By RODNEY L. SHERMAN
Clarion News editor
A Washington, Pennsylvania, company specializing in treating and managing clients struggling from opiate and alcohol dependence brought its services to Clarion County last week.
It’s a service that might end up being offered to inmates being released from the Clarion County jail.
Positive Recovery Solutions offers clients a once-a-month dose of Vivitrol.
“An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Vivitrol is used as part of a treatment program for drug or alcohol dependence.
“Vivitrol injection is used to prevent relapse in people who became dependent on opioid medicine and then stopped using it. Naltrexone can help keep a person from feeling a ‘need’ to use the opioid.
“Vivitrol injection is also used to treat alcoholism by reducing the urge to drink alcohol. This may help a person drink less or stop drinking altogether.
“Vivitrol or Naltrexone is not a cure for drug addiction or alcoholism.”
(Drugs.com is the largest, most widely visited, independent medicine information website available on the Internet.)
The medication is an opioid antagonist, according to Vivitrol’s manufacturer website.
“Antagonists attach to opioid receptors, but do not cause the release of dopamine. They are non-addictive and do not lead to physical dependence. Antagonists create a barrier that blocks opioid molecules from attaching to opioid receptors,” the website states. “Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors in the brain for one month at a time, helping patients to prevent relapse to opioid dependence, following detox, while they focus on counseling.”
At first, PRS will visit Clarion County once each month. If it is determined there is a need for another monthly session, it will be added to the schedule.
Offer at the jail?
Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron mentioned the PRS service at a Sept. 14 meeting of the county prison board of directors.
“It’s a once a month injection,” Aaron said. “And basically, if you get this injection, you can’t get high off opioids or alcohol.”
Aaron said other counties in the state are offering the injection to inmates as they are released from jail.
“I think it’s a good program,” said Aaron. “It could be something we could implement here.
“It would have to be voluntary. You can’t force people to take it.”
“It’s a step up from Suboxone,” said Aaron. “We saw where we ended up with that.”
The prison board took no action on the matter.
Those who believe Vivitrol treatment might help them may contact the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission at (814) 226-6350.