The present survey was conducted to determine the long‐term impact of addictions training on the practice patterns of physicians who completed a specialized addictions residency training program. Medical residents and medical research fellows who participated in a residency training program in addictions from 1981 through 1991 at the Addiction Research Foundation in Toronto were mailed a brief questionnaire about their training experience. Of the 27 physicians who responded to the questionnaire (73% response rate), 52% were currently working in the addictions field. Of the 13 who were not working in the field, 77% reported using their addictions training in their current practice. Thus, 89% of the physicians who participated in the specialized addictions residency training program and responded to the survey reported continued utilization of their training several years after the experience.