Treatment success in alcoholism

Two hundred and sixty-two male and 51 female alcoholics treated in 1971 were followed up for two years: 71 percent of the sample were contacted: 43.5 percent males were abstinent or improved: 56.7 percent of the females were abstinent or improved. Treatment success was co-related with being married, being in the upper socio-economic groupings, and staying for the full 12 week inpatient course. Repeated failure in treatment was associated with being single, of low socio-economic status, and with one previous admission for alcoholism. It is suggested that the main factor in the increasing prevalence of alcohol problems in the general population is the relative cheapness of liquor.