The trial involving 160 patients found that naltrexone successfully detoxifies three times as many heroin addicts as standard inpatient treatment. The drug is designed to block the effects of opiates and reduce cravings.

"We achieved a 92-percent success rate for detoxification under the rapid detox technique," said Professor John Saunders, head of the drug and alcohol clinic at Royal Brisbane Hospital. "This compares to around 28 percent for standard detoxification as an inpatient, and five to 15 percent for outpatient detox."

Saunders noted that opiate use was insignificant when patients were on naltrexone. Patients who had previously been on methadone maintenance were more likely to continue treatment with naltrexone.

The study is the world's first trial to directly compare rapid detoxification and naltrexone to methadone maintenance.

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