Treating substance abuse in schizophrenics

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia show higher rates of substance abuse than the general population. Because substance abuse, including smoking, may greatly complicate treatment of and recovery from schizophrenia, clinicians are looking for pharmacological tools that are effective with this population. This discussion in Psychiatric Times suggests that newer "atypical" anti-psychotic medications are more effective in combating substance abuse in schizophrenics than older, conventional anti-psychotics. Read details here.