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. - --- MAP posted-by: GD