
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Roberts, Emmert
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Robson, Deborah
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Scott, Jenny
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Welch, Sarah
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Sinclair, Julia M.A., Kalk, Nicola J., Kaar, Stephen J, Agabio, Roberta, Arunogiri, Shalini, Bisaga, Adam, Chesney, Edward, Daly, Chris, Dewhurst, Jonathan, Freeman, Tom P, Ghosh, Abhishek, Hemrage, Sophia, Leggio, Lorenzo, Lingford-Hughes, Anne, Matheson, Catriona, McKetin, Rebecca, Paterson, Louise M, Roberts, Emmert, Robson, Deborah, Scott, Jenny and Welch, Sarah (2026) Evidence-based consensus guidelines for the pharmacological management of substance dependence: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. Journal of Psychopharmacology. (doi:10.1177/02698811251399593).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for the management of substance dependence focus primarily on the pharmacological aspects of treatment. A group of international experts from a wide range of disciplines reviewed the current evidence in their field, considered the strength of the evidence and discussed the clinical implications at a consensus meeting. The guidelines focus on the pharmacological management of dependence on alcohol, benzodiazepines, 'z-drugs', γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gabapentinoids, opioids, nicotine, cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine, dissociative drugs and their analogues. They are based on the available evidence and make recommendations to aid clinical decision making, as well as highlighting the gaps in the current evidence-base.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 23 February 2026
Keywords: detoxification, evidence-based guidelines, harm reduction, international, medically assisted withdrawal, pharmacotherapy, relapse prevention, substance dependence, substance use disorder, substitution therapy, tapering, treatment

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 511255
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511255
ISSN: 0269-8811
PURE UUID: c9feb5b6-9b2e-4507-adbd-c72fe61214f7
ORCID for Julia M.A. Sinclair: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-2025

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 May 2026 16:32
Last modified: 12 May 2026 01:36

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Contributors

Author: Nicola J. Kalk
Author: Stephen J Kaar
Author: Roberta Agabio
Author: Shalini Arunogiri
Author: Adam Bisaga
Author: Edward Chesney
Author: Chris Daly
Author: Jonathan Dewhurst
Author: Tom P Freeman
Author: Abhishek Ghosh
Author: Sophia Hemrage
Author: Lorenzo Leggio
Author: Anne Lingford-Hughes
Author: Catriona Matheson
Author: Rebecca McKetin
Author: Louise M Paterson
Author: Emmert Roberts
Author: Deborah Robson
Author: Jenny Scott
Author: Sarah Welch

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