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Letters |17 April 2001

Treatment of Heroin Dependence

Patrick G. O'Connor, MD, MPH; David A. Fiellin, MD

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  • Yale University School of Medicine; New Haven, CT 06520-8025 (O'Connor, Fiellin)
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Dr. Hyman raises some important issues about the treatment of opioid dependence and the role of primary care physicians in treatment. Concerning the treatment of short-term withdrawal (detoxification), it is important to keep in mind that detoxification refers specifically to the process of safely and comfortably bringing a patient from a drug-using to a drug-free state. In the case of heroin dependence, this typically involves a relatively brief period and should be viewed as an initial step down a long road of treatment. Detoxification must always be followed by a referral to ongoing substance abuse treatment for prevention of drug use relapse. While short-term withdrawal treatment is relatively straightforward, the treatment that follows is much more challenging.
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O'Connor PG, Fiellin DA. Treatment of Heroin Dependence. Ann Intern Med. ;134:714–715. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-134-8-200104170-00017

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Published: Ann Intern Med. 2001;134(8):714-715.

DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-134-8-200104170-00017

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2001 American College of Physicians
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