INFLUENCES AFFECTING MAINTENANCE AND CESSATION OF NARCOTICS ADDICTION

A sample of 354 narcotics addicts remanded to the California Civil Add ict Program (CAP) in 1962-64 was followed for over twenty-four years. Self-report data collected at initial treatment admission and in two f ollowup interviews (1974-75 and 1985-86) included information on famil y history, patterns of drug use and criminal involvement, and other be haviors, The sample was classified into four exclusive groups: Winners (N=59), who had been abstinent from narcotics and other serious drug use and had not been involved in criminal activity during the thirty-s ix-month period prior to interview; Striving addicts (N=46), who had b een abstinent from narcotics use, but not necessarily other drugs, and had no incarceration for a period of twelve months prior to interview ; Enduring addicts (N=146), who had used narcotics and typically other drugs within the prior 12-month period but had avoided incarceration; and Incarcerated addicts (N=103), incarcerated at some time during th e twelve-month period, and whose drug use was varied. Winners had gene rally negative familial experiences including little encouragement fro m parents, who in the main had adverse relationships, higher rates of sexual molestation, and were least happy in childhood. Despite this en vironment Winners evidenced early independence and self-confidence. St riving addicts were characterized by usually non-substance-using, chur ch-going parents. Most had ceased narcotics use, but remained heavily involved with alcohol and marijuana. Enduring addicts, mostly from low er socioeconomic status families that exhibited extensive substance us e and physical arguments, commonly accessed methadone treatment and av oided incarceration while persisting in narcotic addiction and crime. Incarcerated addicts, typically raised in dysfunctional, substance-usi ng families, received the most parental caring along with the most sev ere punishment. They exhibited persistent involvement in crime, violen ce, and drug use.