Naltrexone is a synthetic opioid antagonist—it blocks Opioids from binding to their receptors and thereby prevents their euphoric and other effects. It has been used for many years to reverse opioid overdose and is also approved for treating opioid addiction. Clinicians have found Naltrexone is best suited for highly motivated, recently detoxified patients who desire total abstinence because of external circumstances—for instance, professionals or parolees.
Vivitrol, a long-acting injectable version of Naltrexone, was approved to treat opioid addiction. Because it only needs to be delivered once a month, this version of the drug can facilitate compliance and offers an alternative for those who do not wish to be placed on agonist/partial agonist medications ¹.
The Clinic assists opiate and alcohol addicted individuals in recovery through Naltrexone / Vivitrol treatment. Clients are treated with the medications while being monitored by Clinic nurses and the Nurse Practitioner. The Clinic works with local drug-addiction counselors to obtain an initial mental health assessment and to provide drug-addiction counseling for each client while they are enrolled in the Vivitrol program.
1 Cornish, J.W.; Metzger, D.; Woody, G.E.; Wilson, D.; McClellan, A.T.; and Vandergrift, B. Naltrexone pharmacotherapy for opioid dependent federal probationers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 14(6):529–534, 1997.