Subliminal Stimulation of Symbiotic Fantasies as an Aid in the Treatment of Drug Abusers

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Abstract
Forty-seven heroin addicts being treated at the New York VA Methadone Clinic were divided into an experimental and a control group. In addition to the regular methadone treatment program, both groups received subliminal exposures to a verbal message for 24 sessions (4 times a week for 6 weeks). The messages were MOMMY AND I ARE ONE (experimental) and PEOPLE ARE WALKING (control), administered under double-blind conditions. In keeping with the main hypothesis, the experimental subjects, when compared with controls, showed a greater decrease in their use of heroin and other illicit drugs during the postintervention period. Additionally, on a follow-up questionnaire, the experimental subjects reported being more in control of their drug habits and more effective in their work than did those in the control group. Also, analysis of the patients'' reported dreams revealed that the experimental group had more dreams containing positive interactions with a significant woman or son than did the control group.