This study describes the differences between treated and untreated addicts involved in a suburban adolescent heroin epidemic. Twenty-nine percent of the addicts interviewed were untreated during the ten-year period studied. Results showed that untreated addicts had smaller habits, were more likely to stop using heroin, had more cohesive families and higher self-esteem while in high school than treated addicts. Background factors were related to current use of heroin by untreated and treated addicts. The decision to enter treatment can be a confounding factor in studies on heroin addiction. Studies on factors producing dependence need to include treated as well as untreated addicts.
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