[Regular prescription of narcotics and sedatives to drug-addicted patients in general practice].
BACKGROUND
A nation-wide rehabilitation programme with legal prescription of methadone and buprenorfine has been organised for drug-addicted patients, but the number of patients waiting for such treatment is increasing. The Norwegian health authorities have discouraged general practitioners from prescribing quotas of drugs to drug-addicted patients waiting for admission to these programmes.


METHODS
15 patients, 31 to 42 years old, with 15 to 25 years of drug abuse are presented. All patients are waiting for admission to a rehabilitation programme or institution. They have been treated individually with specified quantities of medication in a private general practice in Oslo, Norway.


RESULTS
After 1 to 3 years of treatment, all patients are alive and live by themselves in regular apartments. Their social condition have improved and they have better contact with their families. There were no conflicts with public authorities, and abuse of illegal drugs was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are in accordance with those obtained in centres for rehabilitation of drug-addicted patients. General practitioners should be encouraged to provide intermediate treatment of drug-addicted patients waiting for admission into rehabilitation programmes.
Andersen
Harald T
HT
Majorstuaklinikken Slemdalsveien 1 0369 Oslo.
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009664:Norway; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009294:Narcotics; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone