Medical News

Naltrexone is used as a regular oral treatment for heroin and alcohol addiction. However, most patients do not adhere to the schedule of the treatment; therefore the effectiveness of naltrexone is decreased by a huge percent; which has led to the development of long lasting naltrexone implants. This way the treatment won’t fail because of the patient’s lack of consistency. But, these implants are currently not approved for human use even though they are being distributed by private clinics.

This new method of implanting naltrexone has not gone under rigourous research though. That is why Professor Robert Ali, Director of the Drug Alcohol Services Council in Adelaide, concurs with the fact that even though welcomed because it is inexpensive and long lasting, naltrexone can be extremely dangerous.

A study about this issue was conducted by Dr. Paul Haber, Head of Drug Health Services at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The study included 12 patients who had recently acquired naltrexone orally or by an implant. Out of the 12 patients, 8 had received the naltrexone by an implant. These 8 patients showed severe opiate withdrawal and dehydration, infection from the surgery, and a psychiatric disorder. The results further convey that this practice is not safe.

Naltrexone is used as a regular oral treatment for heroin and alcohol addiction. However, most patients do not adhere to the schedule of the treatment; therefore the effectiveness of naltrexone is decreased by a huge percent; which has led to the development of long lasting naltrexone implants. This way the treatment won’t fail because of the patient’s lack of consistency. But, these implants are currently not approved for human use even though they are being distributed by private clinics.

This new method of implanting naltrexone has not gone under rigourous research though. That is why Professor Robert Ali, Director of the Drug Alcohol Services Council in Adelaide, concurs with the fact that even though welcomed because it is inexpensive and long lasting, naltrexone can be extremely dangerous.

A study about this issue was conducted by Dr. Paul Haber, Head of Drug Health Services at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The study included 12 patients who had recently acquired naltrexone orally or by an implant. Out of the 12 patients, 8 had received the naltrexone by an implant. These 8 patients showed severe opiate withdrawal and dehydration, infection from the surgery, and a psychiatric disorder. The results further convey that this practice is not safe.