Letters
Promoting abstinence for drug users
Maintenance treatment is not rocket science
BMJ 2013; 346 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f2773 (Published 03 May 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f2773- Andrew Byrne, addiction physician1
- 1Private Practice, Redfern, NSW 2016, Australia
- ajbyrne{at}ozemail.com.au
Luty is unduly pessimistic about long term abstinence after opioid maintenance treatment.1 About 4% of addicted people become abstinent each year, regardless of treatment.2 By 10 years, over a third are abstinent. The remainder are mostly on maintenance treatment, a small, efficient part of any health system, which often needs little more than an …
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