[Therapeutical injunction].

Abstract

The opposition of specialists avoided the enforcement of the 1953 23rd december law settling the compulsory therapy of drug-addicted delinquents in France. So it was with the 1954 15th april law on the compulsory therapy of "dangerous alcoholics". The extend of drug-addictions led to the 1970 31st december law. But it was only in 1988-1989, that authorities give to the local agencies peremptory instructions for the enforcement of the so-called "therapeutical injunction" which the origin is judiciary. A survey published in 1990 allows a glimpse on the first data. Unfortunately, there are not reliable statistics on France, as a whole. Nevertheless, we know the difficulties better and better. For example, results obtained on ten cases, were favourable in only two cases. Its main advantage, emphasized by almost every medico-social team, is that the therapeutical injunction permits a first contact with a care service. Concerning the treatment of alcoholic patients, difficulties come, as D ENIKER has properly underlined, from the inadequacy of means at the departmental medical services, as a consequence of the suppression of former departmental health authorities. Sometimes, generalists have not a solid knowledge on drug-addicts and their psychotherapy. In the light of results obtained in other countries, it appears that we are on the way to success, provided that we help the local actors of this battle against the bane.