State Backs Detox Drug
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday June 14, 2000
NSW yesterday became the first Australian State to approve the use of controversial detoxification drug Naltrexone in public hospitals to treat heroin addiction.
The drug, which will be available across NSW towards the end of the year, is expected to reduce the withdrawal time for addicts weaning themselves off heroin by two days.
Announcing the move at a drug summit at State Parliament yesterday, Special Minister of State John Della Bosca said Naltrexone's introduction into the public system was to provide an alternative solution and would be administered closely.
`We are very careful and tread our path fairly carefully,' he said.
The use of Naltrexone in detoxification has a chequered history, with some patients dying after the drug was used in the `rapid detox' process in conjunction with anaesthesia or heavy sedation.
The State Government aims to avoid the problems associated with its use by introducing it only a few days into the patient's detox process.
`What we are introducing into the public health system is induction onto Naltrexone within detoxification, which occurs after a couple of days and therefore doesn't have the problems of an anaesthetic or very heavy sedation and the risks associated with those,' director of Clinical Health Services with NSW Health Tony Gill said.
Naltrexone blocks the opiate sites within the brain, suppressing heroin cravings and preventing any heroin high if the patient shoots up.
Addicts who begin detoxification would be given the drug in the second day of withdrawal, shortening the process by two days.
NSW Health will develop protocols for the drug's use, including which patients would be suitable for treatment, before training medical practitioners throughout the State.
Dr Gill said continuing Naltrexone treatment after detoxification would be left to GPs.
`The intention is to get people through withdrawals in a shorter period of time and hopefully more successfully,' he said.
The Government will spend $50,000 on training practitioners with extra costs to be absorbed by the clinics.
Another hot topic at the Salvation Army-convened summit was the Government's heroin shooting gallery trial.
NSW Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski criticised the media for popularising the 18-month trial in Sydney's Kings Cross.
`We need to have the courage to stand up and say that just because something is popular in the media doesn't mean it's right,' Mrs Chikarovski said.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald