A study of the use of clonidine and naltrexone in the treatment of opioid addiction in the former USSR

Abstract

Sixty-eight opioid addicts in Moscow voluntarily entered a two phase study that employed the medications clonidine and naltrexone to withdraw addicts from narcotics and naltrexone for maintenance therapy. Of the 44 subjects entering the withdrawal phase, only 3 completed the procedure and entered naltrexone maintenance. All 27 subjects entering naltrexone maintenance left within 50 days against medical advice. Follow-up on about 75% of the subjects in both phases of the study showed they relapsed to opioid use after leaving treatment.