[The hospitalized drug addict. Social assistance and therapeutic care]

Ninety drug addicts observed in 1973-83 were examined in a study of the main anamnestic and behavioural parameters, the reasons for hospitalisation, the presence of withdrawal symptoms during treatment and any prospects of long-term cure. In conclusion, it is emphasised that the low frequency of real withdrawal pathology often renders "scaled" treatment with methadone superfluous. Finally it is pointed out that in itself, the hospitalisation period can do almost nothing to break the addiction spiral unless it forms part of a wider prospect of global treatment.