RT Journal
A1 Reichman LB
T1 TUberculosis and drug dependence-reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1979
FD November 1
VO 139
IS 11
SP 1317
OP 1317
DO 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480089033
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630480089033
AB In Reply.— 
    I think the author of this communication is misinterpreting the data of our report and several others that he alludes to, and is perhaps confusing tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease. It is well accepted that tuberculosis infection is greater in high-contact groups. We have recently shown correlations to race, socioeconomic status, age, and sex, in that order.1What our recent communication in the March Archives showed is that the infection rate appears to be similar in both drug-dependent and non-drug-dependent populations, but the disease rate is severalfold greater in drug-dependent persons. Consequently, this is the first evidence that drug dependency is a risk factor beyond race and socioeconomic factors and should be categorized with and treated like diabetes, gastrectomy, steroid treatment, immunosuppressive treatment, and silicosis with preventive therapy with isoniazid.In our report, we also go on to suggest that the primary condition, drug dependency, can provide