Remission From Drug Abuse Over a 25-Year Period: Patterns of Remission and Treatment Use
July 1, 2001
By: Price, R.K.; Risk,N.K.; Spitznagel,E.L.
American Journal of Public Health; 91(7); 1107-1113; 2001
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVES: Using an epidemiologically obtained sample, we examined
patterns of illicit drug use, abuse, and remission over a 25-year
period and recent treatment use.
METHODS: The surviving members of the cohort (n = 841), previously
surveyed in 1972 and 1974, comprised 3 subsamples of Vietnam War
enlisted men and civilian controls. Retrospectively obtained
year-to-year measures from the 1996-1997 survey included use and
remission of sedatives, stimulants, marijuana, cocaine, and opiates,
as well as substance abuse and psychiatric treatment use.
RESULTS: Relatively stable patterns of frequent use in adulthood were
found, with the mean duration from initiation to the last remission
ranging from 9 to 14 years. A majority attempted to quit; however,
most did not use traditional drug treatment in their last attempts.
Fewer than 9% of the then-current drug users were treated in inpatient
or outpatient settings at the time of data collection.
CONCLUSIONS: Most drug abusers who had started using drugs by their
early 20s appeared to gradually achieve remission. Spontaneous
remission was the rule rather than the exception. Nonetheless,
considerable unmet needs existed for those who had continued use into
middle age.
