What happens to drug misusers? A medium-term follow-up of subjects new to treatment.
In a 2.5-5 year follow-up study of 150 drug misusers who were new to treatment at three London Drug Treatment agencies, a 77% follow-up rate was obtained. High rates of self-reported abstinence from opiates and other drugs were found. Some 37% of those followed-up were totally drug free at follow-up. Seventy-one per cent were living in the community and of those 73% were opiate free and 35% were totally drug free. Only 18% had injected in the 4 weeks prior to follow-up. Thirteen per cent were in prison and 12% were resident in a therapeutic community. Being told about the dangers of HIV had persuaded some people to give up using drugs.
Oppenheimer
E
E
Addiction Research Unit, National Addiction Centre, London, UK.
Sheehan
M
M
Taylor
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*