New implant may help addicts

Hand full of pills.Hand full of pills..Photo: NTB SCANPIX

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The US government has approved the first implant to help addicts towards abstinence and other symptoms.

The implant, which contains a synthetic opioid, is the first of its kind. It is the size of a matchstick and will normally be placed under the skin in the upper arm.

Record number of overdose deaths
USA  suffer from a large number of overdose deaths.  28,650 deaths in 2014 were caused by heroin and painkillers, which is the highest number to date. Currently about 2.5 million Americans suffer from a drug dependency, whether it’s from legally prescribed drugs or illegal drugs such as heroin.
Low doses of buprenorphine from the implant will help the patients to get rid off drugs. This will be used while the patient is participating in a Drug program and receives guidance.
The US pharmaceutical company Braeburn Pharmaceuticals has developed the implant. It’s taken many years for the company  to get this solution approved , and on Thursday it was approved by the FDA.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today

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