NCJ Number
52336
Journal
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF STUDIES ON ALCOHOL Volume: 31 Issue: 3-A, Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1970) Pages: 659-668
Date Published
1970
Length
10 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF 110 RESIDENTS OF A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR ALCOHOLICS FOUND THAT THE SOURCE OF REFERRAL AND THE NUMBER OF PAST TREATMENTS FOR ALCOHOLISM SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED LENGTH OF STAY IN THE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE STUDY INVOLVED A BOSTON, MASS., PROGRAM FOR MEN DESIGNATED AS 'HABITUAL DRUNKS,' OR 'SKID ROW RESIDENTS.' IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE WHY SOME MEN ACCEPTED THE TREATMENT GROUP AND STAYED FOR THE 28-DAY MEDIAN TREATMENT PERIOD WHILE OTHERS LEFT THE PROGRAM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE STUDY FOUND THAT 72 OF THE MEN WERE REFERRED FROM THE COUNTY JAIL, 47 FROM INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS, AND 60 FROM RESCUE MISSIONS, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, HOSPITALS, OR OTHER COMMUNITY SOURCES. WHILE 62 PERCENT OF THE JAIL REFERRALS STAYED LESS THAN THE MEDIAN TIME, ONLY 43 PERCENT OF THE POSITIVE SOCIAL AGENCY REFERRALS LEFT EARLY (P EQUALS 0.02 PERCENT). IT WAS FOUND ALSO THAT 55 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO STAYED HAD 3 OR MORE PAST TREATMENTS FOR ALCOHOLISM, CONTRASTED WITH ONLY 24 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO STAYED LESS THAN 28 DAYS (ALSO SIGNIFICANT AT THE 0.02 LEVEL). AN EXAMINATION OF THE SELF-IMAGE OF THOSE WHO ARE JAILED CONTINUALLY FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS SUGGESTS THAT NEGATIVE REACTIONS TO ALCOHOLISM LEAD THE PERSON TO BELIEVE THAT HE CANNOT CHANGE. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND SOCIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS FACING THE ALCOHOLIC ARE BRIEFLY EXAMINED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE HOW SOCIETY'S REACTION TO CHRONIC DRUNKENNESS AFFECTS BOTH DURATION AND OUTCOME OF TREATMENT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)