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Target Drug

Last updated: September 26, 2017

What Does Target Drug Mean?

Target drug refers to a manufactured medicine that is used as a therapeutic agent during an intervention treatment regimen to assist alcohol and/or chemical-dependent users who are currently undergoing rehabilitation. Target drugs are designed to inhibit certain neurons in the brain responsible for excessive secretion of dopamine resulting from alcoholism and/or substance abuse behavior.

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WorkplaceTesting Explains Target Drug

Target drug refers to a pharmaceutical drug specifically designed to alleviate alcohol and/or chemical dependency by countering their biochemical effects created in the brain due to the secretion of massive amounts of a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which contributes to the euphoric feelings associated to addictive behavior.

Several target drugs have been developed and introduced to medically treat alcoholism, in particular, disulfiram, and topiramate, which also treats epileptic seizures. A target drug’s composite properties serve to neutralize some body reactions to alcohol and illegal substance(s) consumption via blockage of dopamine receptors, thereby, reducing intoxicating effects.

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Drug TestingWorkplace Testing 101Alcohol TestingHealth and SafetyLab TestWorker Health Monitoring

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