Abstract
In a myriad of curious and ironic ways, the treatment of the addict-parolee with a narcotic antagonist is an anomaly in the practice of medicine. It entails the prescription of medication to individuals who have not actively sought treatment of their own accord, who frequently do not consider themselves sick, and whose symptoms and clinical course are, for the most part, measured in societal rather than medical terms. Invariably, treatment evaluations are primarily concerned with behavioral criteria of effectiveness such as extent of narcotic drug use and length of program participation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the addict free of opiate drugs by the prescription of antagonists, with the presumption that he will thus be better able to readjust to the demands of free society and to make maximum use of rehabilitative resources that are available. In forestalling opiate use, there is also the more likely avoidance of hepatitis and other sequelae of self-administration, including death from overdose, and the possible curtailment of criminal and other illegal activities associated with supporting a narcotic drug habit. But how well do the antagonists forestall compulsive opiate use?
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 47-56 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Comprehensive Psychiatry |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1978 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Narcotic antagonists and the parolee-Outcome, issues, and new directions. / Hanlon, Thomas E.; McCabe, Oliver Lee.
In: Comprehensive Psychiatry, Vol. 19, No. 1, 1978, p. 47-56.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Narcotic antagonists and the parolee-Outcome, issues, and new directions
AU - Hanlon, Thomas E.
AU - McCabe, Oliver Lee
PY - 1978
Y1 - 1978
N2 - In a myriad of curious and ironic ways, the treatment of the addict-parolee with a narcotic antagonist is an anomaly in the practice of medicine. It entails the prescription of medication to individuals who have not actively sought treatment of their own accord, who frequently do not consider themselves sick, and whose symptoms and clinical course are, for the most part, measured in societal rather than medical terms. Invariably, treatment evaluations are primarily concerned with behavioral criteria of effectiveness such as extent of narcotic drug use and length of program participation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the addict free of opiate drugs by the prescription of antagonists, with the presumption that he will thus be better able to readjust to the demands of free society and to make maximum use of rehabilitative resources that are available. In forestalling opiate use, there is also the more likely avoidance of hepatitis and other sequelae of self-administration, including death from overdose, and the possible curtailment of criminal and other illegal activities associated with supporting a narcotic drug habit. But how well do the antagonists forestall compulsive opiate use?
AB - In a myriad of curious and ironic ways, the treatment of the addict-parolee with a narcotic antagonist is an anomaly in the practice of medicine. It entails the prescription of medication to individuals who have not actively sought treatment of their own accord, who frequently do not consider themselves sick, and whose symptoms and clinical course are, for the most part, measured in societal rather than medical terms. Invariably, treatment evaluations are primarily concerned with behavioral criteria of effectiveness such as extent of narcotic drug use and length of program participation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the addict free of opiate drugs by the prescription of antagonists, with the presumption that he will thus be better able to readjust to the demands of free society and to make maximum use of rehabilitative resources that are available. In forestalling opiate use, there is also the more likely avoidance of hepatitis and other sequelae of self-administration, including death from overdose, and the possible curtailment of criminal and other illegal activities associated with supporting a narcotic drug habit. But how well do the antagonists forestall compulsive opiate use?
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0017862643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0017862643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0010-440X(78)90031-7
DO - 10.1016/0010-440X(78)90031-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 620525
AN - SCOPUS:0017862643
VL - 19
SP - 47
EP - 56
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
SN - 0010-440X
IS - 1
ER -