There is news of a promising new treatment using naltrexone implants for
heroin dependency. Researchers from Norway believe this development will have major implications for people struggling with an addiction to heroin.
The new treatment is geared toward people who want to beat their heroin addiction without using other addictive substances. The Norwegian researchers used naltrexone, which works by completely blocking the effect of heroin in the body. This in turn reduces the chances of overdose, physical dependency and other drug cravings.
"This blockage effect induces a feeling of calm and allows the patients to escape from their heroin addiction and stressful, drug-dependent lives. They are able to concentrate on getting a new start," said Nikolaj Kunoe, who led the research at the Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research at the University of Oslo.
Fifty six people addicted to heroin participated in the research study. Half of these participants were implanted with 20 subcutaneous pellets containing naltrexone. The pellets were gradually released form a saline solution with the goal of getting a blockage effect of six months. Everyone participating in the study continued their alternative treatments at the same time. After a six month period, 11 out of 23 study participants managed to refrain from using heroin. Heroin use among those patients receiving naltrexone who did not stop using heroin was more than halved compared with their level of heroin use before they began
treatment.
"Although this is a relatively small-scale study, the findings are so clear cut, that we think this should become an important treatment option for substance abusers," said Kunoe.
