Prevention of suicide by naltrexone in a recently detoxified heroin addict

This case describes a heroin addict who was participating in a placebo-cont rolled randomized trial of naltrexone as an aid to relapse prevention. The patient tried to commit suicide by taking a heroin overdose after learning that he was HIV-positive. He was on naltrexone at the time and, as a result , survived what would probably have been a fatal overdose. This case demons trates that naltrexone can have immediate as well as long-term positive eff ects in persons who are attempting to recover from heroin addiction. Copyri ght (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.