Detoxification of Heroin Addicts

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 233; no. 4; pp. 356 - 357
• Main Author: Senay, Edward C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Medical Association 28-07-1975
• ISSN: 0098-7484; 1538-3598
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1975.03260040050026

In the current issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry (32:909, 1975), Razani et al describe a method for detoxification of heroin addicts in which patients have active, though limited, control of the frequency of methadone hydrochloride administration during their detoxification. On demand, in any 12-hour period, patients are able to receive up to four oral doses of 5 mg of methadone at intervals of at least one hour. If a patient requests more than the four doses allowed in any 12-hour period, a physician is called and the need for additional methadone is evaluated.In 30 patients studied on a ward for acute psychiatric problems, Razani et al achieved impressive results with this technique: 26 of 30 patients were "satisfied" or "very satisfied," 4 were "neutral," and 4 were "dissatisfied." Average length of stay in a hospital was nine days, including a three-day observation period after detoxification. No patient