MPS IGNORED NALTREXONE WARNINGS, SAYS DRUG EXPERT

The former Liberal government was warned of the dangers associated with
treating heroin addicts with naltrexone.

Sydney doctor and author Andrew Byrne said he raised concerns over the
number of deaths among addicts prescribed naltrexone with Health Minister
Kevin Prince in 1997, Family and Children's Services Minister Rhonda Parker
in 1998 and Mr Prince's successor, John Day, two months ago.

Dr Byrne also wrote to State Coroner Alistair Hope in 1998, asking him to
investigate the deaths of patients from drug overdoses within a few months
of being treated with naltrexone. Dr Byrne said his warnings were ignored.

The West Australian reported last week that a two-year study of 3617 WA
heroin addicts had found that untreated heroin addicts were less likely to
die than those who dropped out of Perth doctor George O'Neil's naltrexone
program.

Dr Byrne said naltrexone was effective in the treatment of alcoholism but
unlike methadone it had never been shown to be particularly effective in
treating drug addiction.

Naltrexone was at best one of a number of alternatives for those addicts
who could not take other treatments, he said.

Many of Dr O'Neil's patients had never had traditional treatments such as
in-patient detoxification and methadone, he said.