Evaluation of a prison‐based naltrexone program
Abstract
The study evaluated the introduction of naltrexone in an Australian prison system for imprisoned male heroin users. Treatment outcomes were analysed for two sub‐samples taken from an unsuccessful randomised controlled trial. The first sample comprised 68 participants who were randomly allocated to naltrexone treatment. The second sample comprised 47 participants who commenced opioid pharmacotherapy during the study period. Thirteen per cent of subjects started naltrexone, with only 7% retained in treatment at six months. Six‐month retention was significantly lower in naltrexone compared to methadone (p = 0.0007). Poor patient acceptability and retention did not support oral naltrexone maintenance in this treatment group.
Keywords
Citation
Shearer, J., Wodak, A.D. and Dolan, K.A. (2007), "Evaluation of a prison‐based naltrexone program", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 214-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449200701520149
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited