A Five‐Year Follow‐up of 108 Cases of Opiate Addiction

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Abstract
Summary: A five‐year follow‐up of 108 opiate* addicts is described. Their mean age was 26 years when first seen and they had on average been known to the Home office less than two years, 79 were male. At the end of the follow‐up period, 25 were off opiates and 17 were dead. A series of cases is followed‐up in relation to their stage of addiction. The number of opiate‐free patients after Jive years is shown to be significantly different for the three stages. In relation to the Stage for II (i.e. “early” or “pre‐chronic”) addict, it is suggested tentatively that drug withdrawal must be effected after no, or limited, opiate prescription. The outlook for the chronic (Stage III) addict appears poor, and the limited apparent improvement that is shown must be considered in the light of an evidently growing black market m adulterated, imported (“Chinese”) heroin.

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