About the group
Drug therapies have a clear, but so far undeveloped place in the treatment of drug addicts. Currently there are only a few drugs (eg. methadone, disulfiram) which can be said to provide significant improvement for specific patient groups.
Naltrexone blocks the opiate receptors so that heroin and other opiates cannot reach them.
Long-acting formulations of this (implant; depot) are suitable for preventing relapse in heroin addicts. In addition, the blockade appears to moderate the general craving for drugs, which may constitute a useful contribution to treatment overall, even for people who are dependent on substances other than opiates.