Mats Fridell, has studied patient records from Sankt Lars hospital in Lund for the years 1977-1995. He has also spent the past fifteen years studying the hospital’s patients at first hand.
The results of his research have been hailed as a major contribution in the development of knowledge to assist in the treatment of drug-abusers.
Fridell was initially unsure of how his research would be of use.
“Then I had no idea idea of how I would use the material. This insight came later. I could never have imagined how significant this would become.” said Fridell to Sydsvenskan.
Fridell has found that four out of ten drug-abusers can be successfully treated for their condition if caught early.
His research has been completed with follow-up interviews and has been coordinated with criminal record registers, patient medical histories, autopsy data and national residency registration records.
After 35 years of working with drug-abuse cases Fridell is convinced that it is the circumstances in which care is given that is more important than any specific course of therapy.
“Meeting places between staff and patients have to be good and rules must be clear. You have to be clear and concise in order to gain the respect of the patients,” Fridell told Sydsvenskan.
“This is why reorganizations and economy measures are so devastating. Short-term thinking breaks up well-functioning clinics.”
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