A Follow‐Up Study of 200 Narcotic Addicts Committed for Treatment Under the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act (NARA)

Summary The results of a follow‐up study of 200 males committed wader the MARA Act have been compared with general findings of other such studies. It was found that, if relapse is defined as any re‐use of narcotics, the observed relapse rate of 87 per cent is equivalent to the 80–90 per cent relapse rates reported in other studies. Variables which have been related to relapse in other studies were also examined in this project. Some support was found for Wirdek's “maturation hypothesis”. Although no relationship was found between length of addiction and relapse, age was found to be related to relapse. Specifically, it was found that patients under 30 years of age used narcotics regularly or became readdicted at much higher rates than those over 30. Similarly, the rates of total abstinence or occasional use of narcotics were higher for those over 30. These findings indicate that Winick's hypothesis cannot be completely rejected. Employment was also found to be related to relapse in that those who found jobs relapsed less often than those unable to obtain employment. Most of the problems patients encountered in seeking a job seemed to be related more to their own personality problems than to other factors. Two other variables, ethnicity and education, were generally unrelated to relapse. Both the counselors and patients cited three general factors which led to relapse. One factor was use of narcotics to alleviate interpersonal stress. The second factor was the patient's craving or enjoyment of the euphoric effects and the “magnetic” pull of the addict subculture. Inability to cope with his own problems and frustration constituted the third general factor which helped to explain the relapse phenomenon. In citing reasons for abstinence, counselors and patients agreed that the patient's desire to stay clean, effectiveness of therapy, emotional support of the family and fear of the consequences of continued involvement in the drag subculture were the mast important factors in a patient remaining drug free. Further analysis of the stated reasons for abstinence indicated that little support was found for Winick's hypothesis that addicts “burn out”.