NCJ Number
62529
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 117-132
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST TREATMENT, AS USED IN THE NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, WORK RELEASE PROGRAM FOR PROBATIONERS, IS DESCRIBED; THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO METHADONE AND DRUG FREE METHODS IS NOTED.
Abstract
DRUG FREE PROGRAMS PRIMARILY RELY UPON PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC METHODS OF INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP COUNSELING. INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS IS DEPENDENT UPON THE OFFENDER'S PSYCHOSOCIAL STATUS AND MULTIPLE TREATMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. PATIENTS HIGHLY MOTIVATED TOWARD DRUG ABSTINENCE ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL USING THIS METHOD. METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, MORE PREDOMINANTLY USED, FIX A CHRONIC PATTERN OF ADDICTION IN SPITE OF PATIENTS' ACCESSIBILITY TO OVERALL TREATMENT. THE ILLEGAL SALE OF METHADONE IS ANOTHER FREQUENT SIDE EFFECT. NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST PROGRAMS OFFER A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE TO BOTH. NARCOTIC ANTAGONISTS ARE A GROUP OF NONADDICTIVE DRUGS THAT COMPETE FOR AND ARE PREFERENTIALLY RECEIVED BY THE SAME RECEPTOR CELLS TO WHICH NARCOTICS HAVE A CHEMICAL AFFINITY. DETOXIFICATION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN 8 TO 36 HOURS, THUS MINIMIZING BOTH WITHDRAWAL DISCOMFORT AND HOSPITALIZATION COSTS. TWO MAINTENANCE REGIMENS ARE IN USE AT THE NASSAU COUNTY PROGRAM, BOTH INVOLVING THE USE OF NALTREXONE. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY SUPPLEMENT THE DETOXIFICATION EFFORTS. FUNDING FOR A PILOT ANTAGONIST PROGRAM FOR PROBATIONERS CAN BE RELATIVELY COST EFFICIENT. IN 1977, OVER 200 WORKRELEASE INMATES AND CLINIC OUTPATIENTS WERE TREATED IN NASSAU COUNTY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,000 PER PATIENT. METHADONE MAINTENANCE COSTS WELL OVER $2,300 PER PERSON FOR THOSE REQUIRING MORE THAN THE STANDARD 1-YEAR TREATMENT. THE NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST PROGRAM SHOULD MERIT FEDERAL AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT. REFERENCE NOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)