Pubdate: Mon, 05 Mar 2001
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  +61 8 94823830
Website: http://www.thewest.com.au
Author: S. Baker
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

RISKS WERE KNOWN

PEOPLE choose naltrexone because they want to be free of their opiate 
addiction. Methadone doesn't offer addicts freedom from addiction.

I worked as a volunteer at George O'Neil's clinic. I have known since 1997 
of the risks patients faced when coming off naltrexone. We warned patients 
that they risked overdose complications or death should they cease taking 
their tablets. One of the warnings we issued to patients was written by my 
partner. Sadly, he died three years ago from a heroin overdose. The heroin 
wouldn't have killed him had he kept taking his naltrexone.

Your front-page story is old hat.

S. BAKER,
South Fremantle.
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