WITHDRAWAL TREATMENT OF DRUG-DEPENDENT PA TIENTS WITH THE AIM TO ACHIEVE ABSTINENCE

The treatment of patients who are dependent on drugs is undergoing a c onceptual change, and in this connection more attention is being paid to a qualified withdrawal and weaning. More than 200 withdrawals are b eing performed annually in the U2 section of the Department of Psychia try of the University of Basel. The authors report on the composition of the patient groups, their withdrawal symptoms and the therapy offer ed. In respect of the continually too frequent discontinuations of the rapy attention is drawn to the need for a really efficient pharmacothe rapy.