Now, new research findings could shed important light in addressing this epidemic. A study from NYU Langone Medical Center, in collaboration with lead site, the Center for Studies of Addiction at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and three other sites, publishing online in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that in a randomized controlled clinical trial an extended-release version of the opioid addiction medication naltrexone (Vivitrol) significantly prevented relapses in men with previous involvement with the criminal justice system.
"We believe our study is the first of its kind to look at the real-world effectiveness of extended-release naltrexone in community settings," says lead author Joshua D. Lee, MD, MSc, associate professor in the Departments of Population Health and Medicine at NYU Langone. "It may be particularly effective with populations, such as recently released prisoners, who typically don't have access to other evidence-based daily medications for opiate disorders, like methadone or buprenorphine."
Extended-release naltrexone is the most recently FDA-approved product for the treatment of opiate addiction, and the only product labeled for prevention of relapse. A daily, oral form of naltrexone has been on the market since 1994 - but opioid cravings present challenges to daily compliance. Extended-release naltrexone, approved by the FDA in 2010, requires only one monthly injection, making it an important option.