Narcotics research, rehabilitation, and treatment. Hearings, Ninety ...

309COMPAKISOXThe subjects who had undergone previous detoxification treatments, remarkedon the difference between this and other earlier treatments. They particularlypointedout that with our treatment they no longer felt the need for the addictingdrug. With methadone, for example, they claimed to have remained with painsin the legs and e.specially with the urge for the addicting rlrug during, and evenafter, treatment. In contrast, the urge for the drug disapiieared practically withthe first injection of our treatment, and then did not recur.FOLLOWUPAfter the first injection with the selenium preparation almost no patient hasvoiced the desire the drug. UpoH leaving the hospital after 5 to 8 days, theyall manifest emphatically this lack of need for the drug. On followup visitsmany subjects were seen to have remained free of narcotics weeks and evenmonths after treatment.Others, however, resumed taking drugs. It is nevertheless important to pointout that not a single patient who has resumed taking the drugs and who has comeback for help, has said that he did it because of a return of the "urge." A fewresumed using drugs because of unresolved psychological problems. Many becausethey were "forced" by friends, and have been using addicting drugs withoutany need or desire for the drug. Most of the patients after treatment return totheir old problems and their unchanged environment. They do not receive psychologicalor social help. Yet, inspite of this, of about 1.50 patients referred to usby Rev. Raymond Massey of the Neighborhood Board No. 5, Inc., 22 percenthave returned to steady jobs without additional medication, and without thehelp of psychological or social services. Of those receiving outside help, another17 percent have returned to steady jobs.VArXJE OF THIS APPROACHIn this important problem of addiction, we must evaluate as objectively aspossible the contribution which every new approach may bring to the solution ofthe problem. Based on the the results we obtained, our treatment seems to representa working solution of the medical problem of addiction. In a few days theaddict becomes free from the craving for the drug, without having to undergothe torture of the withdrawal syndrome. This then opens the door for the secondand third approaches, namely the psychological and social ones.Without the physical need for the drug, many of the patients become awareof the important part played by their psychological condition and ask for psychiatricand social help.The efficacy of the treatment gives back to the patient the hope he had lost,namely the possibility of a total recovery. By no longer facing the medical problem,the psychiatrist can treat a subject who is no longer hopeless or even hostile,but one who is looking for help, like a nonaddict in his situation would do. Andthis is the important contribution of our treatment to the psychological problemof addiction. The experience of psychiatrists—in particular that of Dr. D. Casriel,New York City—in the field of addiction has confirmed the importance of therelationship between our medical approach and the indispensable psychologicaltreatment of addiction.While the treatment contributes to the solution of the medical problem ofaddiction, we must emphasize the need to integrate it into the more generalproblem with its psychological and economical aspects. The medical treatmentwill show its full value as part of such a complete program.(Based on a lecture given at the Trafalgar Hospital medical staff meeting.May 23, 1970)Emanuel Revici, M.D., Scientific Director, Institute of Applied Biology, Inc.TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTIONIt is unnecessary to emphasize the importance of a simple, safe, efficient, andinexpensive method for the control of the medical a.spect of drug addiction. Thisrepresents the key for the completion of the treatment through an efiicientpsychological approach—and further social adjustments.