[Use of naltrexone in the treatment of young drug addicts].
BACKGROUND
The study explores the use of naltrexone as an adjuvant therapy for psychosocial treatment in a unit for young heroin addicts with frequent relapses.


METHODS
Naltrexone was introduced through discussions in the therapeutic community. 16 patients elected to participate in a six-month trial. Side effects were recorded daily, then weekly, and patient reactions by weekly self-ratings. At end point patient and counsellor independently scored estimated utility. The group was followed up at four years.


CONCLUSIONS
Staff and patients developed an increasing degree of consensus during the project. Naltrexone is a useful adjuvant therapy. Several short-term goals were reached; side effects were minimal. Four out of 16 patients completed the full six-month treatment. 11 patients judged the use of naltrexone as somewhat or very positive. Therapists judged naltrexone to be beneficiary for 10. At four years follow up, six patients were rehabilitated without illegal substance use and two were substantially improved. Four of these were, however, on methadone maintenance. Naltrexone is useful as an adjuvant therapy to increase therapeutic potency in comprehensive therapeutic units for heroin addicts. The long-term effects are limited. Therapeutic units for heroin addicts should integrate both agonists and antagonists in their psychosocial programs.
Waal
Helge
H
Instituttgruppe for psykiatri, Seksjon for kliniske rusmiddelproblemer, Universitetet i Oslo, MARIO, Kirkeveien 166, 0407 Oslo. helge.waal@psykiatri.uio.no
Aamodt
Øyvin
Ø
Olsen
Harald
H
D000328:Adult; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone