Implications
Future studies might compare and contrast different definitions of
remission within the same sample to see how much these varying
definitions affect estimated “remission” levels. Prospective studies
with substantial follow-up periods that report remission rates for
specific drug dependence with clearly defined populations would be
of great advantage to the literature of remission from drug
dependence. There is a great need for more studies in many more
settings (clinical and non-clinical), conducted in a larger number of
countries, to obtain data from a much wider range of drug using
populations, since existing estimates are very much concentrated in
high income countries, particularly North America. Reporting age and
sex specific remission estimates would also be of great value.