$50,000 provided to evaluate Dr George O'Neil's naltrexone program

15/6/99
The State Government has provided a further $50,000 to assist in the evaluation of Dr George O'Neil's naltrexone program.
Health Minister John Day said the money was to be used in assessing the benefits of naltrexone within the framework of a properly constituted clinical trial.
Mr Day said the latest funding was in addition to $80,000 already allocated to the program with $60,000 going to Dr O'Neil's Foundation for the purpose of obtaining staff to help in the collection of data and $20,000 made available to the University of Western Australia to analyse the findings.
"The State Government shares Dr O'Neil's desire to find the most effective treatment possible in dealing with the tragic problem of heroin addiction," he said.
"To achieve this goal the Government is very keen to have sound information about the efficacy and safety of the use of naltrexone in heroin detoxification and maintenance."
Mr Day said the previous Health Minister, Kevin Prince, had indicated a total of $180,000 would be provided for a naltrexone trial. Today's $50,000 grant was another step in the disbursement of this money.
He said that in addition to Dr O'Neil's program, naltrexone was becoming more widely available, both through general practitioners and the 'Next Step', the Specialist Alcohol and Drug Service (formerly the Alcohol and Drug Authority) Centre in East Perth to assist in drug addiction.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600