NCJ Number
58066
Journal
British Journal of Addiction Volume: 73 Dated: (1978) Pages: 199-203
Date Published
1973
Length
5 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN SWEDEN ARE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE WHICH AMONG THEM IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL.
Abstract
AMONG A GROUP OF 574 ARRESTEES SHOWING SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE, 27 HAD BEEN DRUG FREE FOR A YEAR OR MORE. OF THESE, ONLY TWO HAD EVER RECEIVED TREATMENT. THE FIRST GROUP WAS COMPARED TO A SAMPLE OF 100 ARRESTEES WHO HAD CONTINUED THEIR DRUG ABUSE. OF THIS GROUP, 37 HAD RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR DRUG ADDICTION. THE MEDIAN AGES OF THE TWO GROUPS WERE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME: 28 IN THE CURRENT USERS GROUP AND 27 IN THE GROUP OF EXADDICTS. THE STUDY SUGGESTS THAT, CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, ADDICTS DO NOT SEEK TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY WISH TO STOP USING DRUGS. THOSE WHO SEEK TREATMENT CAN AVOID MAKING THE DECISION TO STOP BY PUTTING THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE TREATMENT CENTER. BY OBTAINING OUTSIDE HELP WITH THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COMPLICATIONS OF ADDICTION, MANY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE LIFE OF THE ADDICTED. TREATMENT MAY ACTUALLY UNDERMINE THEIR MOTIVATION TO STOP TAKING DRUGS BECAUSE OF THE PERMISSIVE ATTITUDES OF HEALTH WORKERS. THE GROUP THAT HAS DECIDED TO STOP ABUSING DRUGS HAVE USUALLY DONE SO WITHOUT TREATMENT; THE KEY FACTOR SEEMS TO BE THE MOTIVITATION OF THE ADDICT TO STOP. IT SEEMS PLAUSIBLE TO CONCLUDE THAT MOST DRUG ABUSERS WHO SEEK TREATMENT DO NOT HAVE THE INTENTION OF STOPPING THEIR DRUG USE AND THAT THE TYPE OF SHORT TERM TREATMENT USED IN SWEDEN MAY TEND TO UNDERMINE THE MOTIVATION OF THE ADDICT, RATHER THAN STRENGTHEN IT. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)