Despite increased drug education and prevention efforts throughout the country, methamphetamine still remains a real threat. In fact, after use of the drug lessened throughout many parts of the nation, the drug has been making a comeback again.

This powerful, man made drug often gives users an incredible amount of energy along with an intense euphoric feeling. However, those who abuse methamphetamine are oftentimes extremely paranoid, malnourished, sleep deprived and prone to violence – either self-inflicted or towards others. It is very difficult for meth addicts to remain sober because of the strong cravings associated with methamphetamine addiction. However, there is hope for addicts, especially after a recent study revealed that a vaccine may be on the horizon.

The concept of developing vaccines for drugs is not new, but researchers may be closer than ever to finding one for methamphetamine. Recently, researchers led by Kim D. Janda of Scripps Research Institute, created a vaccine that prompts the immune system to fight against methamphetamine once it is ingested into the system. This prevents the person from feeling the euphoric effects of the drug, rendering the drug ineffective.

Getting vaccines to work against drugs like meth has been a difficult task. Methamphetamine is an extremely small molecule, compared with the usual pathogens that the immune system generally attacks. In order for the vaccine to work, scientists had to figure out how to attach the small methamphetamine molecules to larger molecules, like proteins, so that it would get the attention of the immune system. Once the immune system targeted the methamphetamine molecules, the drug was kept away from the brain, preventing the effects from being felt by the addict. This means that if someone has been vaccinated against methamphetamine, even if they ingest the drug, they will not feel the effects.

The study of this vaccine recently appeared in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. While a vaccine for methamphetamine is promising, it is important that the research continues so that the medical community can effectively integrate the medicine into the lives of addicts. It is also helpful that insurance is often more willing to cover a portion of treatments such as prescriptions and vaccines.