A waste of money

Naltrexone, used for detoxification from drugs (opiates only)... is mostly a waste of money for drug abusers, addicts, and the families who have to pay great sums of money for this treatment (The Jakarta Post, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2000).

Relapse is just as common with naltrexone as with any other detoxificant used in Indonesia today. Only doctors and psychiatrists who know very little about drug abuse, addicts and addiction, and the process to attain a true and lasting recovery from drugs, are using naltrexone.

Also Naltrexone should never be used if a patient has any form of active Hepatitis. Most (more than 80 percent) drug abusers and addicts in the Jabotabek area who use and share needles (IDU - Injecting Drug Users) are now testing positive for Hepatitis C.

At Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita in Bogor, we have just fully detoxed over 200 addicts without any heavy medication. None of our patients have any negative physical, mental or emotional after effects after undergoing a "natural detoxification process". For example, in the first stage of detoxification, the withdrawal symptoms (sakaw) from heroin (putaw) will only last for about four to seven days.

Warning - naltrexone can be far more dangerous than helpful. Don't be mislead by those recommending or selling the naltrexone treatment plan. Get information and find out about other forms of detoxification before picking a detoxificant or treatment center when someone you love needs assistance and help in the recovery process. Remember, addiction is not simply a problem that can be cured in six to 12 hours of treatment and a pill that must be taken for months afterwards.

DAVID and JOYCE DJAELANI GORDON

Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita

Bogor, West Java