[Withdrawal of addictive drugs--patients' experiences?].
BACKGROUND
The prescription of addictive drugs has been a cause for concern. Various small-scale interventions towards patients and doctors have proven effective in terms of cutting down the number of prescriptions. However, little is known about users' experience with withdrawal of addictive drugs; exploring this is the main aim of the present study.


METHODS
Six focus group sessions with 27 former high and low dosage drug users, mainly of benzodiazepines, were conducted. All groups were audiotaped and analysed by qualitative methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Five distinct themes emerged: reasons for drug use initiation, experience of being a user, experience related to drug withdrawal, of leading a life without medication, and experience with and expectations from doctors. Our group members pointed out that drug use was often initiated by the doctor and offered instead of counselling in acute crises. Information on side effects such as addictiveness was reported as largely absent. Both high and low dosage users reported a significant increase in self esteem and ability to cope that was directly related to drug withdrawal and they reported a substantially improved quality of life. Doctors seldom initiated drug reduction strategies and were largely regarded as absent during the withdrawal process. Our informants wanted better care, information and ability to communicate from their doctors, but also stricter prescription strategies and systematic control mechanisms.
Institutt for allmenn- og samfunnsmedisin, Seksjon for allmennmedisin, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1130 Blindern 0318 Oslo johan.torper@samfunnsmed.uio.no.
Johan
J
Torper
Siri
S
Steine
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003061:Codeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011788:Quality of Life; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003061:Codeine