AUTHOR: Eric DATE: 5/10/2007 08:27:00 AM ----- BODY:
Researchers and scientists in the drug rehab field have been trying to focus most of their time and efforts into developing drugs to overcome addiction, but treating a chemical problem with more chemicals has never produced long-lasting, stable results in a drug rehab program. One recent push is the use of extended-release injectable naltrexone for alcoholism. However, Naltrexone is an opiate blocker and no one really knows how, or if, it will work with alcohol. This guessing game – let’s try this and see if it works - is another reason why giving addicts replacement drugs doesn’t work for long-term recovery. Other problems with Naltrexone include side effects such as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, dizziness, anxiety and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts and behavior. Also, the recommended dose of 380 mg., injected intra-muscularly, hasn’t been tested to find out what affect it will have on the liver – it could result in toxicity. Who would want to subject themselves to that? Alcohol and drug rehab programs are supposed to detoxify, not introduce more toxins. A successful alcohol or drug rehab program works by finding alternative solutions to problems in life that caused the person to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place, and thereby reducing the desire to drink. The results of Naltrexone speak for themselves - a six-month study showed only limited reduction in the number of heavy drinking days, and little effect on abstinence. That doesn’t effective to me. Really successful alcohol and drug rehab programs fix the body, get the person in better shape physically, and address the underlying issues that got them there in the first place.

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