Wheeler Clinic now offers a medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol abuse at four locations in central Connecticut, including an clinical evaluation without an appointment, it said Tuesday.
When combined with counseling, extended-release injectable Naltrexone allows patients to stay abstinent longer, experience fewer cravings, and decrease their chances of relapse, Wheeler said. It works by blocking the effects of opioids and the pleasurable feelings produced by drinking.
Extended-release Naltrexone treatment includes monthly administration of the medication by injection and counseling services based on the individual’s needs. Treatment is covered by Medicaid for eligible individuals and is also covered by many commercial insurances, subject to a co-pay or deductible, Wheeler said.
Wheeler offers Naltrexone treatment at 999 Asylum Ave., Hartford; 75 N. Mountain Road, New Britain; 91 Northwest Drive, Plainville; and 10 North Main St., Bristol.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin use has more than doubled among young adults ages 18 to 25 in the past decade, and nearly half of those who used heroin were also addicted to prescription opioid painkillers. The rate of heroin-related overdose deaths nearly quadrupled between 2002 and 2013.
