Author Question: What factors account for the majority of deaths associated with heroin use? What will be an ideal ... (Read 81 times)

vicotolentino · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

What factors account for the majority of deaths associated with heroin use?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Both methadone (Dolophine) and naltrexone (ReVia), drugs with very difference pharmacological properties, have been used in the treatment of heroin addiction. What is/are the rationales for the use of methadone and naltrexone in this problem?

What will be an ideal response?

mcarey591 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Most heroin-associated deaths are due to the life-style of the addict, e.g., poor nutrition, sharing of needles, drug deals that turn violent. As a result AIDS and other infectious agents are most common causes of death. Also, interactions between heroin and other drugs, e.g., alcohol, cocaine, can also cause death. Sometimes, adulterants mixed with heroin are implicated in heroin deaths.

Answer to Question 2

Methadone and naltrexone are both orally effective and long-lasting drugs that reduce (methadone) or eliminate (naltrexone) the reinforcing effects that might accompany heroin administration. Methadone does this because it is an opiate agonist and produces cross-tolerance to heroin, whereas naltrexone is an opiate antagonist and blocks heroin's access to brain receptors. Methadone also decreases heroin craving considerably. It can be given to the physically dependent addict and used to either gradually wean the addict off opiates with gradual decrease in dose. Naltrexone would only be used with addicts that are no longer physically dependent, but because it doesn't reduce the craving for opiates, the person would have to be highly motivated to maintain abstinence.