Pubdate: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ NALTREXONE TRIAL KEPT 60 PER CENT OFF HEROIN Drug experts yesterday welcomed a successful trial of the anti-craving drug naltrexone, but warned it was no magic cure for heroin addiction. In unprecedented results, 60 per cent of the 160 addicts treated with naltrexone during a 12-month trial at Westmead Hospital remained clean after six months. While Westmead Hospital drug and alcohol services director Jon Currie said the results were better, he also revealed four addicts suffered fatal overdoses after dropping out of the program and returning to heroin. ``This isn't a cure, it's not a wonder drug, just another medicine which can help, it's only one part of the spectrum of treatments,'' Dr Currie said. ``About 60 per cent of people are still drug-free after six months and haven't gone off it. ``We're not advocating that everybody should rush out and get naltrexone.'' Family Drug Support spokesman Tony Trimingham, whose son Damien died of a heroin overdose, said the naltrexone results were very impressive because most rehabilitation methods had success rates of only five to 30 per cent. But Mr Trimingham said naltrexone treatment was dangerous if not carried out by experts and it should be used to complement, not replace, other drug treatments like methadone. ``It's only one item in a whole tool kit or armoury for dealing with drug problems,'' he said. ``I'd urge families not to panic and immediately demand this treatment, it may not be appropriate for their children.'' Premier Bob Carr said the results were encouraging but an independent assessment of the trial was yet to be carried out. ``This is not a magic bullet ... the message has got to continue to be heroin is deadly dangerous and don't get tied up in it in the first place,'' he said. Salvation Army spokesman Pat Daley said the trial showed using naltrexone to block the effects of heroin was more effective than treating addicts with heroin substitutes like methadone. Mr Daley said the four deaths emphasised the need to provide comprehensive support and counselling services for patients undergoing naltrexone detoxification. The trial showed country heroin users had a much higher dropout rate than city users because of the lack of support facilities. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea