Naltrexone isn't the only substance with potential to block the effects of opioids for an extended length of time. There are some more recently developed "vaccine" compounds designed to target specific opioids, like oxycodone and fentanyl- you can do a keyword search and find out more about them. Researchers are also working on a "cocaine vaccine."
These drugs have just reached the stage of human trials in the past couple of years, and the trials are not complete yet. But the research would fit right in with your proposed documentary.
Brilliant, thank you for this hard work and hard won information. Keep it coming, B. Looking forward to the documentary. Will spread the fundraising word.
Have you reached out to Real Time with Bill Maher?
I totally understand, let’s noodle on it. I remember when I heard you on Fresh Air a few years back how clear, chronological and impressive your research was. Not to mention as a white American to go to go to China itself in pursuit of accuracy. I KNOW you are right up Mr.Maher’s alley. I don’t know who your reps are, but ask them to reach find out who books the talent for that show STAT and make the case! You are PERFECT bc Bill loves hip hop as well!! A myriad of topics you could chime in on, so they could pitch you to be on the panel if one-on-one interview at the top of the show is not within reach.
In the interim, I’ll gladly throw some spaghetti on the wall and DM his Insta.
Great article, Ben. I had no idea of naltrexone’s history, but I have noticed that it is somehow… overshadowed. We’ve corresponded a bit. I’m a nurse, working in the treatment field, including office-based addiction treatment. I also wrote The Infinite Recovery Handbook.
Any time I would intake an opioid use disorder patient, part of the routine was to discuss both Suboxone and Vivitrol injections. As you mentioned, naltrexone is tougher on the front end because of the antagonist classification, but the upside is there is no dependence on the medication, unlike Suboxone or buprenorphine. Most patients seemed to have made up their minds before we even had a discussion, however. The vast majority choose Suboxone. Also as you reference, people newly released from incarceration would come to us already on the injection, and we would just continue their regimen.
Vivitrol is not actually even a controlled substance; until recently, it was prescribed by X-waivered providers only because it requires injection by a trained clinician like a nurse. For patients opting for oral naltrexone, we could prescribe 30-day supplies with a refill or two. This was not the case with the controlled and closely monitored Suboxone. The longest someone could go between office visits/prescriptions would be 28 days, and they would have to be very stable.
Looking forward to the film. Great work you’re doing, and if I had 10 Gs, I would toss it your way. Please reach out if I can support you in any technical capacity.
Hi Ben, Everybody lives in their own bubble, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But I have known of Naltrexone for 30+ years and I am amazed you find it a secret. I suggest respectfully that maybe you stay in too few pools of information. Perhaps you stay away from more drug positive sources or more technical ones?
Natrexone is very different than replacement therapies like suboxone/buprenorphine and methadone. Like you say it is akin to to naloxone used to reverse opiates/oids in an overdose. You can't switch directly from addiction to naltrexone. You need to get the dope out of your system first or you will experience massive shock from sudden withdrawal. (Naloxone, in contrast, is short acting and it is not as dangerous/miserable to use in addiction, but I wouldn't recommend it either, outside a life threatening emergency.
Naltrexone has side effects that don't he;p recovery. It works because it blocks endorphins, your happy chemicals. This decreases enjoyment of life in general, not what you need starting out in recovery. Some people are so addicted that it is effectively impossible to get off and therefore they are never ready to start naltrexone. Buprenorphine and methadone relieve the need for opiates directly, which helps people stay on their program. At the same time these patients receive medical and mental/social/occupational guidance and are much better able to create order in their lives even though they still use opiates. With time many of these folks do tire of the drill and do start cutting down with abstenence as their goal.
There is a ton of money to be made in recovery services. The politics can be incredible. Corruption and apathy stalk many "rehabs". But I find it difficult to imagine that natrexone needed to be sabotaged to explain its current relatively insignificant role, since there are other non-conspiratorial factors that are more salient.
Naltrexone isn't the only substance with potential to block the effects of opioids for an extended length of time. There are some more recently developed "vaccine" compounds designed to target specific opioids, like oxycodone and fentanyl- you can do a keyword search and find out more about them. Researchers are also working on a "cocaine vaccine."
These drugs have just reached the stage of human trials in the past couple of years, and the trials are not complete yet. But the research would fit right in with your proposed documentary.
Brilliant, thank you for this hard work and hard won information. Keep it coming, B. Looking forward to the documentary. Will spread the fundraising word.
Have you reached out to Real Time with Bill Maher?
Thanks Kathleen. It's hard to break through with a big show like that, but if anyone has a contact, let me know!
I totally understand, let’s noodle on it. I remember when I heard you on Fresh Air a few years back how clear, chronological and impressive your research was. Not to mention as a white American to go to go to China itself in pursuit of accuracy. I KNOW you are right up Mr.Maher’s alley. I don’t know who your reps are, but ask them to reach find out who books the talent for that show STAT and make the case! You are PERFECT bc Bill loves hip hop as well!! A myriad of topics you could chime in on, so they could pitch you to be on the panel if one-on-one interview at the top of the show is not within reach.
In the interim, I’ll gladly throw some spaghetti on the wall and DM his Insta.
Really looking forward to this documentary!
Thanks Kelly!
Great article, Ben. I had no idea of naltrexone’s history, but I have noticed that it is somehow… overshadowed. We’ve corresponded a bit. I’m a nurse, working in the treatment field, including office-based addiction treatment. I also wrote The Infinite Recovery Handbook.
Any time I would intake an opioid use disorder patient, part of the routine was to discuss both Suboxone and Vivitrol injections. As you mentioned, naltrexone is tougher on the front end because of the antagonist classification, but the upside is there is no dependence on the medication, unlike Suboxone or buprenorphine. Most patients seemed to have made up their minds before we even had a discussion, however. The vast majority choose Suboxone. Also as you reference, people newly released from incarceration would come to us already on the injection, and we would just continue their regimen.
Vivitrol is not actually even a controlled substance; until recently, it was prescribed by X-waivered providers only because it requires injection by a trained clinician like a nurse. For patients opting for oral naltrexone, we could prescribe 30-day supplies with a refill or two. This was not the case with the controlled and closely monitored Suboxone. The longest someone could go between office visits/prescriptions would be 28 days, and they would have to be very stable.
Looking forward to the film. Great work you’re doing, and if I had 10 Gs, I would toss it your way. Please reach out if I can support you in any technical capacity.
Thanks Keith for the kind words and your thoughtful comment. In Missouri, naltrexone was actually just given OTC status!
Excellent news!
Hi Ben, Everybody lives in their own bubble, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But I have known of Naltrexone for 30+ years and I am amazed you find it a secret. I suggest respectfully that maybe you stay in too few pools of information. Perhaps you stay away from more drug positive sources or more technical ones?
Natrexone is very different than replacement therapies like suboxone/buprenorphine and methadone. Like you say it is akin to to naloxone used to reverse opiates/oids in an overdose. You can't switch directly from addiction to naltrexone. You need to get the dope out of your system first or you will experience massive shock from sudden withdrawal. (Naloxone, in contrast, is short acting and it is not as dangerous/miserable to use in addiction, but I wouldn't recommend it either, outside a life threatening emergency.
Naltrexone has side effects that don't he;p recovery. It works because it blocks endorphins, your happy chemicals. This decreases enjoyment of life in general, not what you need starting out in recovery. Some people are so addicted that it is effectively impossible to get off and therefore they are never ready to start naltrexone. Buprenorphine and methadone relieve the need for opiates directly, which helps people stay on their program. At the same time these patients receive medical and mental/social/occupational guidance and are much better able to create order in their lives even though they still use opiates. With time many of these folks do tire of the drill and do start cutting down with abstenence as their goal.
There is a ton of money to be made in recovery services. The politics can be incredible. Corruption and apathy stalk many "rehabs". But I find it difficult to imagine that natrexone needed to be sabotaged to explain its current relatively insignificant role, since there are other non-conspiratorial factors that are more salient.
Thank you for weighing in. If you don't think naltrexone has been sabotaged, wait until you see my film!
I look forward to it!
Thanks James! Please send me an email at ben.westhoff@gmail.com. I'd love to chat with you.