Characteristics of people admitted for residential alcohol and drug treatment

Canterbury's seven residential alcohol and drug treatment units are representative of the range of units found in New Zealand. A survey was completed of all the people resident in these units over a two day period, with particular focus on ethnicity, the ratio of men to women, preadmission place of residence, drug use, antisocial phenomena, and psychiatric comorbidity. A 99% response rate was achieved. Only 54% of patients overall were living in Canterbury prior to admission. Three key features found were: the high rate of patients without a primary alcohol and drug diagnosis admitted for psychotherapy to Queen Mary Hospital, the wide range of drugs misused and antisocial phenomena exhibited by the residents admitted to Odyssey House, and the high rate of diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity at Mahu clinic.