Nonpsychiatric Predictors of Narcotic Dependence: A Prospective Study with a 5-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

In a 5-yr prospective follow-up study of [human] narcotic addicts strong predictors of outcome could not be identified. A review of the literature and reanalysis of published data confirmed this conclusion. Concurrent environmental and intrapersonal factors were evidently the major determinants. The relationships between prior history and those factors may be so weak as to make the historical variables of limited utility.