text_1: Injection to treat alcoholism OK’d
text_2: This article highlights a different approach for the treatment of alcoholism, namely a monthly injection of an opioid antagonist in conjunction with counseling or group therapy. The allure of this drug is that the oral medication performs well among those who take it. This may be a welcome treatment regimen for individuals seeking help for their alcoholism. Perhaps because of side-effects or for other reasons, compliance with the pill is not great, so this once-a-month treatment is attractive on the face of it. Unfortunatelly, this story provides little information about the efficacy of this treatment. Trials of the drug showed that about 15% of patients stopped taking the drug during the 6 month trial because of side effects, but the story didn’t mention this. The story also didn’t mention that the trials showed high rates of anorexia, nausea and fatigue among the actively treated subjects. In fact, no details on the clinical trials or the views of experts in the field were provided. The story only included quotes from drug company spokesmen. Finally, while this was an article highlighting a new option for the treatment of alcoholism, no mention was made of established programs for treating alcoholism.