Absence of parkinsonism among patients in long-term neuroleptic therapy who abuse cocaine.

The study used the United Parkinson's Disease Scale to compare parkinsonian signs and symptoms among 19 patients in long-term neuroleptic therapy who had a history of cocaine abuse with those among 24 similar patients with no history of cocaine use. There was no significant difference between the two groups' scores. The results suggest that chronic cocaine abuse is not a risk factor for parkinsonism among subjects in long-term neuroleptic therapy.