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Preliminary investigation indicates that self-help programs such as Gaudenzia, Incorporated, did not simply materialize out of nothingness. Rather, they have a definable, if not yet fully defined, historical and theoretical background. From a general viewpoint there are significant similarities between their basic principles and the thought of such men as Alfred Adler and Kurt Lewin. More particularly there is a direct line of descent which is well documented from Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1935, to Gaudenzia, Incorporated, founded in 1968. From participant observation of the Gaudenzia program and other self-help programs it appears that there are close similarities between the basic ideas of these programs and current thought in at least the areas of existential philosophy and learning theory. As indicated, this is almost certainly not an exhaustive compilation of the theoretical sources of the program. But it may be sufficient to demonstrate that such programs are grounded in substantial thought a...

The idea on which the present program rests is that an person informed with pertinent data is in a better position to make important decisions than is an uninformed person. Being informed with pertinent data involves a critical examination of usual hazards that are associated with select choices, and a comparative assessment of their likely consequences. Of course, at the moment of “truth,” the precise time of decision, it remains the individual alone who makes the choice.

Methadone hydrochloride has been found to be medically safe when administered in the setting of a well-organized heroin addiction treatment program. The abuse of illicit methadone, outside the therapeutic setting, has aroused considerable controversy, particularly with regard to the public health hazards of primary methadone addiction, overdose, abuse, and childhood poisoning. We attempted to document the nature and extent of these negative aspects of the diversion of methadone into the illicit drug market, using data collected between 1969 and 1974 in the District of Columbia. The data illustrate the severe problems created by the widespread availability of illicit methadone, and document that, with the appropriate controls, the large-scale use of methadone in addiction treatment is feasible with minimum risk of methadone addiction and overdose in the community.

Resume On decrit l'organisation, le personnel et le fonctionnement d'un centre de traitment de l'intoxication avec des drogues, dans un hopital general. On decrit les caacteres cliniques et sociaux de premiers 57 patients frequentant le centre. On rapporte les resultats d'un programme de traitement par elimination gradee de l'heroine. On discute les resultats cliniques et sociaux et on examine les idees generales du tratitement dans les services de consultatios de ces centres et le programme d'elimination des drougues. Zusammenfassung Es wird die Organisation, Personaleistellung und die Tatigkeit in einer Behandlungsstation fur Rauschgiftsuchtige in einem allgemeinen Krankenhaus beschrieben. Beschreibung der klinischen nd sozialen, charakteristischen Merkmale der ersten 57 Patieten, die auf der Station behandelt wurden. Bericht uber die Resultate eines Behandlungsprogrammes bestehend aus stufenweisem Heroinentzug. Besprechung der klinischen und sozialen Befnde und Uberprufung der Einstellung auf ambulanten Behandlungsstationen und der Raschgiftentziehungsprogramme.