Changes in drug abuse clients--1972-1978: implications for revised treatment.

Considerable anecdotal evidence at this hospital had suggested that the present population of drug abuse patients was qualitatively different from the population for which the original treatment program had been designed. In order to assess these suspected differences, samples of drug abuse clients from 1972 and 1978 were compared to terms of pattern of abuse, previous treatments, means of support, family background, and psychological status. Results suggested significant increases in symptom severity within the 1978 sample in all comparison areas, especially psychological status. The authors consider the possibility that therapeutic approaches which were previously effective may no longer be meeting the more extensive needs of the current population.