Anxiety in drug dependents: Existing differences depending on the treatment program

The relationship between anxiety and drug use has been analyzed in different studies, including clinical and non-clinical samples; existing data support the hypothesis of a reciprocal influence among both. The aim of this empirical study is to confirm the affirmations of several authors who declare that even after polydrug addicts stop consuming, their anxiety levels—trait anxiety, triple response system and situational areas—remain high (as measured by the Inventory of Situations and Responses of Anxiety). The sample is made up of three groups of polydrug addicts (under treatment and/or abstinent) and a fourth group recruited from the general population. The first one is participating in a Drug-Free Program; the second is recently abstinent, waiting to be included in the Drug-Free Program; the third is engaged in a Maintenance Program with Methadone. These groups are compared among each other as well as with the fourth group. The results obtained partially support those of other studies. In general terms, only the Maintenance Program with Methadone group shows higher levels of anxiety than the general population group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)