[Criteria for admission of drug dependent criminals for withdrawal treatment according to section 64 StGB with reference to the newest legal guidelines].

Due to a sentence of the German Federal Court of constitution from March 16th, 1994 requirements on the contents of expert opinions on drug or alcohol dependent delinquents considered for being sentenced to withdrawal treatment have changed. Up to that date it has to be stated that the prognosis of withdrawal does not seem to be useless at all. Later experiences with these dependent patients are often disappointing, mostly due to a lack of any therapeutical motivation. Requirements on prognostical criteria have now profoundly changed. The psychiatric expert must positively point out now that predictors of a positive outcome of withdrawal therapy really does exist. A marked decrease in frequency of these legal sentences to withdrawal therapy must be expected as a consequence of altered prognostical criteria.