The U.S. study found that buprenorphine eliminated withdrawal symptoms, reduced the effects of heroin, and detoxified patients within a six-week period.

Still, some drug experts warned about the risks involved in mixing drugs, particularly slow-released ones. "The big danger for overdose isn't getting a bigger dose of heroin," said David Crosbie, chief executive of Odyssey House in Melbourne, Australia. "The biggest danger for overdose is mixing your drugs. There are no drug problems. Most drug problems are people problems, and just getting rid of the cravings doesn't solve the problem."

The study is published in the latest issue of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

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