This review attempts to assess the potential usefulness of naloxone as a treatment option for opiate dependency. Naloxone has been used for years as an emergency room treatment for the management of opiate overdose. It has also been used to effect rapid opiate withdrawal, however its benefits have not been compares with those from standard withdrawal regimens. A combination of buprenorphine and naloxone has recently been used and has been shown to be effective as a maintenance treatment with the naloxone reducing the risk of buprenorphine misuse. The review suggests that the data on naloxone safety and its potential uses are limited, but that preliminary results suggest that it may be useful. Further research and information are needed before its use as an emergency treatment in the community setting are needed before any such programme could be enacted.