IMPLANTS FAIL TO STOP OVERDOSE

AN implant designed to help heroin addicts kick their habit could
contribute to their deaths. A National Drug and Alcohol Research
Centre study has identified five deaths of Australians with
naltrexone implants from 2000 to 2004.

Two of the victims had high levels of the opioid suppressant in their
system when they died.

Naltrexone implants were introduced in Australia 10 years ago for
heroin addicts who were forgetting to take their daily dose of the drug.

About 1000 Australians have a naltrexone implant, which is usually a
capsule inserted under the skin of their stomach.

The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia yesterday,
is the first proof that addicts can still have an overdose and die
while implanted with the drug.

Report author Amy Gibson said some addicts had overdosed on heroin
while trying to override the power of the implant, which blocks the
effect of heroin on the brain.

"There is the impression out there that the implant is a bit of a
magic cure, that it will block everything and make it impossible to
die," Ms Gibson said.

"We've shown that that's not the case."

Ms Gibson said her research also highlighted the risk of a combined
drug effect with naltrexone.

Of the five deaths, a male and a female died while undergoing
naltrexone implant treatment, another male died two weeks after
having an implant removed, and the other two males died six months
after having an implant inserted.

An autopsy on the male who was undergoing implant treatment at the
time of his death showed elevated levels of heroin and much higher
levels of naltrexone than was needed to block the drug.

Naltrexone was recorded by a coroner as playing a causal role in the
death of the woman.

She also had methamphetamine in her system.

The woman had experienced strong pain from the implant site in her
stomach two days before her death.

The other three died from drug cocktails consisting of heroin and
anti-anxiety drug diazepam.

One of the males also recorded a reading for codeine (used to relieve
pain) and another had alcohol in his system.

Ms Gibson said it was important for doctors to tell naltrexone
patients about the risk of overdose.

A spokesman for naltrexone supplier Bristol-Myers Squibb said the
company sold the drug as a tablet only and could not comment on implant use.

- - with AAP