The use of naltrexone implants for the treatment of opioid addiction: a retrospective study

Objective: In Turkey, due to the increase of drug addiction, substance abuse is becoming one of the most important areas of psychiatry. Opioid dependence is one of the most difficult addictions. Naltrexone is an opioid receptor anta-gonist with a poor abuse potential, which inhibits the effects of opioids. The use of long-acting, slow-release nal-trexone implants has been reported to be more successful than oral naltrexone because of the discontinuation to the oral treatment. In our study, it was aimed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients who underwent subcutaneous naltrexone implantation at Alcohol and Substance Abuse Research and Application Center (AMBAUM) of Akdeniz University Medical School. The treatment compliance of the patients and the conti-nuity of the patients were investigated with a retrospective file screening. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 120 patients who underwent naltrexone implantation between November 2016 and November 2017 in AMBAUM by reviewing their sociodemographic characteristics and urine toxicology results. Results: One hundred and fifty-two naltrexone implants in 120 patients evaluated in the study; to 27 patients second implant, to four patients third implant, to one patient fourth implant treatment was applied. Mean age of onset for heroin use was 20.08±4.29, the use amount of 1.86±1.47 gr/day and the average duration of heroin use was 6.58±3.08 years. The implant of a patient from 120 patients was spontaneously protruded, a patient's implant was removed due to allergic reaction, 69 of the remaining 118 patients (58.47%) came to their controls for 12 weeks, 62 of 69 patients had negative opiate in urine toxicology for 12 weeks, 51 of 62 patients who were opiate-negative in urine toxicology for 12 weeks were found no substance in urine toxicology. Conclusion: As a result, in the treatment of opioid dependence, the use of naltrexone implant allows patients to stay in treatment for longer, low substance use and relapses. It seems that it is a good treatment option for patients in terms of joining to the society.