Psychodrama with Heroin Addicts Returning from Duty in Vietnam - Addiction and Psychology

Shortly after reporting for duty at Oakland Naval Hospital I learned I was to be the medical officer in charge of a newly established psychiatric unit for substance abuse patients retuning to the United States from duty in Vietnam. Psychodrama therapy became an integral part of our evaluation and treatment program. Perry is a nineteen-year-old man seriously addicted to heroin. Perry tried to quit on his own but could not. A positive urine drug test  made  his entry into the drug amnesty  program  imperative.  Three weeks after detox on our unit Perry  presented to our psychodrama group in an acutely  distressed state. He was pale,  sweating, restless and extremely anxious and fearful. His  urine had been clean for opiates and he did not have cramping or goose flesh typical of physical withdrawal. Perry told the group he had a dreadful dream the night before.

 Read more...PDF in Iris Publishers