EVALUATION OF A SALVATION ARMY ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 54027
• Journal: Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 39 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 1267-1275
• Author(s): R H MOOS; B MEHREN; B S MOOS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Rutgers University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SALVATION ARMY PROGRAM, A 65-BED ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT FACILITY IN A SKID ROW DISTRICT NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF A LARGE CITY, IS STUDIED. THE FUNCTIONING OF 97 MEN 6 MONTHS AFTER DISCHARGE PROVES THE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE.

Abstract

MOST OF THE SIZEABLE BODY OF LITERATURE ON SKID ROW CONSISTS OF SOCIOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTIONS; LITTLE SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE TREATMENT OF SKID ROW ALCOHOLICS. THE SALVATION ARMY PROGRAM EMPHASIZES MILIEU THERAPY, WEEKLY THERAPY GROUPS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, EDUCATIONAL LECTURES AND FILMS, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, AND JOB PLACEMENT. MEDIAN LENGTH OF STAY IN THE PROGRAM IS 63 DAYS, ALTHOUGH RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO STAY 6 MONTHS. TREATMENT DATA WERE OBTAINED FOR 121 PATIENTS IN THE PROGRAM; 97 WERE AVAILABLE FOR FOLLOWUP 6 MONTHS AFTER DISCHARGE. ALMOST ALL THE MEN WERE OVER AGE 40 (96 PERCENT), ONLY 8 PERCENT WERE MARRIED AT INTAKE WITH 61 PERCENT EITHER SEPARATED OR DIVORCED, 93 PERCENT WERE WHITE, 52 PERCENT WERE PROTESTANTS, AND 44 PERCENT HAD COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL. OVER 90 PERCENT REPORTED SEVERE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO DRINKING. CHI-SQUARE ANALYSES WERE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RESIDENT'S PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS FACETS OF THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING THE 'SPOT JOB' EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM) AND OUTCOME AT 6-MONTH FOLLOWUP. IT FOUND THAT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY SHOWED 77 PERCENT ABSTINENCE AT 6 MONTHS AND 73 PERCENT HAD NO DRINKING-RELATED SYMPTOMS. THE LESS ACTIVE GROUP WAS 42 PERCENT ABSTINENT AND 37 PERCENT SYMPTOM-FREE. ABOUT 26 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE HAD DROPPED OUT, OF WHOM ONLY 28 PERCENT WERE ABSTINENT AND 53 PERCENT REPORTED SEVERE SYMPTOMS. SINCE INCOME FROM THE RESIDENTS' SPOT JOBS VIRTUALLY PAYS FOR THE PROGRAM, IT IS CALLED COST EFFECTIVE. IT IS APPARENTLY ALSO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR SKID ROW ALCOHOLICS. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (GLR)