Abstract
With naltrexone registered only recently in Australia in 1999, it is important to examine the rate of uptake of naltrexone treatment, early attrition and retention rates during treatment, in order to inform the way naltrexone is used in Australian practice. Of 317 people screened for the study, 97 participants were recruited post-withdrawal from opiates and were inducted to naltrexone after a period of at least 5 days of abstinence. While in treatment, participants received a 50-mg dose of naltrexone daily, with daily dispensing for the first 7 days, and weekly dispensing for the following 11 weeks. For the naltrexone-treated sample as a whole, the rate of uptake of naltrexone treatment was 30%, with 30% retained in treatment for the entire 12-week program. Attrition from treatment was found to be steady throughout the 12 weeks. The authors conclude that further research is required to improve withdrawal and naltrexone induction techniques and to improve medication compliance and treatment retention. [Tucker TK, Ritter AJ, Maher C, Jackson H. Naltrexone maintenance for heroin dependence: uptake, attrition and retention. Drug Alcohol Rev 2004;23:299–309]
Dr Thamizan K. Tucker, Doctor of Psychology, c/o Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Dr Alison J. Ritter, Head of Research, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Claire Maher, Research Assistant, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Professor Henry Jackson, Department of Psychology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
Dr Thamizan K. Tucker, Doctor of Psychology, c/o Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Dr Alison J. Ritter, Head of Research, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Claire Maher, Research Assistant, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Inc., 54 – 62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia, Professor Henry Jackson, Department of Psychology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.