Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of
homoeopathic medicines in the
management of
withdrawal symptoms of Drug dependents.
Methods: The study was carried out by Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy at its Clinical Research Unit, Varanasi (U.P.). Out of 261 drug dependent patients referred from Nav-Chetna Drug De-addiction centre, Varanasi, 20
cases dropped out whereas 241 were followed up from September 1988 to March 1994. All the cases were in the age group of 12-52 years and all, except one, were males. Treatment was started only after motivating the patients and also after seeking their family support. Clinical examinations of the cases were done. The medicines were administered usually 8-12 hours after abstinence of drug substance abused, where withdrawal symptoms became obvious. Prescription was made on the basis of totality of symptoms of the individual case.
Results: Out of 241 cases followed up regularly; 209 cases showed improvement in withdrawal symptoms whereas 32 cases did not improve. Rhus toxicodendron (n=85) was found to be most
effective medicine. Other medicines found effective were Avena sativa (n=43), Nux vomica (n=34), Arsenic album (n=26), Bryonia alba (n=8) and Chamomilla (n=7). Rhus toxicodendron, Arsenic album, Chamomilla were found to be effective in 10M potency, Bryonia alba & Nux vomica in 200C potency and Avena sativa in mother-tincture.
Conclusion: The
outcome of the study shows that homoeopathic medicines are efficacious in the management of withdrawal symptoms of drug dependents and can check the menace of the chemical dependency. The results have prompted CCRH to take up this study in collaboration with Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM) from April 2008.
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