NCJ Number
124222
Date Published
1990
Length
629 pages
Annotation
In this congressionally mandated study, an expert committee of the Institute of Medicine examines trends in treatment for persons with alcohol problems and addresses how progress in treatment methods can be encouraged while keeping costs within reasonable limits.
Abstract
The committee concludes that the probable structure toward which treatment of alcohol problems is evolving is a broad communitywide treatment effort coupled with a specialized treatment effort. The committee's basic recommendation is that this concept be shared, tested, refined, and implemented. Fundamental questions examined by the committee are who is being treated, the nature of treatment, who provides it, whether treatment works, whether it is necessary, its availability, and who pays for it. Treatment aspects addressed are the community role, assessment, matching, outcome determination, and implementation of various treatment aspects. Special populations in treatment are examined according to structural characteristics (gender, race, ethnicity, and age) and functional characteristics (social, clinical, or legal status). The report also examines aspects of financing treatment. Chapter references, appended supplementary information, subject index.