Opioids Can Help Treat Heroin Addiction

Opioid is a medication prescribed for people with chronic pain. It is a powerful pain killer that can be highly addictive. There are approximately 5 million Americans who develop dependence to this drug that leads to at least 17,000 annual deaths. However, a recent study in Canada claims that an opioid pain killer (Hydromorphone) may be the solution to heroin addiction.

The researchers have found that hydromorphone can effectively treat chronic heroin addiction. According to Health Minister Terry Lake, the study confirms that there are other treatment methods that can be done to treat people of their addiction to heroin. To this day, people with heroin addiction are given methadone or suboxone, but experts noticed that a number of people are resistant to these drugs.

Upi.com reported that the study included 200 heroin addicts in Vancouver that hadn't been responding to the drugs commonly given to them. The study is the first to assess the level of effectiveness of hydromorphone in treating heroin addiction.

The participants were picked at random to be injected with either hydromorphone or diacetylmorphine (pharmaceutical-grade prescription heroin). The shots were given in a clinic under the supervision of a health care professional. Lead investigator Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes, from the University of British Columbia said, "Providing injectable opioids in specialized clinics under supervision ensures safety of both the patients and the community, and the provision of comprehensive care."

The researchers found that participants who took both the medications were reportedly reduced their use of street heroin and other opioid use to three to five days every month. They have also noticed that the days of illegal activities have significantly reduces. About 80 percent of the patients were retained in treatment for 6 months, healthaim.com reported.

"As diacetylmorphine is not presently available in many countries for political and/or regulatory reasons, hydromorphone has a significant advantage as a legal, licensed pain medication," said Dr Patricia Daly, of the Vancouver Coastal Health, in a press statement.