COMPARISON OF YOUNG NAVY ALCOHOL ABUSERS AND DRUG ABUSERS ON DEMOGRAPHY, PERSONALITY, PERFORMANCE, AND TREATMENT OUTCOME

• NCJ Number: 64406
• Author(s): D KOLB; E K E GUNDERSON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of the Navy
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

YOUNG DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSERS FROM THE NAVY ARE COMPARED FOR SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES, USING ANALYSIS OF GROUPS OF ENLISTED MEN IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT CENTERS.

Abstract

ALL MEN 25 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER ADMITTED TO FIVE NAVY TREATMENT CENTERS FROM 1975 TO 1977 WERE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY; THERE WERE 911 DRUG ABUSERS AND 723 ALCOHOL ABUSERS. SUBJECTS WERE COMPARED ON DEMOGRAPHY, ATTITUDES TOWARD SERVICE, PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS, AND POST-TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS (ACTIVE DUTY STATUS OR FAVORABLE DISCHARGE 6 MONTHS OR MORE AFTER TREATMENT). AT THE TIME OF ENLISTMENT, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE GROUPS HAD SIMILAR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL NAVAL SERVICE AS REFLECTED BY THEIR SCREEN SCORES (BASED ON AGE, EDUCATION, ARMED FORCES QUALIFYING TEST SCORE, AND MARITAL STATUS). DRUG ABUSERS ENTERED TREATMENT EARLIER IN THEIR CAREERS THAN ALCOHOL ABUSERS AND HAD LESS FAVORABLE DISCIPLINARY HISTORIES; THEY SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER ON THE TRUST SCALE, ESPECIALLY POST-TREATMENT, AND HIGHER ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY, EXTRAVERSION, AND MASCULINITY BOTH PRETREATMENT AND POST-TREATMENT. BOTH GROUPS DEMONSTRATED SUBSTANTIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGE, ESPECIALLY ON EMOTIONAL AND EXTRAVERSION SCALES, DURING TREATMENT. WITHIN BOTH GROUPS THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD SERVICE, DISCIPLINARY RECORDS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN THE EFFECTIVE (POST-TREATMENT OUTCOME) GROUP, THE NONEFFECTIVE GROUP, AND THOSE RELEASED FROM SERVICE WITHIN 30 DAYS. OVERALL, DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS WERE ABOUT EQUALLY EFFECTIVE IN PRODUCING PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT (1) MORE DETAILED SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORIES BE OBTAINED, (2) AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO TREAT TOGETHER YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS FOR SOCIAL CONFORMITY PROBLEMS AND ALCOHOL ABUSERS FOR EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY BE ESTABLISHED; AND (3) INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW SCREEN SCORES, UNFAVORABLE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS, AND LOW COMREY SOCIAL CONFORMITY SCORES NOT BE ADMITTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUG RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS. TABLES AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)