Letter: Abstinence works

Tuesday 02 April 1996 23:02 BST

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Sir: Ian Hargreaves ("We need to take a hard look at drugs", 28 March) referred to the goal of abstinence as "wholly unrealistic". Independent research into the treatment outcomes of Clouds House, which offers an abstinence-based treatment, show this goal to be entirely realistic. Sixty- one per cent of the 117 subjects of the study were found to be abstinent 30 months after treatment. Why then peddle such hopelessness to those for whom this goal is essential?

Nick Barton

(Clinical Psychologist)

Director, Clouds

Salisbury

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Letter: Abstinence works

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