Abstinence versus nonabstinence: the objectives of alcoholism rehabilitation programs in Quebec

Since the end of the nineteenth century, various attitudes toward alcoholism--from moralistic and legalistic to those rooted in medicine and psychology--have been adopted. Some of these have persisted and continue to influence the treatment programs available to alcoholics. One of the most popular explanatory models today is the traditional model, which prescribes abstinence as a treatment objective. However, more and more studies are showing that controlled drinking can be a viable alternative for many alcoholics. The aim of the present study is to determine the type of treatment goal preferred by alcoholism rehabilitation centers in the province of Quebec. As of March 31, 1987, the general directors of 78 of the 81 rehabilitation centers operating in Quebec were contacted and interviewed. The data most relevant to the present study came from the response to the following question: "Is a treatment goal other than complete abstinence acceptable for every client who registers in your program to resolve a problem of alcoholism?" The results indicate that most centers will not allow their clients to work toward any goal other than abstinence.