# What are these "anti-heroin implants" Pete Doherty has had installed?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 25, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138 "2005-12-25T05:46:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138/1 "2005-12-25T05:46:36Z")

</div>

[Re the linked article what are these things?](http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/tm_objectid=16518526%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=exclusive%2d%2d58%2d%2dpete%2ddoherty%2don%2dhis%2dlost%2dlover-name_page.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Doherty, who had a third set of anti-heroin implants fitted four months ago, vowed to become “George Best in reverse” by beating his addictions. But he failed to give a direct answer when asked if he still takes heroin.
> 
> “Well, if I am, there would be no point… all my opiate receptors are blocked,” he said.
> 
> He hinted that he still goes on drug binges, saying: “Well, the one time I really did push it … it wasn’t working so that was a relief.”
> 
> Doherty also denied claims he could be HIV-positive, like one of his former drug dealers, and revealed he had destroyed Kate’s love letters because he was terrified they would fall into the wrong hands.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138/2 "2005-12-25T05:58:03Z")

</div>

I think it is the new Buprenorphine Implant - from studies - it seems to be an extremely effective treatment.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138/3 "2005-12-25T07:23:34Z")

</div>

I never heard of this guy, so I did a Google search. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Doherty) indicates he uses/used a [Naltrexone implant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naltrexone).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138/4 "2005-12-25T13:19:12Z")

</div>

A cursory glance through the Wikipedia article didn’t address this, so I’ll ask it here: What happens if someone on Naltrexone gets into a severe accident and needs immediate effective pain control? What if he needs an emergency operation? Don’t all really effective anaesthetics/analgesics bind to opiod receptors?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-anti-heroin-implants-pete-doherty-has-had-installed/337138/5 "2005-12-25T14:32:26Z")

</div>

> [@Derleth](#):
>
> A cursory glance through the Wikipedia article didn’t address this, so I’ll ask it here: What happens if someone on Naltrexone gets into a severe accident and needs immediate effective pain control? What if he needs an emergency operation? Don’t all really effective anaesthetics/analgesics bind to opiod receptors?

Analgesics, yes. Anesthetics, less so.

But basically under controlled conditions, naltrexone can be over-ridden by a good anesthesiologist. As long as the anesthesiologist knows that naltrexone is on board.