NCJ Number
57829
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
RESPONSES BY PHYSICIANS OR SCIENTISTS IN 25 NATIONS TO 10 DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT ISSUES ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTEMPORARY TREATMENT RESPONSE OF NATIONS TO THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM IS FRAGMENTARY. THE STATE OF MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE PERTAINING TO DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT IS INFLUENCED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION, THE EXTENT OF ITS DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT RESOURCES. NEVERTHELESS, INTERESTING RESULTS WERE OBTAINED IN A STUDY REQUIRING RESPONSES FROM 25 LEADING PHYSICIANS AND SCIENTISTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONS. SEVERAL OF THE TEN ISSUES IDENTIFIED FOR RESPONSE INCLUDED THE QUESTIONS: (1) IS DRUG DEPENDENCE AN IDENTIFIABLE DISEASE OR A TYPE OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR?, (2) ARE ABSTINENCE FROM DRUGS, SOCIAL OR PERSONAL REHABILITATION APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AIMS? AND (3) WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF PHYSICIANS-AND PSYCHIATRISTS IN PARTICULAR-IN DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS? ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED INDICATED THAT WESTERN TREATMENT MODALITIES WERE SPREADING TO ASIA, THE FAR EAST, AND LATIN AMERICA. INCREASED GOVERNMENTAL AWARENESS OF DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS WAS ALSO EVIDENT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT KNOWLEDE DERIVED FROM DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN OTHER NATIONS IS RELEVANT FOR THE U.S. EFFICACY OF SPECIFIC TREATMENT PROGRAMS MAY BE EVALUATED FOR DETERMINATION OF WHICH TYPES OF TREATMENT ARE EFFECTIVE FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF ABUSERS. INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH DATA CAN PROVIDE ANSWERS TO PERSONALITY, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG ABUSE WHICH WOULD BE OF PARTICULAR VALUE REGARDING ETHNIC AND MINORITY GROUP CULTURES. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)