What is a UROD procedure?

LeakyPickle

It's a detoxification procedure - I believe used to very quickly bring some out of a drug-induced or anesthetized state. Aetna considers ultra rapid detoxification (UROD) experimental and investigational as a clinical detoxification treatment. Background Detoxification, although important, is only the first step in long-term relapse prevention treatment of opiate addiction. Proven detoxification procedures presently involve a gradual withdrawal followed by medication and long-term psychosocial support in producing long-term abstinence from illicit opioid use. In the UROD procedure, opiate detoxification is induced by the use of a bolus injection of very high doses of an opiate antagonist (naloxone) under general anesthesia or heavy sedation followed by a slow infusion of low dose naloxone. The four-hour procedure is carried out in an ICU and the patient requires one to two days of hospitalization for a full treatment protocol. Proponents of the procedure claim that complete accelerated detoxification is attained, the patient experiences no withdrawal symptoms, physical dependency is eliminated, and the psychological craving for drugs is greatly reduced. However, experts prominent in the field opiate addiction in 1996 reported their concerns about UROD stating that detoxification is not a cure for opiate addiction and that medication without psychosocial support has little impact on opiate addiction. http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0317.html [Added reference - McG] Feb 01 05, 11:36 AM