Naltrexone Therapy for Heroin Addiction, Alcohol Addiction, Immune Disorders and HIV

Naltrexone is rapidly becoming one of the world's most valuable resources in terms of restoring health in a large variety of diseases as well as for heroin and alcohol addiction. In 1985 a medical practitioner, Dr Bihari, discovered that a low dose of Naltrexone was helpful in treating the symptoms and progression of several auto-immune disorders including HIV. This was curious because Naltrexone was, and still is, widely known for its antagonist function against heroin and other opiates and alcohol addiction. What then is the connection between opiates and the immune system? In 1994 a paper was published announcing that opioid receptors had been found on the surface of immune cells. Dr Bihari has demonstrated that low dose of Naltrexone has significant results in maintaining adequate levels of T helper lymphocytes, important in the protection of the immune system in HIV patients.

Blocking the opioid receptors using a low dose of Naltrexone produces an increase in the level of endorphins, a natural 'feel good' chemical that the body needs to not only feel well but apparently also to maintain good health. Some diseases that are triggered or exacerbated by low levels of endorphins such as certain cancers, auto-immune disorders and HIV can be improved by low dose Naltrexone.

Oral Naltrexone for addiction to opiates or alcohol involves taking a daily dose in a pill form, and there have been problems associated with low compliance leading to recurrent relapse. An injectable form of Naltrexone became available that requires monthly administration; although this was an improvement, lack of ongoing compliance is still a problem.

The US government organization, NIDA, supports oral Naltrexone use to promote abstinence in people addicted to heroin and other opiates, although it recognizes that a slow release preparation which gives a continuous dose over long periods of time would be more appropriate and effective.

An Australian medical specialist, Dr George O'Neil, has developed such a sustained release preparation of Naltrexone and has been treating people with heroin and alcohol addiction very successfully for several years. This Naltrexone implant gives protection against addictive urges for between 3 and 6 months depending on the individual and extent of addiction. Therefore it is curious that NIDA (NIH) refused a grant application last year denying the world of a valuable opportunity to not only control opiates addiction, but also to lower the impact of HIV in the community. The project was to take place in Mauritius.

Mauritius is both a paradise and living hell depending on your own personal experience. It has an enormous problem in its prison system with growing rates of drug addiction and spread of HIV that also extends into the general community. This same problem is present in our own communities on a smaller scale that could easily become out of control if something is not done to eliminate drug addiction in the prisons. Installing a Naltrexone program in the prison system may well prevent a drug and HIV epidemic from escalating.

Complete abstinence from opiates is absolutely necessary before commencing a low dose Naltrexone treatment for cancers, auto-immune disease and other immune disorders like HIV. It is for this reason that Dr O'Neil's higher dose Naltrexone implant is so critical for people addicted to opiates in order to promote abstinence so that they may be eligible to receive the low dose treatment for their HIV infection. The incidence of heroin and alcohol addiction and HIV in our community can be lowered and controlled by funding this treatment in our prisons. Mauritius is the perfect place to begin. Find out why.

If Naltrexone works so well then why isn't Naltrexone implant therapy funded as a standard treatment for opiates and alcohol addiction? Read the background information relating to management of addiction illness.