Nassau County Administering New Drug Aimed At Combating Heroin Addiction
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Nassau County is partnering with its medical center to make a new drug aimed at fighting the heroin epidemic available to addicts.
Dr. Jacob Sperber said the medication Vivitrol helps free heroin addicts of their cravings.
"It's really a psychological tool, because your mind says to you, 'Why am I doing this? I'm not going to get high,'" Sperber told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs. "And so that really decreases the intensity of impulsivity."
Nassau County Administering New Drug Aimed At Combating Heroin Addiction
The once-a-month injection, being administered as part of a program called "A Shot At Life," has a very high success rate. Vivitrol user Garrett Cassler said it is saving his life.
"It was just such a long road to get to where I was today that, without Vivitrol, I would be at rock bottom once again," he said.
"It's a wonderful thing, being able to think clearly and allow myself to become the man that I want to become."
