Abstract
The evaluation and initial treatment of cocaine-using patients is a complex, demanding, and sometimes confusing process. Thorough treatment requires the physician to integrate a range of medical, psychiatric, social, and drug-counseling services. Adding to the complexity is the need to address family issues and to anticipate the risk of relapse. Treatment can be expensive, but a recent study found that for every treatment dollar spent, $11.54 was saved in social costs (the costs to society from arrests, prosecution, theft, medical care, impaired job performance, and so on).1 Although currently the success rate of treatment for drug addiction is less than would be desired, new treatment strategies, including some pharmacological interventions, offer hope for improving the outcome.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Tabbush V. The effectiveness and efficiency of publicly funded drug abuse treatment and prevention programs in California: a benefit-cost analysis. UCLA Graduate School of Management, March 1986. As reported in “Treatment Works”; published by National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors; March 1990.
Grinspoon L, Bakalar JB. Cocaine. In: DuPont RL, Godstein A, O’Donnell J, eds. Handbook of Drug Abuse. Rockville Md: National Institute on Drug Abuse; 1979.
The 1991 National Household Survey. Rockville, Md: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Bowe OP, Sammons JH. The alcohol-abusing patient: a challenge to the profession. JAMA. 1988;260:2267–2270.
Walsh D, Chapman Hingson RW, Merrigan DM, et al. The impact of a physician’s warning on recovery after alcoholism treatment. JAMA 1992;267(5):663–668.
Hoffman NG. Treatment outcomes from abstinence-based programs. Presented at the 36th International Institute on the Prevention and Treatment of Alcoholism; Stockholm, Sweden; June 1991.
Leukefeld CG. Opportunities for enhancing drug abuse treatment with criminal justice authority. National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph #106: Improving Drug Abuse Treatment; 1991:328–337.
Gold MS. The Good News About Drugs and Alcohol. New York: Villard Books; 1991.
Gawin FH, Ellinwood EH Jr. Cocaine and other stimulants. N Eng J Med. 1988;318(18):1173–1182.
Gold MS. The cocaine epidemic: what are the problems, insights, and treatments? Pharmacy Times. March 1987:36–42.
Washton AM, et al. Opiate and cocaine dependencies: techniques to help counter the rising tide. Postgrad Med. 1985;77(5):293–300.
Adapted from Gold MS, et al. New treatments for opiate and cocaine users. Psychiatric Ann. 1986;16(4):208.
Nace EP. Alcoholics Anonymous. In Lowinson JH, Ruiz P, Millman RB, eds. Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. 2nd ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1992.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Plenum Publishing Corporation
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gold, M.S. (1993). Outpatient Treatment. In: Cocaine. Drugs of Abuse, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6033-9_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6033-9_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-6035-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-6033-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive