The BONDS Clinic treatment programme was first designed by our medical director Dr Amal Y Beaini in 1995, seeking to offer the option of abstinence to those who wanted this, whilst focusing strongly on minimising discomfort and aiming to shorten the usual weeks or months (or years) that it took to detox many patients.
This was launched as a service at Detox5, part of Cygnet Hospital Harrogate. Early results were already notable and hence were accepted for publication in a leading medical journal in addiction in 2000*. 98% of patients completed the 1-week detox and 97% did not report pain.
Of those who could be followed up, around 50% were abstinent at 12 months. After the introduction of naltrexone implants in 2006, this figure rose to 66% of patients abstinent at 12 months. The BONDS Clinic treatment protocols have now been incorporated into services at The BONDS Clinic, but the founding principles remain the same: safety first, then effectiveness and cost effectiveness.
Dr Beaini has continually improved and modified the treatment protocols over the years.