Naltrexone Implant for the Treatment of Polydrug Dependence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A placebo-controlled study of 100 outpatients with mixed heroin-amphetamine addiction showed that implanted naltrexone, designed to block opiate effects for 8–10 weeks, led to 52% of patients remaining in treatment and 38% having urine samples free of both drugs at 10 weeks, compared to 28% remaining and 16% drug free for the placebo implant. Use of other substances, such as alcohol, did not increase.