The table below lists key factors for the different treatment approaches that are relevant to selection of the type of treatment, but is not an exhaustive summary of evidence for the effectiveness of the different approaches. (See 2.3.2 Effectiveness of substitution treatment, 2.2.3 Medications to manage withdrawal, 2.4.1 Effectiveness of naltrexone treatment) Advantages Disadvantages Type of treatment Substitution Strong evidence of capacity to patient (daily treatment to travel, dispensing fees) reduce opioid use || effects decrease mortality || of supervised improve quality of life dosing (lifestyle, travel etc) Avoids withdrawal in people withdrawal on who are ill or unstable cessation Capacity to retain patients in treatment || Widespread availability Detoxification Short-term commitment long-term outcomes Attractive to consumer if stand-alone treatment Low threshold, easy access overdose risk and following withdrawal (loss Entry point to treatment of tolerance) lead to destabilisation of other health conditions (chronic pain, mental health) Antagonist in decreasing opioid retention for most treatment use in highly motivated, people || (naltrexone) people || acceptance medication effects pain management to patient detoxification prior to initiating naltrexone overdose risk following cessation due to loss of tolerance ||
The table below lists key factors for the different treatment approaches that are relevant to selection of the type of treatment, but is not an exhaustive summary of evidence for the effectiveness of the different approaches. (See 2.3.2 Effectiveness of substitution treatment, 2.2.3 Medications to manage withdrawal, 2.4.1 Effectiveness of naltrexone treatment) Type of treatment Advantages Disadvantages Substitution treatment Strong evidence of capacity to reduce opioid use || decrease mortality || improve quality of life Avoids withdrawal in people who are ill or unstable Capacity to retain patients in treatment || Widespread availability to patient (daily travel, dispensing fees) effects of supervised dosing (lifestyle, travel etc) withdrawal on cessation Detoxification Short-term commitment Attractive to consumer Low threshold, easy access and Entry point to treatment long-term outcomes if stand-alone treatment overdose risk following withdrawal (loss of tolerance) lead to destabilisation of other health conditions (chronic pain, mental health) Antagonist treatment (naltrexone) in decreasing opioid use in highly motivated, people || medication retention for most people || acceptance effects pain management to patient detoxification prior to initiating naltrexone overdose risk following cessation due to loss of tolerance ||