Drug careers in perspective

Abstract

– This paper reports the results of a 10‐year follow‐up of a pioneer group of 36 opiate addicts treated at a detoxification unit at St Lars Hospital in Lund in the years 1971–72. Sixteen of them are now ex‐addicts. Their way out of addiction is described. The results show that there exists a turning process during which some kind of therapeutic action could be of considerable value. The ex‐addicts go through a period in which they show signs of an identity conflict. During this period women seem more inclined to relapse than men. This stresses the importance of long‐term therapeutic strategies.