NCJ Number
53660
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
DATA ON USERS OF PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF A LOS ALGELES, CALIF., SOCIAL REHABILITATION FACILITY SPECIALIZING IN THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE 70-BED FACILITY, KNOWN AS PRIDE HOUSE, RECEIVES MOST OF ITS CLIENTS THROUGH THE PROBATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICES BY PLACEMENT ORDER FROM THE COURTS. LONG-TERM TREATMENT INCLUDES A REGIMEN OF INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY THERAPY, AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. OF THE 87 CLIENTS WHO ENTERED PRIDE HOUSE FROM SEPTEMBER 1977 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1978, 45 (52 PERCENT) WERE EITHER OCCASIONAL OR CHRONIC USERS OF PCP. BEHAVIORAL, FAMILIAL, SEXUAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PCP USERS, DRAWN FROM THEIR CLINICAL RECORDS, ARE EXAMINED. OCCASSIONAL PCP USE WAS MORE PREVALENT AMONG MALES, WHEREAS CHRONIC USE WAS MORE PREVALENT AMONG FEMALES. APPROXIMATELY 49 PERCENT OF THE PCP USERS WERE CHRONIC USERS (THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK). BOTH CHRONIC AND OCCASIONAL USERS REPORTED EXTENSIVE USAGE OF DRUGS OTHER THAN PCP. CONSIDERABLE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND CHARACTER DISORDERS, BUT LITTLE OR NO SCHIZOPHRENIA, WERE FOUND IN THE STUDY SAMPLE. CHRONIC USERS HAD AN UNUSUALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF EXPERIENCE WITH SEXUAL MOLESTATION AND/OR INCEST. CHRONIC PCP USERS STAYED IN TREATMENT LONGER THAN NONUSERS OR OCCASIONAL USERS, BUT BOTH OCCASIONAL AND CHRONIC USERS HAD LITTLE DIFFICULTY INTEGRATING INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION AT PRIDE HOUSE AND RESPONDING TO TREATMENT. PRIDE HOUSE'S APPROACH TO TREATING PCP USERS ONCE THEY ARE PAST THE ACUTE INTOXICATION PHASE IS OUTLINED. FINDINGS ON USER CHARACTERISTICS ARE INTERPRETED AND COMPARED WITH FINDINGS FROM OTHER STUDIES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM) OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)