Salient Differences between Internal and External Standards for Hospitalizing Opiate Addicts

Abstract

Drug addicts evaluated by the treatment staff prior to treatment were compared on several self-concept scales with those screened elsewhere by contract agencies. Persons committed directly to treatment demonstrated a greater degree of psychopathology and less middle-class identification than those found suitable after local pretreatment evaluation. Those evaluated elsewhere showed a significantly higher rate of failure to complete successfully the inpatient phase. The study has implications for any program where prescreening is done prior to coming to the institution and suggests the need for a final pretreatment evaluation a: the institution if successful completion of the program is to be maximized.