Long-term use of aversive drugs in outpatient alcoholism treatment.

In a 2-year outpatient treatment programme for alcoholics, 90% of the patients used aversive drugs during some part of the treatment period. Long-term use was significantly related to a favourable drinking outcome during 2 years subsequent to treatment compared with short-term use. Long-term and short-term users did not differ in background data. Continued use of aversive drugs after the first 6 months might have been critical for favourable outcome.