Successful use of naltrexone in addicted physicians and business executives.
Naltrexone was administered to 114 opiate-dependent business executives and 15 opiate-dependent physicians as part of a comprehensive outpatient aftercare program following inpatient detoxification using clonidine. Over 80% of patients successfully completed at least 6 months of treatment without relapse or re-addiction and were still drug-free at 12-18 month follow-up. Patients who completed at least 6 months of treatment were more likely to be opiate free at follow-up than patients who had dropped out at an earlier point in the program. This study demonstrates that naltrexone can be an extremely useful and appropriate treatment for highly motivated middle/upper class addicts when administered within the context of an intensive high-expectation program.
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012923:Social Class
D009270:Naloxone