Abstract
The Japanese government has stated that specialized institutions for treating drug dependence are necessary and that developing such institutions should be a matter of national policy. However, in the entire country, there is only one state-run ward specialized in treating drug dependence. If we include those institution that a alcoholism, there are just two more state-run wards, three public ones and ten private ones. Despite the fact that treatments for drug dependence are an extension of the treatment system for alcohol dependence, there has been a tendency to emphasize the uniqueness of drug dependence.
At our institution, we have viewed our treatment system for drug dependence as an extension of our alcohol dependence treatment system. Thus, we placed our Drug Dependency Rehabilitation Program (DRP) in the alcoholic dependence treatment ward. If other hospitals do the same, we expect that the number of institution that offer specialized treatment for drug dependence can drastically be increased. In our DRP, we have placed emphasis on consideration of the psychology of adolescents, diversion from punishment, and the importance of self-help groups.
