NCJ Number
16762
Journal
American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 128 Issue: 1 Dated: (JULY 1971) Pages: 73-78
Date Published
1971
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF THE FIRST 252 MALE NARCOTIC ADDICTS CIVILLY COMMITTED TO, AND TREATED AT, LEXINGTON UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE NARCOTIC ADDICT REHABILITATION ACT OF 1966.
Abstract
DATA BASED ON THE AFTERCARE COUNSELORS' MONTHLY EVALUATION FORMS ARE PRESENTED ON DRUG USE, EMPLOYMENT, INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LAW, RECOMMITTAL, AND COOPERATION WITH THE AFTERCARE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THE PATIENT'S REPORTS OF DRUG USE, RESULTS OF SCHEDULED AND UNSCHEDULED URINE TESTS FOR OPIODS (SYNTHETIC MORPHINE-LIKE PROPERTIES) AND BARBITUATES WERE USED TO DETERMINE DRUG USE. DATA IS GROUPED ACCORDING TO THE CHRONOLOGICAL MONTH IN AFTERCARE OF THE PATIENTS. OPOID USE WAS REMARKABLY CONSTANT OVER THE EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD, VARYING FROM 42 TO 57 PERCENT WITH NO DISCERNIBLE TREND IN THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS USING OPIODS DURING A GIVEN MONTH. THE USE OF OTHER DRUGS BY THOSE WHO WERE ABSTINENT FROM OPIODS DURING A MONTH VARIED FROM FOUR TO 12 PERCENT. THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS ARRESTED ROSE GRADUALLY TO 13 PERCENT IN THE FOURTH MONTH AND SUBSIDED THEREAFTER. THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS FOR WHOM RECOMMITMENT WAS RECOMMENDED WAS LOW IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS BUT ROSE TO AROUND TEN PERCENT IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. AN AVERAGE OF JUST UNDER 20 PERCENT OF THE PATIENTS FROM THE FOURTH MONTH ON EVADED AFTERCARE. THE AUTHORS COMPARE THE RESULTS OF THEIR STUDY WITH THOSE OF OTHERS AND DISCUSS THE DIFFICULTIES INHERENT IN COMPARING SUCH STUDIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)